The Coolidge examiner., 1937-03-04

that the creature possessed at that
early age.
Naturally backed away. Smudge
strobe into the center of the room,
looked around her, sneering at our
furniture, and then leaped first to
book shelf and then to the mantel-
piece.
Come here. Smudge," 7 said.
That's nice kitty" Warily
stretched forth my hand
In response the newcomer arched
her back, walked few steps on her
extended tiptoes, danced a sort Of
a war-dance and then flung herself
lik a catapult directly at me. 1
fielded her deftly, clamped my fin
gers around her jaws, and deposited
her gently on the floor For few
minutes she strolled about the room,
holding her enlarged tail at right
angles with her spine, and indicat-
ing by her expression that she had
seen lots better places than the one
in which she now found herself.
While she was still on parade
her former owner cried:
"Oh pick her up. The dog! The
dog!".
The dog entered. smiled in an
ticipation of a pleasant quarter of
an hour, and advanced on his prey.
The prey flattened herself on the
floor, revolving slowly as the dog
walked around and around her.
Then she lifted herself into the air.
alighted exactly on her pursuer's
back, drove her claws home, and
the pair of them, still firmly united,
left the room. In the hall the i'm
provised horse regained his senses
and dived under a chair Scraping
Smudge from his shoulders. Then
he walked with a feeble SWagger
into the kitchen, yelped to the cook
that he desired to stroll around the
yard for the time being, and never
returned until late in the evening.
When he did come back he merely
thrust his head inside the door,
looked around in all directions, and
then to make assurance doubly sure
scuttled down the cellar stairs and
found refuge in his box.
In time he and Smudge buried
the hatchet. but they both remem-
bered where it was, and exhumed
it on a number of occasions which
were not gala occasions for the dog.
1t was after Smudge had been
with us for about three weeks when
an arrogant rat, which had reused
the dog to fury by squeaking at
him Savagely. and then Whisking
back into his hole when pursued.
decided to take walk around the
dining room one night. 1t was an
unwiSe decision. Smudge who was
sleeping on an unoccupied guest bed
at the time heard him and stepped
down to find out what could be afoot
at such an hour of the night. The
fatal mistake made by the rat on
that occasion was one which has
lost great generals many a brilliant
victory. He underestimate his en-
emy.
Instead of returning prudent,y to
his .Ole, which any rat moderately
gifted with reason would have done.
he decided to stand and fight. His
cries for mercy. which were MANY
and piteouS, aroused us all from
sleep, but they fell on deaf ears
as far as Smudge was concerned.
When we arrived to find out what
had made all the riot and turned on
the light we saw four legs moving
slowly to and fro, as their owner Law
on his back, breathing his last, and
a small cat, not nearly the size of
her adversary running a paw over
her ears as If to shut out the dying
supplications of her enemy.
Such is Smudge. She is a pleas
ant and agreeable cat when she
wants to be. But her idea of play
is not consistent with the peace or
safety of the members of the family.
My hands are continually inscribed
with her little curlycue autographs,
and am never sure when she will
step around my shoulder and nip
nick out of my ear. Still, she does
it all in spirit of good clean fun,
and her gallant fighting soul, and
the music of her occasional purr has
insured her a home with us as long
as she shall desire it.
g Bell Syndcate.-WNU Service.
EOIk Muc;o ~, GgA1,y