THE DEED THAT FAILED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 61

THE DEED THAT FAILED.

"The cat must die,"' said Nurse, and looked at me. Now Nurse is massive and accustomed to quelling refractory patients with her eye. I am not a patient, but I felt the force of the eye ; it said as plainly as possible, "And you must do it." I answeied hesitatingly : "I— l— have never killed a cat. ' "No matter,"' she continued ; "you ought to kill it because it is your cat, and you brought it here. Iv, ill give you this little bottle of prussic 'acid— there is enough to kill t-\vo cats." I took the 'bottle disconsolately, while the little school teacher suggested that as Nurse was more accustomed to that sort of thing, wouldn't she do it. "What do you mean by 'that sort of thing "r" said' Nurse uith asperity. "I cure peo,ple ; I don't kill them." "Oh, I beg pardon," replied the little teacher, nervously. There was no help for it— the cat ought to be killed ; it was disreputable, and always fighting with neighbouring cats, and bringing discredit upon the household Besides it had lo«t pait of one ear, and lumps of fur in patches, which gave it a mangy appearance. I had a sneaking regard for that cat, in spite of all this. It had followed me home one New Year's night, and refused to leave. It was big and black, with rouid yellow eyes that perpetually reminded one* of the last word in the Marriage Service. At times, too, it had a knowing smile, as if to say. "I 'in not such a fool after all." Slowly I inspected the pantry shelves for something tempting on which to put the acid. Cold sausage seemed the most suitable, as it mashed up. I poured half the contents, of the bottle over it and half-heaitedly called the cat, hoping it wouldn't hear. "Call louder,"' snapped Nurse ; "louder yet ; the creature can't hear that murmur. The little teacher went out of one door and flammed it. saying something about "brutal murder " : the cat came running in at the other. "Here, puss ! Poor puss !" I said in a quavering voice, wobbling the dish. She followed me out into the yard, while Nurse looked on from the window. I put down the dish, and the cat ran to it." when with a rush a huge grey cat, a special enemy, sprang forward and snapped up the sausage. Hastily fleeing to the kitchen, I gasped : "I've killed the wrong cat." "Yes." said Nurse, still at the window ; "he's just giving his last kick. It's Mrs Smith's pet torn ; you should have chased him away. However, there's enough in the bottle for the oi.hei. ' . „ T "I can't be expected to do it again, 1 remonstrated. "The cat mu-t die'"' reiterated Nurse, austerely. "Yes, ye"," I mvrn.iueu weekly ; ot course, of course '" . Win I pounded sausage, again I called the°cat, which returned full of confidence and good will This time I put her in the wash-hoi^e. having visions of nate neighbours and shuttmt? the door went oft to get ready for church. In half an hour I stole into the kitchen, intending to see if the end had come As I entered a plaintive mew greeted me. and there, sitting on a chair gazing in wide-ejed reproach, sat the black cat— 11 it's ght^t For a moment I staied, not sure which, 'but when a mocking smile stole over its countenance my anger rose "Twice, wretch, have I tried to kill" you ; I shall not bs baulked a thi"d time 1 "'! cried, nnd foithwith seized the plate with the sausage, put some fresh meat on top, shut the window (which before I had inadvertently left open), and thrusting cat and plate inside, banged the door and went to church. On returning, headed by Nurse, we formed a piocesMon to view the corpse. Cautiously "we looked in. Theie was the plate w ith the fresh meat eaten off. and the cat smiling cheerfully by its side. Joyously she sprang up. aichcd her back, and rubbed her mangy sides against us in friendly fashion. . "You've failed again, exclaimed Nurse. "Yes," I cried, with determination in my voice, "and now the cat shall live!"' That night we buued Mrs Smith's giey cit in the back yaid, and the black one sang funeral dirges till the early mom

Ethel R. Penja.min, Ba-uister and Sohsilor, Albert Buildings, Pimces street, thined'n (oppcsito C.P.0.), haD tiust rnoueyj to leud 03 approved security.— Adv*