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Animal Heroes
〃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！〃
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Animal Heroes
〃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 hours
drinking 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 Slum Kitty who made that show a success。 Each day her value
went up in her owner's eyes。 He did not know what prices had been given
for Cats； and thought that he was touching a record pitch when his 〃butler〃
gave the director authority to sell the Analostan for one hundred dollars。
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Animal Heroes
This is how it came about that the Slum Cat found herself transferred
from the show to a Fifth Avenue mansion。 She evinced a most
unaccountable wildness at first。 Her objection to petting； however； was
explained on the ground of her aristocratic dislike of familiarity。 Her
retreat from the Lap…dog onto the centre of the dinner…table was
understood to express a deep…rooted though mistaken idea of avoiding a
defiling touch。 Her assaults on a pet Canary were condoned for the reason
that in her native Orient she had been used to despotic example。 The
patrician way in which she would get the cover off a milk…can was
especially applauded。 Her dislike of her silk…lined basket； and her frequent
dashes against the plate…glass windows； were easily understood： the basket
was too plain； and plate…glass was not used in her royal home。 Her
spotting of the carpet evidenced her Eastern modes of thought。 The failure
of her several attempts to catch Sparrows in the high…walled back yard was
new proof of the royal impotency of her bringing up； while her frequent
wallowings in the garbage…can were understood to be the manifestation of
a little pardonable high…born eccentricity。 She was fed and pampered；
shown and praised； but she was not happy。 Kitty was homesick！ She
clawed at that blue ribbon round her neck till she got it off； she jumped
against the plate…glass because that seemed the road to outside； she
avoided people and Dogs because they had always proved hostile and
cruel； and she would sit and gaze on the roofs and back yards at the other
side of the window； wishing she could be among them for a change。
But she was strictly watched； was never allowed outsideso that all
the happy garbage…can moments occurred while these receptacles of joy
were indoors。 One night in March； however； as they were set out a…row for
the early scavenger； the Royal Analostan saw her chance； slipped out of
the door； and was lost to view。
Of course there was a grand stir； but Pussy neither knew nor cared
anything about thather one thought was to go home。 It may have been
chance that took her back in the direction of Gram