The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1921-02-24
PETER
BY JANE HcEAlN.

cats, and her mother, widow with a
large family and suburban home, but
small bank account. boarded anybody.
Mrs. Archibald Frothman, rich
city dame of English stock, contem-
plating a visit to the land of her fore
fathers, motored out to Bents to see
If they would board her cat, Peter,
and also her son, during her absence
In the approaching summer. Mrs.
Bent agreed to.
Mrs. Frothman thereupon proceeded
to give Lulu, who took special charge
of the cats, instructions regarding Pc
ter.
Now, Miss Bent" she said, "you
must kiss Peter every night, for he al
ways kisses me and don't want that
affectionate habit broken. You must
treat him to ice cream occasionally
and feed him with sardines and the
best salmon steak" There were other
instructions regarding Peters nap, his
walk. and so forth. Then Mrs. Froth-
man spoke a few words regarding her
son.
He Is literary-but perfectly harm
less. | am not particular as to what
you give hm-if you Ouly understand
him-fUr | never could" Then the
dame. after promising 10 call with her
rhIrrFs before sailing for Europe, de-
parted,
Al he expected time she again ar
rived. TIE cat was an immense NAL
.e,o IN IHni his mouth being the home
lie$l nurt of him. The son was d
hands nne young fellow with superior
mHr". ~ and, apparently, an intellect
as N..N rs heart His name was the
san, N~ the cats, Peter.
r - np!ghhors. who knew Mrs. Bent
We. ,eH4rked, with a wink, that the
fo .r-,ev.stG Peter being only a cat, and
Il , 5wo-Iegged one a Catch" there
vas quite n difference.
Mrs Bent's idea of feline treatment
vas the cats should take what was
given them.
Soon Lulu and Mr.. Frothman be-
came friends. Mr. Frothman, much
travelled, and member of the best So
ciety proved an edifying and agreea-
BILE companion. To them the end of
the summer came too quickly, and
with il Mrs. FrOthman, for the object
of her tenderest care, her cat.
"How's Peter?" was the first query.
Hes fne!" was the reply.
"Ts Lulu kind to him7"
"Yes. awfulw
That's gOodl" exclaimed Mrs.
~Frothman,
"What has Peter had to eat"
"O-er-everything that's nice.
wish he was here all the time. Lulu
makes ice cream for him. and jiffy jell,
and Hiawatha cake-and fudge-and
everything like"
r"Indeed ~ exclaimed Mrs Frothman,
manfesting some surprise. "Tm afraid
that you've been too indulgent. But,
after all, it's best to treat our pets
well.
where does Peter sIeepf" was the
next question.
''In the guest chamber" was the re-
ply.
"Oh" exclaimed Mrs. Frothman.
with even more surprise.
"Dots Lulu take Peter out to walk?'
"Oh. yes, she takes him to the band
concert and he takes her to the opera.
He takes her to the beach and he
bought her plaid silk bathing suit.
You ought to see it--it's a beauty! I
wish had one like it,"
Up to this point Mrs. Frothman had
been all but doing out of mere satis-
faction. but now she started She
Strengthened up and looked at Mary
like a hawk, Her sister, previously a
listener only, took hand at the ques-
tiOning.
us Peter sweet on LGlu?"
"Oh, yes everyone knows that"
Mrs. Frethman had received a blow.
But she recovered from 1t sufficiently
to snap at Mary.
y have been asking about my cat,
Peter. You have no right to call Mr..
Frothman by his first name"
"He told us to-" replied Mary hris-
Ting with Indignation. "He says he
wants to be Peter to all of us. al
ways"
The Indies exchanged eloquent looks.
Il wish you to get my cat" demand
ed Mrs. Frothman "de you know where
he is?''
II don't know, but suppose he Is
somewhere about
Mary arose 10 institute search. But
Mrs. Frothman called her back.
what has Peter had TO eatT'
"Oh--er--nlice anf--er--tiny bits of |
snakes and-er-he eats cockroaches,
too"
Mrs. Frothman used her smelling
salts
Where has he slept?'
"Oh--er-on the Scipione's old mat |
tress. All their KIDS had the scarlet |
fever on 1t. but Peter likes to lie |
there"
Mrs Frothman hastened Mary upon
the search. She returned shortly with |
the cherished object. He had one eye
oe fhsa rf