The Cat Came Back

Henry Valtz and Virgie Wise, reBiding in the eastern part of Bourbon county, Kentucky, had a pitched battle the ottier day, all because the "eat came back," and Valtz is dangerouslv wounded. Va tz and Wise were friends. Some four months sinco they were both sittiug on Wise's porch couversing about cats' attachment for certain localities. Henry Stem p, Wise's hired man, was to leave next' morning for Texas. Valtz said: "I would be willing to bet 8100 that Stemp can take your black cat to Texas with him and it will find iti way back home before two months." The bet was taken, and next morning Sterno left for Texas. cirrying the cat along in a box. One nigiit, just a month ago, Wise heard a mewing at his door. Investigation showed the inews emanated from the idemical black cat with which the hired man started to Texas. The cat was badly disfigured and al most starved, giving every evidence of having made a long journey. A letter from Stemp stated that he arrived in Texas with the cat and had tui-ned him loose. The SluO was paid to Valtz and nothing more would have been thought of it had Valtz not dne too much talking. He let it out that Stemp took the cat as far as Cineinnati, and then expressed it to Valtz at Paris. Valtz came to town one night, got the cat and tooU it home. He then half starved it, Bcratehed it up and allowed it to wander over to his neighbor's. He eolleeted the money and sent half to Stemp. Wise heard all this, met Valtz, unmercifully thumped him and has brought suit to recover the 8100. 1 Despair - Hope gone aetray.