Evening star., 1917-03-20
LI1ILLES1oRlEs L1L
,6fDEIDTImGE
by THORNTON W. BURGESS.
Copyright. 1917. by I. W. Burgess.l
Black Pussy Upsets Things.


ing lot of sharp claws stuck into YOU
would not be exactly pleasant, l think
YOU will admit. Yet this is just what
happened to Bobby Coon when Black
Pussy discovered him asleep in her bed
behind Farmer: Browns kitchen stove.
Those claws didn't hurt much because
Botbys coat was SO thick that they
only got through far enough to prick
the skin. But that was enough to bring
him out of that box all ready to fight in
spite of the fact that one leg was use
less. Bobby is no coward. Besides. when
those sharp claws pricked his skin they
pricked his temper too. He didn't
know who had dared treat him that
way and he didn't much care.
When he saw how badly scared Black
Pussy was when she found out who it
was she had so rashly scratched. saw
her bump into the stove in her haste to
get away, and then scamper for the
door Bobby chuckled down inside. He
knew then. that Black Pussy was more
afraid of him than he could possibly be
OF her. He had seen Black Pussy hunt
ing in the Green Forest, and like all
the other little people he had felt that
she had no business there. But there
she had never given him chance to
teach her a lesson. Now he had got
chance, and the idea tickled him. He
didn't once consider that now things
We're just the other way around and
that Black Pussy was where she had
perfect right to be. while he himself
was visitor. People are apt to forget
such things.
SO Bobby climbed out of that box. and
making that growl of his as ugly
sounding as he could he marched
straight toward Black Pussy. Now
Black Pussy was not a coward. More
than once she had faced a dog bigger
than herself and had made him turn
tail. She knew just how to treat a
dog. But this stranger she knew moth
ing at all about. There was something
about the slow. deliberate way in which
he came toward her that was very
blsnesslike and filled her with fear.
She arched her back and swelled her
tail and growled and spat like black
| fury, but this growing stranger came
| right on
"Yow-w-w, I'll scratch your eyes
OUT" threatened Black Pussy. You've
| no right here. That's my bed, and if
! you know what is best for yourself
| you'll leave it alone
Wen see about that" growled
| Bobby. That bed may have been yours
| once. but it's mine now. At least until
| YOU can take 1t away from me. Where 1
come from we take what we want. and
| if we have to we fight to keep it. ] like
| that bed It's very nice bed. It's a
| very comfortable place. the most COM
| Portable place I've been in for long
| time. It's such very nice bed and
| such a very comfortable place that I'm
quite ready to fight for 1t even if /
| haven't but three good legs. You're
| just a big black buffer That's what
you area big, black buffer. Come on
| and fight
This was too much for Black Pussy
This big, queer-looking stranger was
| altogether too willing. Never in her
| life had she wanted anything quite so
much as she did to have that door
opened for her to get out. But Farmer
Browns Boy didn't open the door
| Black Pussy took one more look at
Bobby Coon, and then the last bit of
courage left her. With yowl of fear
and anger she rushed past Bobby and
jumped-where do you think? Right
up on the table! Yes. sir, right up on
the table.
over went pitcher of milk! Off fell
a cup and broke on the floor with
crash. A plate followed 1t! Mrs. Brown
screamed and rushed forward to save
the rest of the dishes. but Black Pussy
was such crazy looking object of rage
and fear that Mrs. Brown didn't dare
touch her. Black Pussy was growing
and splitting, a perfect fury of cat.
Bobby Coon turned, and in his slow
husiness-like way came toward the ta-
BILE. Black Pussy jumped about. upset
tihS more ulsheS. lnen FarfneT Brown
Boy opened the kitchen door and picked
up Bobby Coon. Black Pussy made
flying leap and shot out of the door
like black streak.
'Phew." exclaimed Farmer Browns
Boy. Il thought something might hap
pen when they met"
II hope you are satisfied" said Mrs.
Brown grimly, as she began to
straighten up the things on the table
Then she began to laugh and Farmer
Browns Boy laughed, too. 1t really had
been very funny. AS for Bobby Coon,
he was laughing also as he marched
straight back to Black Pussy's bed just
if nothing had happened