er proud of them myself; but what
are your little brothers and sisters afraid of?" he added, as he noticed
them peeking at him out of the window. "I won't hurt them."

Just then the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe came out, and, seeing one
of her children talking to a strange cat who wore boots, she hurried up
to them and asked:

"Are you Puss in Boots?"

[Illustration: OUT ON A LIMB, FROM WHICH HE DANGLED HIS RED-TOPPED
BOOTS]

"No, ma'am, but I'm his son," was the quick reply. "I'm Puss in Boots,
Junior."

"Oh, of course," she said. "I knew your father years ago, and for a
moment I forgot how time flies. Yes, we were very good friends in those
old days. He was a very fine cat."

Puss, Jr., nodded politely.

"Won't you come in?" the Old Woman asked, turning toward her shoe house,
"though you may find it difficult, as I can hardly find room for all my
children. I suppose people think I'm very cross," she continued, as they
managed to squeeze past the children in the hallway, "because I give
them all a whipping before putting them to bed; but if I didn't, those I
put to bed first wouldn't lie still. You see, by the time I get the last
one to bed it's time to take the first one up for breakfast."

Puss, Jr., felt very sorry for her, as she didn't seem cross a bit, and
the children clung to her skirt in a loving manner.

"Will you have a bowl of broth?" she asked. "It is about lunch-time, and
I'm going to give the children some."

He thanked her, and said he would gladly, as he was hungry and tired. He
sat down with the children, who had by this time arranged themselves in
a row, each one with an empty bowl in his hands. The broth tasted very
good, and Puss, Jr., felt so much better after eating it that he
proposed a game of tag. They all ran outside and stood around in a ring
while he counted "eeny, meeny, miney, mo," till all were out except
himself.

"You're it!" the children cried, gleefully.

What a frolic followed! He finally caught the biggest boy, making
believe for some time to miss the little tots, who screamed with fun as
he chased them in and out among the trees.

It was a different matter, however, when it came to catch Puss, Jr. At
last, with a jump, he ran up a tree and out on a limb, from which he
dangled his red-topped boots over their heads. When every one gave up,
he came down, and, after thanking the Old Woman for her kindness with a
flourish and bow, he resumed his journey.

PU