Evening star., 1925-06-21
This and That
By Charles E. TrnceUeH.

lack Spratt. my four-legged friend
and companion for two years. has
disappeared. He left home early last
Monday morning. after consuming
a half pound of beefsteak, and has
not been seen since.
The cat Jack has been the hero
of this Sunday column now nearly
a wear. 40 that his, disappearance
will come as shock 10 all the
friends of felines who have followed
his adventures here.
Those who do not care for cats
may rejoice at this news. but | Will
ask them TO remember some pet ami
NAL of their own which one time
may have wandered away and to re-
call now they felt al the time.
1t is not possible for a human be
| ine TO feed and care for a pet for
several years without feeling deeply
a sense of loss upon its disappear
ance. 1t is the mystery of the un-
known that makes it hard.
The cat came back" is an old say
| ing. and most times a, true one. but
| in the present case I am afraid II
| is going TO fail We are hoping that
some fine morning Jack will come
| home. 'lured back by his memory of
good grub.
II he can get heck. We are CON
fident he will come home. There
are many things that might hap
pen to 2 wandering tomcat in a great
city. however. He may have heen
run over. or injured. and have DRAG
ged himself into vacant lot 70 die
Dogs may have killed him. or small
boys thoughtlessly- hut nevertheless
cruelty tormented him. or he may
have got shut up some place and
starved.
" y
Whatever may have happened tn
poor little Jack. there is one thing
am sure of: He lived, and he will die
as true cat.
There was no camouhaee about
Jack Spratt.
He was genuine from the tip of his
long tail TO the end of his white nose
a cats cat who answered the prime
val call of his tribe one fine day in
June. and who went away with the
light of adventure in his eyes.
His meow was lusty. ringing. that
morning a week ago. when he woke
me about 4:30 am. He had been out
almost a day then.
Opening the back door for Jack, he
sailed in. and headed straight for the
refrigerator. You see. he knew what
he wanted. All cats do. and they
never rest until they get It.
A big piece of steak satisfied him
but he was in hurry, and left few
small bits. something he seldom does.
Then he meowed to get out.
So he went down the garden path
tail held out like a banner ears prick
ed up. eyes peering into the unknown.
That was the last we have seen of
him.
***s
AS specimen of cat. Jack did
not class at all. but as nv cat ne
meant and means, great deal to
me: and so l am asking here that If
any one finds a stray gray and black
striped tiger tom with a small head
mournful expression, white breast
and white paws. that stands on its
hind legs when offered meat, he will
communicate with me.
l don't mind at all what the cat
sta nda rds" call for. Old Jack had
all the so-called faults-ranginess,
fla sided. narrow chested. long tail,
large ears. pointed and upright, gen
eral foxy face. Yet he was my cat,
and as such he means more to me
than he could to anybody else in the
world.
His disposition was moody and un-
gracious, yet / recall times when he
would jump up into my lap and purr
like a rusty pump.
When / was sick, he slept on the
foot of my bed for a week. His only
trick" was self-taught, that of stand
ing on his hind legs. which he did
better than any dog when offered
meat.
At our house we are hoping against
hope that some morning we will be
awakened by A tremendous, indignan
meowing. and will find that Jack
Spratt has come home again.