South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-15

A large black cat strolled easily
through the open door OF the res
taurnnt surveyed the diners super
ciliously. and came TO anchor In the
aisle opposite the COB who shared a
table WIKI me.
The COB glanced at the cat, paled.
and rose.
Either him or me has got 20
leave" he said.
"Superstitious I inquired.
NO, not superstitious. exactly.
but I'm off cats"
A waiter came down the aisle.
The cat. unhurTied, resumed his feet
and departed the way he came. The
COB. with a sigh. sat down again.
I'm off cats" he repeated.
Maybe they don't always bring bad
luck. as some say they do. but they
done Il TO me good and plenty, and
l don't take no mere chances with
EN-"
''wodld you mind telling me
about it,"
oh, there amt nothin' TO tell
especially, except just what hap
pened. ! was servin' on a transport
last winter, and one day a big cat,
bigger'n the one that was just here.
come aboard at Hoboken.
Nobody noticed him come aboard
but Albert. the ships dog. and Al
bert, who was busy at the time
barking farewell TO a dog on the
dock, didn't pay no attention 20 him.
he knew, once put TO sea, the cat
couldn't get away. and he could lick
him at his leisure.
Next day. when we vas just out
side Sandy Hook. he thought Of the
cat again, and started a hunt for
him.
He found him down on C deck,
where one Of the boys was feedin'
him coffee, and a lot OF others was
gathered round TO see how he
took it.
Albert was a hot favorite with
the crew. His specially was licking
dogs belonging TO army officers
coming aboard at Brest, the kind OF
dogs they used TO call German po-
lice dogs, but has been called Bel
gian shepherd dogs since we got
into the war.
Albert would find these dogs OF
an evening when they was parading
with their masters on Y deck, and
generally get a couple Of bites out
of them before their owners could
interfere.
"Of course there would be a yell
about it, but Albert being in the
navy never was bothered much for
biting an army dog. If you'd ever
been aboard a transport you'd know
that soldiers and sailors amt the
blood brothers that they always are
in patriotic songs.
Well Albert he seen this here
cat, and he says 10 hiSseIf: This
ought TO be easy
The cat he seen Albert about the
same time, an he just put up his
back. and spit, and waited.
Albert was a little surprised. He
had expected him to run. and make
a nice little chase, but he didn't He
Just waited.
BY that time there was a big
ring Of Us around, and we were all
interested, none of US caring much
for cats.
Seem the cat wasn't goin' to
so about, Albert decided that ac-
ton was called for, and he gave a
sudden run forward.
The cat sat tight till Albert was
in range, and then one Of mis- paws
came around quick, and there was
four bright red streaks across Al
bert's face. Also lot of noise. all
of il made by Albert, a sort of howl
of panied establishment.
e" Go on in and get him. Albert"
we all yelled. Don't be scared OF
cat Albert looked up as If 10 say,
Why the hell don't you 20 get him p
But he was a game dog, and he
made another attack.
1T was the last one. The cat sort
of squatted down 10 get a tension
on his legs, then he uncoiled and
landed on Albert's back. That was
all Albert left, teilin' US and the
cat what he thought OF US, and two
days later We found him down in
the shaft tunnel tryin' 70 lick
scratches on his back that he
couldn't reach, and looking nobody
in the eve.
There was some that was for the
cat-the kind OF guys that is always
for a winner. out mainly we was
against him
Next morning Casey and Green
berg was polishing the brass work
on the forward port gun when along
come the cat. II was lumpy outside,
but the cat was making easy
weather Of il, swabbing his face
with one OF his paws as he sat on
paravene, and sneering al Green
berg, who had been Albert's owner
before Albert shipped on the trans
port.
"'Tu learn him TO mess up his
betters.' says Greenberg, and step
ping over the pasavene ne gives the
cat a kick, spinning him across TO
Casey, who give him another, just 20
speed him on his way.
The cast never said nothing, but
he give the boys a meaning look as
he picked himself up, and limped
forward toward the crews galley.
And two seconds after that, i
sea the size OF one OF the Rlue Ridge
mountains of Virginia climbed up
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