Evening star., 1936-01-19
THIS WEEK
Village Cat
Continued from page six


the other beast duplicated the
movement. Then. as gust of wind
moved the door gently, the other cat
seemed to slther forward. Village
Cat spat. and hissed j.. and ran -
through the open window of the front
room. and found himself breathing
hard, but unharmed. on the luscious,
dirty-smelling sidewalk once more.
For a moment he stood without
purpose. 1t was enough to be free once
more, free from the terrors that lurked
within the House. Then he heard
familiar insulting voice 1t was the
Perry Street Bruiser, shifting the air
suspiciously.
All there. Sweetheart, he said in
high, mincing falsetto. lust moved
into the neighborhood? Come here and
get your face rubbed in the dirt, you
spotted sissy"
Village Cat bridled. Desperation
made him tingle with courage.
Sweetheart" he snared. I'D Just
as soon paste youse one as look at
youse!'
The Perry Street Bruiser stared.
Then he gave a yowl of derision.
We'll. if it amt me old friend
Garbage Pete! Gone Ritzy! Pipe the
ribbon in his hair! And oh, boy,
poi.ume on him! Yow!'
Village Cat jumped at him. For an
instant there was terrific tumult of
tlaylng claws and flying fur. Somehow
the ribbon became entangled in Vii
lage Cats legs. He felt as if he were
choking to death The Br,liser was on
top of him. mauling, slashing with
claws terrible in their strength and
viclousness. Suddenly he heard an
energetic voice say, "Scram. you big
bruiser! Picking on a littler guy. -
The BruiSer ran. Village Cat, weak
and gasping. felt himself being picked
up. He recognized a familiar tobacco
smell. He was being carried down into
the small. rather grimy apartment.
The black Click Thing was there on
the table, and the piles of papers, and
the litter of bottles. tin cans, and
cigarette stubs. 1t was definitely not the
kind of a House the Pretty Girl had.
next door. But just at that moment, it
seemed veritable cat heaven.
The Big Young Man took off the
choking ribbon. and smoothed down
Village Cats disheveled fur.
Bit off bigger argument than
you could chew didn't you? But gosh,
l don't blame you. If anyone dolled
me up like that, I'd fight too
He opened can of corned beef, and
dumped part of it in dirty saucer.
There you are, Tough Guy, help
yourself to he-man's meal. Who in
the world gave you all the flossy
trimmings: Got into the clutches of a
nice elderly maiden lady, eh?"
From outside the open rear door,
there percoiated voice in distress.
"Lovey! Lov-eer'
The Big Young Man cooked an ear.
Tough Guy, you don't look to me
like a Lovey. But. let's go and find
out" With Village Cat in his arms,
he went out into a small cemented
yard. The high fence concealed the
green and f1owered little garden on
the other side. The Big Young Man
dragged out an old soap box and
stood on it. His head and shoulders,
rising like those of a Jack -in-the- box
startled the Pretty Girl.
Madam" he said, lis this the cat
you're looking for?" He exhibited
Village Cat in all of his damaged
condition.
The Pretty Girl gave little shrek.
"Oh! What have you done to
Lovey?"
II beg your pardon" replied the Big
Young Man icily. II have done
nothing but rescue your be-ribboned
sissy from -"
There was crash, as the box gave
way and the Big Young Man and
Village Cat disannearad amid swear