The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-07
By VERNON E. BUNDY

InlS Idle,t ike most cat tdllS, Is
long and crooked, and a cat tail or a
cat tale is the last one in which to
look for a moral. But the tragic
romance of Sandy MacGregor, cat,
points a moral, and adorns tale.
There is a pagan tradition that each
feline has nine lives. Therein lies the
distinctiveness of the tale of Sandy
MacGregor- Perchance he had nine
lives, but he tried to lead a double
life nd therefore. he lost both-or
all nine-of his lives.
Sandy hove over the horizon of our
menage in a paper bag loaned by the
corner grocery. The skipper of our
craft had gone to the grocery store
to dicker for the days provisions. A
couple of clerks and some bystanders
young kittens who had been aban-
doned by their owners. at the store.
One of the errand boys at the store
had accepted mandate over the bet
ter looking kitten. which was to be
a playmate r his kid sister.
But for the second youthful feline.
there was no claimant. and his ulti-
mate destination presented a problem
unsolved.
Wabbly and Appealing.
He was a wabbly. appealing bit
of animation. He belonged to the
genus tortoise shell cat which
seems to have persisted off the face
of the earth except in the Mid-Vic-
torian novel. and is seldom seen any
more in the flesh. His color was half
az shade darker than the color of
Charlie MitchelPs blondined Cadillac,
shot with darker stripes.
His ears bore that proportion to
the rest of his anatomy which n
| mules ears bear to its bulk. His eyes
were huge, and pale, and strained.
There was in them the look of the
small animal which has never known
anything but abuse and harsh treat
ment. He eyed the crowd anXiously,
and his hoarse and racuous meow
was burdened with fear as to what
they were going to do with him.
The skipper picked him up, and
nestled him in her arms. The meow
was instantly stilled, and most ire
mendouS purring succeeded it. His
whole body vibrated with delight at
the novel and delightful experience of
being petted. He snuggled and -cud-
| died in the warm arms which sup
ported him, and his helpless gratitude
won his way straight into the skip
per's heart.
The grocer obliged with a paper
bag, into which he was tucked with
| out resistance, and carried back to
the house.
| He Was Real Scot
He was Sandy MacGregor' from
the start, and Sandy for short. He
| was canny enough, for all his help
lessness, accustomed to hardships and
| priyations, and his disposition, ex-
pressed thru that rasping meow was
| dour and pessimistic enough to make
| him characteristic of the Scot of f1c-
ton.
| When he was set upon the floor, he
revealed, fresh measures Of. helpless
/ ness. Some untoward accident had
| damage his fore shoulders. They
mad been either broken or diSlOcated,
and his progress was wabbly and in
| secure 1t was pitiful to see him make
| his uncertain way across the slippery
floor, with his lumpy little bouy
which swelled into the most alarming
proportions with his first meal OF
warm milk, precariously supported by
those poor little front legs. For the
first day or two he contented himself
with taking ON meal after meal of
warm milk, and cuddling in the sun,
| when he could persuade neither the
| skipper nor the first mate to take him
| into their laps. That was his seventh
heaven-to lie quietly in some ones
lap and pur his huge disproportion
ate, vibrating pur.
AS the warm milk began to have
| its effect and he became stronger
his ambitions mounted. He would ex-
plore-not only the house but the
entire neighborhood. He wandered far
afield, over the lawn and thru the
back yard, and under the house.
Progress Was Slow.
His progress was slow and pain
! full, always. Each front foot had to
| be advanced and planted with the
| most extreme care. or it would give
under him. His attempts at playful
ness were grotesque with pathos.
| His clumsy leaps and toilsome bat
| ties with the fringes of rugs and with
dangling strings afforded little
amusement, and usually resulted in
/