and they mingled their cackles.

"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!"

"Such dignity--such 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, madam