’’THE SPRUCE CA°"
Another One by George T. hksury
The sky was overcast, the hurrying winds wev e driving the low—hung
clouds rapidly up the Lyfc*i Canal towards SI:agwa;yt From down the read that leads
through the main pant of Haines a figure came striding along singing in raucous
monotone:
'Oh it ain’t go in’ to rain no more.
’C'h it ain't go in' to rair nc mere.
,:Ch hov; the —■•**«•
"rteyb that’s ya hollerin' sjjboutj Ya sick?’' asked Fa' Eg thews from the
corner of the porch in front of John Peterson's st?re„
"---can some folks tell
"It a in t goin5 to ram no mere?"
mu -
xnc oaiigci ue^euiiti bijLunx, sxoppea, cocKua nis ne&a xo one siae* i.uuK.ea
with benign expression toward Fat *%thews and exclaimed:
f ’’Well, if it ain’t my old friend Kat Mathews from th(e Hospital Corps.
How s your health* Temperature and respiration nonrB.1T Cuticle free from all exzerra
and spotty discolorations? No local pains nor spasms? Good’, Take your post*”
’’Can the comedy, Pedro’- Tell us where ya been, and don’t give me any
more tales about any ‘Lamenting Lid jits either and moreover 1 haven't got any Chester
field cigarettes but for your own information and future guidance 1 desire to inform
you that about twenty feet north of whece I'm standing is a cigar counter where you
can purchase cigars, cigarettes and tobacco for the necessary coin of the realm,"
said Fh t.
"I thank you for them kind words, old Dear; but I'm on my way to the bar
racks and rrust hurry, though I fain would bide with thee,5' replied Pedro,, as he swung
around, exposing a small animal which thrust its head *rom his pocket«
"Hey, wait a mi nut el That you got there?" exclaimed lfet•
"I told you I was in a hm:ry, but if yoTl" 11 lend me two bits until I can
get some cigarettes fronrPete, I’ll tell you how ~ come to catch that animal," said
Pedro •
’’Here* s two bits and don't forget the n..,.mber„ either, " grunted Fkt, keep
ing his eyes on the little animal as he fished around in his pocket after a lone
quarter which Pedro accepted, entered the store, greeted Pete; purchased a package
of cigaretted, lit one, and returned to Fats who asked him:
"Well, give us the story, and no lies*, What is it, where did you get it *:
"Thisanimal though not large is very peculiar* Notice it’s claws* They
are sharp in order to climb the rough surface of trees after its food, - fungasses. No
ice its sweet, winsome face, them ears, those nose, them hair and, oh, abo - q all,
tbfem tail. It’s a spruce cat* A real, honest spruce cat," sail ^edrj„
"Spruce cat1* It looks like a calico kixten to me " snorted Fat*
"Well, to show you IP m a sport, I'll give it to you- Ask any old timer
if it isn't a spruce cat* I've got to be goingl See you later,’ Pedro said, thrust:*
the animal in Fht's hands and departing hastily* Fat held the animal looking at it
dubiously•
"Hey1* % ma says she saw you steal that cat, and she'll report you to the
Major if you don't give it to meV A small boy wried as he sprang around the corney
and reached for his pet kitten,. Fat looked at the boyi at the cat, at the receeding
back of ^edro and explosively exclaimed’*
"Spruce cat'* Real honest spruce cat'. And he got my last two bits, too'."
1st LT* WALTER J. UNGETHUEM was orator of the day at a recent meeting of
the Juneau Chamber of Commerce* He told of the National plan of Defense, and referred
to the work done at Chilkoot Barracks, especially the marksmanship records achieved
here, and to the recent visit of theSoy Scouts.