The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-26
WEDNESDAY
A FORECAST.

of that dog?"
Deed, boss" he answered with a
grin. q don't 'xactly know. unless you
take to keeping a cat
I fell into his suggestion at once and
asked him if he knew where I could
buy a good fighting cat-one that
could whip any bulldog in town.
Deed, boss" he replied. you may
you don't by cats. When you take
liking to a cat you jes' steal it,
He told me of a cat that had whip
ped every dog in his neighborhood and
promised to obtain it for me.
The next night there came a knock
at my door and there was George with
a sack over his shoulder. The deal was
quickly closed and I was left alone
with the sack. When I took that sack
! into the bath room and started to open
it 1 felt as full of curiosity as when as
a child I had. with trembling fingers,
opened my Christmas boxes.
I loosened the string and the cat
crawled out It was big and black
somewhat SCARED but otherwise it was
a regular cat
For the next few days that cat lived
on the fat of the land. 1 bought it
fish and everything that lady friend
who was something of a "catist'' sug-
gested and really it seemed quite con-
tented. In fact we became actually
friendly.
hallway between my rooms and the
outside door.
At last Saturday night came and
waited nervous1y for Jacks step on
the stair. At last he came and every
thing was just as had happened
4 dozens of times. Just as always about
! the time we had settled down and
dealt the first cards there come the
usual scratching at the outside door.
Jack muttered something under his
| BREATH never did make out what
4 it was he always said-and went out
| to let the dog in. 1 followed and
quietly closed the door into the hall. 1
/ felt as one does in putting out poison
| for rats and you don't want them to
die in the house.
I heard him open the door-then
/ the sound of the dog wiping its feet
on Jacks cIothes-then came battle,
murder and sudden death. All that
can really remember was my saying
/ to myself, Il believe that cat is living
up to it's reputation" 1 must have lost
my head, for it was some little time
/ before 1 had sense enough to go
around the back stairs and open the
outside door. a confusion went by
me and I looked for Jack Do. you
remember how Jean Val Jean was
| supposed to have climbed the corner
of the jail wall. by his wonderful
strength, and escaped? L never used
to believe that but now I do. Would
you believe it Jack by the aid of a
hook and a nail or two had climbed up
in the corner of that room and with
feet pulled up out of harms way was
yelling like an Indian. I helped him
down and we went out on the street
| to look for our pets.
! asked man if he had seen a dog
| and cat passing his way.
Yes" he answered, Il saw a white
streak and a black streak go down the
street and it was as pretty a race as /
ever saw. but if anything the white
streak was a little ahead
1 asked him which way they went
and he replied, They were going
north the last 1 saw of them but from
the speed they were racing, 1 think
they will be coming by from the south
in a few minutes
But we never saw them again
It was some little time before
the subject was mentioned by US
Something brought the subject up and
Jack said, Il lost my pet dog"
1 waited a moment and said, Il lost
my pet cat"
Jack looked up at me with quizzical
| smile and said, "YeS-a fine pet A
deep sea diver in fun regalia wouldn't
dare pet that cat"
Then we both laughed and 1 knew
| that our friendship had stood the test
No, Jack never got another dog.