The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-09-29
BLACK is UNLUcKY
BY ALICE DAVENPORT

l
Bob was known far and wide as
model husband steady as the rock OF
Gibraltar. As steady as he was, al
times he was in despair. Lefty, his
wife, was veritabIe 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 SIS, Bob ran
across Charley, the latest victim of
matrimony. Poor Charley was in the
throes of indigestion.
IF Grace could only learn to cook"
moaned Charley. But you can't sym
pathize, Lefty is such peach at that
sort of thing"
Yes, she is" admitted Bob "but
what would you do if your wife In
/ sisted on going out every night?"
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 If you
want TO keep a cat you must butter
her feet Apply that to Lefty"
Now, Bob had deep vein of super
stition, although he would have died
rather than admit It. If he could butter
Letty's feet-if he could-he would
try it and see how 1t worked.
Lefty met him at the door, bubbling
over, as usual. She served the de-
licious dinner and enjoyed watching
him eat. As soon as he had finished
his hearty meal and she had eaten
like a bird, she drew him into the
coy living room.
II have a secret for you, Bob" her
eyes dancing, 81 am going to stay at
home tonight, all alone with you"
Lefty, are you sick p Bob was
really anxious
Don't rub it In now, honey, or I'll
change my mind
She was in her most charming
mood. She sang his favOrite songs,
she played his favorite selections; she
made harmless drinks-delici0us all
the more because they were harmless.
why can't it be like this all the
time, Letty?" he asked her. Gould
anything be better than thisY' Now
Lefty could have been disagreeable
and replied in return:
NO, nothing could be nicer for you.
but what about me? 1 have done the
cooking, the entertaining, the talking,
and l am almrst exhausted. l have
given and you have TAKEN
Z But she was wise Lefty and knew
better than to spoil perfect eve
ming
"My dear boy" she smiled in her
enchanting way. you enjoy this be
cause it is so rare If we had 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
~. I'm going TO break sthe record to.
night and go to bed enrly."
She went through hsl retiring fou-
tine more quickly than usual. Bob
did the nightly chores; wound the
clock and set out the milk jars. As
he turned to enter the house. some
thing soft rubbed against his leg. He
looked down and saw a beautiful
black cat. He liked cats, particularly
black ones. but Lefty could not bear
to have one in the house. He stopped
10 stroke the glossy fur and the CAT
purred. He could not resist the i'm
pulse TO open the screeh door and lei
the cat enter with him.
By the time Bob had fed the stran-
ger. made bed for it and fastened
the windows it was growing late Ii
was silent upstairs. Lefty must be
asleep. He looked at the cat, then
thought of the butter He went swift
ly to the icebox. brought out pat OF
butter. clicked off the lights and went
silently up the stairs.
Lefty was sleeping peacefully. She
made 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 sensitive nerve. Lefty gave
powerful kick, landing on Bob's
right eye. He gave howl of pain.
while Lefty turned over TO a more
comfortable position. She would not
wake up; she was heavy sleeper, as
he knew from experience
Hours later, or so It seemed. Lefty |
awoke. There at her feet was hor-
rible black creature. licking her toes |
She could not move; she felt petrified /
as the terrible animal gIared and /
looked ready to spring if she uttered
cry to Bob.
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.
but he got out of bed and turned on
the lights. Lefty screamed when she
saw him.
Look at your eye, it is all black.
Such night I've had. What did you
do to your eyer
Bob refused 10 say what he did
She sat up with the air of a tragedy
queen.
There was some terrible black ami
NAL sitting on my feet most of the
night. Don't think I'm crazy. Bob; he
really did I shall make one res0lu
ton for the future Never again VIII
it be early TO bed for me and as fo5