But all the cat thought of was that a boy was chasing her and wanted to catch her, and Blackie did not want to be caught. So she ran as fast as she could.
Across the street, [under a wagon, between the legs of a horse, and under an automobile, sprang the black cat. After her ran the red-haired boy.] He stopped to pick up the red ribbon and bell.
“Maybe if I can’t catch the cat the lady will give me ten cents for the ribbon and bell,” said the boy to himself. “Ten cents is better than nothing, and maybe I won’t get the cat. She runs very fast.”
The boy was one who had been around the railroad station when Mrs. Thompson missed Blackie, and when she had offered a dollar reward to get back her pet.
On and on ran the black cat through the streets of the country town. In and out she dodged among the men and women who were hurrying along the street.
A woman saw the running cat, and she saw the boy chasing after her.
“Here, little boy, why are you chasing that poor cat?” asked the woman. “Don’t you know it isn’t right to chase cats?”
“Yes’m—I—I know,” said the red-haired boy, who was breathing quite fast. “But I’m not chasing this cat to do her any harm. I want to catch her for a lady who’ll give me a dollar for her. The cat got out of her basket.”
“Humph!” said the woman, looking over the tops of her glasses at the red-haired boy. “I’ve heard of folks letting the cat out of the bag, but I never heard of anybody letting one out of a basket.”
“This lady was at the railroad station,” said the boy, as he ran on after Blackie. “She is Mrs. Thompson.”