take their evening meal he very soon decided to join them。 The
old Cat was puzzled。 The hunter instinct had been dominant； but
absence of hunger had saved the Rabbit and given the maternal
instinct a chance to appear。 The result was that the Rabbit
became a member of the family； and was thenceforth guarded and
fed with the Kittens。
Two weeks went by。 The Kittens romped much among the boxes during
their mother's absence。 The Rabbit could not get out of the box。
Jap Malee； seeing the Kittens about the back yard； told the negro
to shoot them。 This he was doing one morning with a 22…calibre
rifle。 He had shot one after another and seen them drop from
sight into the crannies of the lumber…pile； when the old Cat came
running along the wall from the dock； carrying a small Wharf Rat。
He had been ready to shoot her； too； but the sight of that Rat
changed his plans： a rat…catching Cat was worthy to live。 It
happened to be the very first one she had ever caught； but it
saved her life。 She threaded the lumber…maze to the cracker…box
and was probably puzzled to find that there were no Kittens to
come at her call； and the Rabbit would not partake of the Rat。
Pussy curled up to nurse the Rabbit； but she called from time to
time to summon the Kittens。 Guided by that call； the negro
crawled quietly to the place； and peering down into the
cracker…box； saw； to his intense surprise； that it contained the
old Cat； a live Rabbit； and a dead Rat。
The mother Cat laid back her ears and snarled。 The negro
withdrew； but a minute later a board was dropped on the opening
of the cracker…box； and the den with its tenants； dead and alive；
was lifted into the bird…cellar。
〃Say； boss； look a…hyarhyar's where de
little Rabbit got to wot we lost。 Yo' sho t'ought Ah stoled him
for de 'tater…bake。〃
Kitty and Bunny were carefully put in a large wire cage and
exhibited as a happy family till a few days later； when the
Rabbit took sick and died。
Pussy had never been happy in the cage。 She had enough to eat and
drink； but she
craved her freedomwould likely have gotten 'death or liberty'
now； but that during the four days' captivity she had so cleaned
and slicked her fur that her unusual coloring was seen； and Jap
decided to keep her。
LIFE II
VI
Jap Malee was as disreputable a little Cockney bantam as ever
sold cheap Canary…birds in a cellar。 He was extremely poor； and
the negro lived with him because the 'Henglish…man' was willing
to share bed and board； and otherwise admit a perfect equality
that few Americans conceded。 Jap was perfectly honest according
to his lights； but he hadn't any lights； and it was well known
that his chief revenue was derived from storing and restoring
stolen Dogs and Cats。 The half…dozen Canaries were mere blinds。
Yet Jap believed in himself。 〃Hi tell you； Sammy； me boy； you'll
see me with 'orses of my own yet；〃 he would say； when some
trifling success inflated his dirty little chest。 He was not
without ambition； in a weak； flabby； once…in…a…while way； and he
sometimes wished to be known as a fancier。 Indeed； he had once
gone the wild length of offering a Cat for exhibition at the
Knickerbocker High Society Cat and Pet Show； with three not
over…clear objects： first； to gratify his ambition； second； to
secure the exhibitor's free pass； and； third； 〃well； you kneow；
one 'as to kneow the valuable Cats； you kneow； when one goes
a…catting。〃 But this was a society show； the exhibitor had to be
introduced； and his miserable alleged half…Persian was scornfully
rejected。 The 'Lost and Found' columns of the papers were the
only ones of interest to Jap； but he had noticed and saved a
clipping about 'breeding for fur。' This was stuck on the wall of
his den； and under its influence he set about what seemed a cruel
experiment with the Slum Cat。 First； he soaked her dirty fur with
stuff to kill the two or three kinds of creepers she wore； and；
when it had done its work； he washed her thoroughly in soap and
warm water； in spite of her teeth； claws； and yowls。 Kitty was
savagely indignant； but a warm and happy glow spread over her as
she dried off in a cage near the stove； and her fur began to
fluff out with wonderful softness and whiteness。 Jap and his
assistant were much pleased with the result； and Kitty ought to
have been。 But this was preparatory： now for the experiment。
〃Nothing is so good for growing fur as plenty of oily food and
continued exposure to cold weather；〃 said the clipping。 Winter
was at hand； and Jap Malee put Kitty's cage out in the yard；
protected only from the rain and the direct wind； and fed her
with all the oil…cake and fish…heads she could eat。 In a week a
change began to show。 She was rapidly getting fat and sleekshe
had nothing to do but get fat and dress her fur。 Her cage was
kept clean； and nature responded to the chill weather and the
oily food by making Kitty's coat thicker and glossier every day；
so that by midwinter she was an unusually beautiful Cat in the
fullest and finest of fur； with markings that were at least a
rarity。 Jap was much pleased with the result of the experiment；
