Certain Cat Characteristics 



lowed the move. Pierre and Jeanne were taking their 

 usual game in the sunshine of the little shop door, 

 when a big brindled stranger appeared on the ban- 

 quette without. Straight as a die, Jeanne was in her 

 cage, and Pierre had gone in hot pursuit of the brindle. 

 The chase was a hard one, and Mam'zelle says Pierre 

 must have been gone a long time, but she was busy 

 serving customers, and by and by she noticed Jeanne 

 hopping about the counter. Thinking that Pierre had 

 returned she took no further notice of the bird. A 

 little later, however, hearing a dreadful commotion 

 out on the banquette, she ran out to witness the sad 

 little tragedy which I, too, arrived just in time to see, 

 but too late to prevent. Taking advantage of Pierre's 

 protracted absence, an ugly tortoise-shell from the 

 next block strolled to the little shop in search of 

 Jeanne. Finding her out hopping about unprotected, 

 he began siege at once. Mam'zelle and I arrived 

 just in time to see the tortoise-shell pounce on poor 

 Jeanne as she perched on top of the swinging cage, and 

 bear her with him to the pavement. Before either 

 of us could interpose, the deed was done, and then in 

 a moment came Pierre rushing round the corner, and 

 as quick as a flash he had taken in the situation. With 

 one fierce bound he sprang upon the tortoise-shell 

 and swept poor Jeanne from his clutches. For a 

 brief moment he sat guarding her, but that moment 

 was long enough to tell him he was too late. Then, 

 letting Mam'zelle take the little corpse from undei 



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