Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20
This and That
By Charles E. TracetCeH.

Jack Spratt is in a very doubtfu
frame of mind concerning Little NIP
per, the interloper who continues to
inhabit his house on equal terms.
1t is plain to be seen from the look
in Jacks gooseberry green eyes that
he will be very glad when Nipper Is
ousted.
Yet he enjoys playing with him.
Early in the morning and the eve
ming are the favorite play times. Then
the two tiger cats, the one large ana
sleek, the other small and woody.
cavort hither and yon.
Two cats, we have learned, can
make just twice as much noise In
scampering as one. Nipper, since his
left hind leg is almost well. is quite
scamperer.
This solemn little fellow. whose dark
face never changes it's expression, Is
much quicker in his motions than old
Jack Spratt, who may or may not DO
| his grandfather. Certainly the two
| look enough alike.
Nipper is very clever with his claws.
When he gets a hold on catnip
| mouse or a string. he Is anchored To
it for keeps. He seldom misses, either,
owing to his trick of striking farther
out than he needs.
This method enables him to slide his
paw back over the article, SO that he
is sure to get grip. Old Jack merely
paws directly at a thing, but NippeP
overshoots the mark, and thus. in q
raking withdrawal, invariably hits Ii.
Score one for Nipper.
x X &
There will be a couple of tentative
news. a gurgled trill from Jack, and
softer one from the smaller cat, In
reality only a kitten.
They will touch noses, then jack
will bound away up the stairs. Afts<
him will scamper Nipper, his game
leg not seeming to hamper him q bit.
His gait is still unsteady on waxed
floors, on which he slips and slides.
Jack, on the other foot, Is a paste
master at handling himself on sliok
floors, digging In his four-paw brakes
or claws as he rounds a bend.
So up the steps they go, around tho
hall, into a bedroom, beneath the bed
out again, down the steps, into the
living room.
There Jack Spratt walks completely
over Nipper. knocking the little Eel.
low down. Nip throws himself on his
back. advancing both forelegs, which
he throws around Jacks neck.
Jack bites at Nipper's stomach
whereupon the little cat puts up q
mighty holler, at which Jack desists,
and walks away indignantly.
Nipper is game. however, and ins
mediately makes a sally at Jack, az
II nothing had happened. So away
they sail again. into the kitchen. down.
the basement stairs, knocking over y
soap box and upsetting the lawnmowss
in their flight.
Nipper. feeling particularly frisky.
jumps from the steps into the laundry
tubs.
Jack, peering at him from the steps.
no doubt would say, IL he could talk,
"Nipper. old top, you better keep out
of those tubs. You don't know what
they can do to you In those tubsi
You just wait and see. They can give
you a BATH"
X * x
Back in the living room again, Nip
per crouches as If to spring. Then
begins IA purposeful walk toward the
little cat. as if about to demolish him.
This Is the fighting walk of the tom
cat. When you see one walking
straight forward. then look out for
battle.
Little Nipper Immediately sensed
Jacks attitude. He ran behind a
chair. and crouched down, trying TO
avoid the oncomer. Seeing Nipper
fee. Jack lost interest in him. and
settled down to washing his white
est idea of "eating up on the large
kitten
Nlpper has grown tremendously
since the day We picked him up. He
has no particular desire to go out,
out when placed outdoors. immedi.
ately starts to wander away. Prob
ably Little Nipper is a born roamer.