Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-11-18
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 49, 1897
Johnny, a Cat,
and Cupid
. --ss----
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS
(Copyright.)

IpltN hA1 MOND llStSneu 10 inc
- most blood-curdllng sharpening of
a knife that he had ever heard. Was
there to be tremendous Strengthening
In the Hat next door or was 1t merely
that some one was about to carve
something's
Certainly whoever was sharpening
that knife intended to get keen edge
on 1t and no mistake
No wonder the gorgeous blue Per
Sian cat, who occupied sunny por
ton of the fence dividing the gardens
one flight below, bounded frantlcallI
up the fire escape to see what It was
all about.
John Raymond would like to have
known, too, as his curiosity was
aroused. Every morning, since the
windows had been opened to welcome
the new spring, he had listened to that
knife-sharpenlng process and tried to
picture what breakfast dainty could =
possibly necessitate so keen knife.
And each morning as the lovely cat
heard It, he dashed like streak Of
silver lightning into the open window.
Raymond had used every cat call
In his vocabulary to lure the hand
some pet into his own Hat, but Johnny,
MS he had heard the cat called, simply
stared at him with those wonderful
topaz eyes and kept his distance,
And the more aloof Johnny kept
himself, the more eager was Raymond
to induce him inside. Raymond was
not only cat lover but he painted an
imals in so successful manner as to
have considerable fame to his credit
as an artist.
Then, like flash the truth dawned
ON Raymond.
The sharpening Of the knife was
some secret code between cat and
master or mistress, whichever the case
might be. No doubt Johnny knew
that bit of meat was to be cut for
him when that sound reached his
ears, and he lost no time in demand
Ing it.
Consequently, next day, when Ray
mond felt that the fiat next door was
empty of Its human inhabitants, he got
out his own carving knife and tempt
ing bit of fresh liver and sharpened
away with all his might.
A flash, and Johnny had whlrled
himself into Raymond's open window.
There was no more aloofness John
ny was purrlng and rubbing most af-
fectlonately against Raymonds legs
and gazing up with his great topaz
eyes. In fact, Johnny put his two
silky paws on the edge of Raymond's
breakfast table and left two smutty
paw marks thereon.
That was the beginning of a new
friendship. Johnny, being left for
several hours day all by himself,
he made himself comfortable In Ray
mond's sunny fiat.
And Raymond set to work on a
painting that was later to dazzle the
eyes Of the animal lovers world.
Raymond had wisely left bit of Chi
nese blue velvet carelessly on the sun
ny window ledge, knowing full well
that Johnny would easily ensconce
himself thereon.
And the painting progressed won
derfully until one evening toward sun
set when Raymond had closed the
window with Johnny on the inside.
Suddenly into his artists dream
burst the sound of frantic feminine
voice.
kitty, kitty, KITTY Come John
ny-COME JOHNNY and later the
loud sharpening of knife.
Raymond jumped to his feet and
opened the window, but as a matter
of fact Johnny never moved-he was
well fed and most coy on his Chinese
blue velvet cushion.
"Are you calling a blue Persian
catY' asked Raymond with a guilty
look on his face, because II you are
he's In here with me-"
swell, | like that Entlclng my
beautiful cat into your fiat and lock-
Ing him in. think I will report you
to"
"My dear young lady" expOstuated
Raymond while he definitely admired
the speaker-or at least the little
glimpse he had of her, Il merely want
ed to make a portrait of your cat
he's the most beautiful animal I've
ever seen"
"Ohw exclaimed Miss Jarvis, hang
Ing so far out of the window now that
Raymond was fearful Of her topping
out, "could just have a peep at It,"
Raymond beamed and Miss Jarvis
discovered what she had felt for
long time, unbeknown to Raymond,
that she should like her masculine
neighbor-she had often watched him
going In and out OF the fiat but he
seemed always so preOccupied that
she had dcspalred Of ever knowing
him.
"Only upon the condition that you
refrain from reporting me to the po-
lice as a cat thief haven't any dc.
sire to figure In the papers"
Johnny In the meantime had arisen
from his velvet cushion, stretched
himself and yawned comfortably. His
sitting for the day seemed to be over
and he approached Miss Jaryls.
She took him fondly In her arms
and he rubbed his soft head against
her hands In perfectly happy cat love.
lie purred and was perhaps telling
her all about the portrait.
"And when am to see Johnny's
plctureT asked Miss Jarvis
an bring It round to your flat door
If ! rnay-rlght away, II y5u'Il let
me-" said Raymond and while the
silyery Johnny and his golden mistress
disappeared from The window, Cupid