and as a very little success had a wonderful effect on him； he
began to dream of the paths of glory。 Why not send the Slum Cat
to the show now coming on？ The failure of the year before made
him more careful as to details。 〃'T won't do； ye kneow； Sammy； to
henter 'er as a tramp Cat； ye kneow；〃 he observed to his help；
〃but it kin be arranged to suit the Knickerbockers。 Nothink like
a good noime； ye kneow。 Ye see now it had orter be 'Royal'
somethink or othernothink goes with the Knickerbockers like
'Royal' anythink。 Now 'Royal Dick；' or 'Royal Sam；' 'ow's that？
But 'owld on； them's Tom names。 Oi say； Sammy； wot's the noime of
that island where ye wuz born？〃
〃Analostan Island； sah； was my native vicinity； sah。〃
〃Oi say； now； that's good； ye kneow。 'Royal Analostan；' by Jove！
The onliest pedigreed 'Royal Analostan' in the 'ole sheow； ye
kneow。 Ain't that foine？〃 and they mingled their cackles。
〃But we'll 'ave to 'ave a pedigree； ye kneow。〃 So a very long
fake pedigree on the recognized lines was prepared。 One dark
afternoon Sam； in a borrowed silk hat； delivered the Cat and the
pedigree at the show door。 The darkey did the honors。 He had been
a Sixth Avenue barber； and he could put on more pomp and lofty
hauteur in five minutes than Jap Malee could have displayed in a
lifetime； and this； doubtless； was one reason for the respectful
reception awarded the Royal Analostan at the Cat Show。
Jap was very proud to be an exhibitor； but he had all a Cockney's
reverence for the upper class； and when on the opening day he
went to the door； he was overpowered to see the array of
carriages and silk hats。 The gate…man looked at him sharply； but
passed him on his ticket； doubtless taking him for stable…boy to
some exhibitor。 The hall had velvet carpets before the long rows
of cages。 Jap； in his small cunning； was sneaking down the side
rows； glancing at the Cats of all kinds； noting the blue ribbons
and the reds； peering about but not daring to ask for his own
exhibit； inly trembling to think what the gorgeous gathering of
fashion would say if they discovered the trick he was playing on
them。 He had passed all around the outer aisles and seen many
prize…winners； but no sign of Slum Kitty。 The inner aisles were
more crowded。 He picked his way down them； but still no Kitty；
and he decided that it was a mistake； the judges had rejected the
Cat later。 Never mind； he had his exhibitor's ticket； and now
knew where several valuable Persians and Angoras were to be
found。
In the middle of the centre aisle were the high…class Cats。 A
great throng was there。 The passage was roped； and two policemen
were in place to keep the crowd moving。 Jap wriggled in among
them； he was too short to see over； and though the richly gowned
folks shrunk from his shabby old clothes； he could not get near；
but he gathered from the remarks that the gem of the show was
there。
〃Oh； isn't she a beauty！〃 said one tall woman。
〃What distinction！〃 was the reply。
〃One cannot mistake the air that comes only from ages of the most
refined surroundings。〃
〃How I should like to own that superb creature！〃
〃Such dignitysuch repose！〃
〃She has an authentic pedigree nearly back to the Pharaohs； I
hear〃； and poor； dirty little Jap marvelled at his own cheek in
sending his Slum Cat into such company。
〃Excuse me； madame。〃 The director of the show now appeared；
edging his way through the crowd。 〃The artist of the'sporting
Element' is here； under orders to sketch the 'pearl of the show'
for immediate use。 May I ask you to stand a little aside？ That's
it； thank you。
〃Oh； Mr。 Director； cannot you persuade him to sell that beautiful
creature？〃
〃Hm； I don't know；〃 was the reply。 〃I understand he is a man of
ample means and
not at all approachable； but I'11 try； I'll try； madame。 He was
quite unwilling to exhibit his treasure at all； so I understand
from his butler。 Here； you； keep out of the way；〃 growled the
director； as the shabby little man eagerly pushed between the
artist and the blue…blooded Cat。 But the disreputable one wanted
to know where valuable Cats were to be found。 He came near enough
to get a glimpse of the cage； and there read a placard which
announced that 〃The blue ribbon and gold medal of the
Knickerbocker High Society Cat and Pet Show〃 had been awarded to
the 〃thoroughbred； pedigreed Royal Analostan； imported and
exhibited by J。 Malee； Esq。； the well…known fancier。 （Not for
sale。）〃 Jap caught his breath and stared again。 Yes； surely；
there； high in a gilded cage； on velvet cushions； with four
policemen for guards； her fur bright black and pale gray； her
bluish eyes slightly closed； was his Slum Kitty； looking the
picture of a Cat bored to death with a lot of fuss that she likes
as little as she understands it。
VII
Jap Malee lingered around that cage； taking in the remarks； for
hoursdrinking a draught of glory such as he had never known in
life before and rarely glimpsed in his dreams。 But he saw that it
would be wise for him to remain unknown； his 〃butler〃 must do all
the business。
It was