Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-09-27
BLACK IS UNLUCKY
BY ALICE DAVENPORT
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- oy Mcclure Newspaper syndIeatel

model husband; steady as The rock of
Gibraltar. As steady as he was. AZ
times he was In despair. Lefty. his
wife. was veritable gadabout.
Bob demonstrated In vain. Lefty
would dissolve into tears-a way She
had; but when her tears dried she
was on the trot again with her cronies.
Coming down ON the 5:1j. Bob ran
across Charley. the latest victim OF
mairimony. Poor Charley was in the
throes Of indigestion.
IF Grace could only learn 10 cook"
moaned Charley. "But you can't sym
/ natlize. Lefty is such peach AT that
sort Of thing"
Yes, she Is" admitted Bob: "but
what would you do II your wife Ia
sisted on going out every nightg'
I'D beat her to it," Charley assured
him.
There is only one thing FOR you to
do. Bob" Charley told him. There
Is an old superstition that SAYS II you
want TO keep a cat you must butter
her feet Apply that 10 Lefty"
Now, Bob had deep vein Of super
stition. although he would have died
rather than admit IL. me could butter
Letty's feet-if he could-he would
try IL and see how Il worked.
Lefty met him NJ the door. hubbllng
over, ms usual she served the de-
licious dinner and enjoyed watching
him eat. As soon as he had finished
I his hearty meal and she had eaten
Ike bird, she drew him into the
coy living room.
i have a secret for you. Bob" her
eyes dancing, II am going To stay AT
home tonight. all alone with YOU"
Lefty are you slckg" Bob was
really anxious.
Don't rub il In now. honey. or I'll
change my mind"
She was Ga her most charming
mood. she sang his favorite songs.
she played his favorite selections; she
made harmless dvukS-deliclou all
the more because they were harmless.
"Why can't IL be like this all the
time. LettyT' he asked her. Gould
anything be better than thiSY Now
Lefty could have been disagreeable
and replied In return:
mo nothing could be nicer for you.
but what about me? I have done the
cooking. the entertaining. the talking,
and I ana almost exhausted. / have
given and you have taken
But she was wise Lefty and knew
better than 10 spoil a perfect eve
ming.
My dear boy" she smiled In her
enchanting way. you enjoy this be-
cause II Is so rare. If we had a night
like this every night In the week you
would soon tire of the monotony. You
haven't even read your sporting news.
Bob. ! must have charmed you. sure
( ~. Tn going 10 break the record to-
night and 20 To bed early,
She went through her retiring rou-
tine more quickly than usual. Bob
did the nightly chores; wound the
clock and set out the milk jars. AS
he turned 10 enter the house. some
thing soft rubbed against his leg. lie
/ looked down and saw a beautiful
black cat. He liked cats. particularly
black ones. but Lefty could not bear
20 have one I'm the house. He stopped
10 stroke the glossy fur and the eat
purred. He could not resist the inn
pulse 10 open the screes door and let
the cat enter with him.
BY the time Bob had fed the stran-
ger, made bed for II and fastened
the windows IL was growing late. II
was silent upstairs Lefty must be
asleep. He looked at the cat, then
thought Of the butter. He went swift
~ 20 the icehox brought out pat OF
butter. clicked or the lights and went
silently up the stairs.
Lefty was sleeping peacefully She
made a perfect picture Of repoSe, and
| he gazed. well satisfied that every
thing was working out as he wished.
The night was so warm that she had
| thrust her feet out from the thin COW
ering. and Bob STOPPED TO apply the
| butter.
Now Lefty had peculiarly sensitive
/ feet. As Bob plastered the butter he
touched a sensitive nerve. Lefty gave
n powerful kick, landing on Bob's
right eye. He gave howl of pain,
while Lefty turned over 10 more
comfortable position. she would not
wake up: she was a heavy sleeper, as
I he knew from experience.
Hours later. or so II seemed. Lefty
awoke. There az her feet was q hor-
rihle black creature. licking her toes
She could not move; she felt petrified
as the terrible animal glared and
looked ready 10 spring II she uttered
/ a cry 20 Bob.
After an eternity OF waiting, the
animal jumped OF the bed and skunk
away.
Bob" she called. In her weakest
voice. Bob. dear. wake up; I'm SO
frightened"
Bob was in no comforting mood.
bur he got out OF bed and turned on