<h2><SPAN name="II" id="II"></SPAN>II</h2>
<h3>DOG SPOT'S PLANS</h3>
<p><span class="smcap">Somehow</span> old dog Spot and Miss Kitty
Cat never became good friends. By the
time Miss Kitty Cat arrived on the farm
in Pleasant Valley Spot had lived there
several years.</p>
<p>From the first day he met Miss Kitty in
the kitchen Spot hadn't liked her. Yet
he claimed at the time that he was glad to
see her. He said that he could tell at once
that he was going to have great sport with
her. He knew it would be fun to chase
her!</p>
<p>Inside the farmhouse old Spot was careful
how he behaved. The moment Miss<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_6" id="p_6"></SPAN></span>
Kitty first set eyes on him she scurried
under the table, where she crouched and
glared at him. That was scarcely what
you might call a friendly greeting. And
Spot would have barked at her had he
dared.</p>
<p>Since he didn't, he only whined a bit
through his nose. You couldn't have told
what he meant by the sound.</p>
<p>Miss Kitty Cat didn't like his whining.
She even opened her mouth wide and said
as much. She made an odd hissing noise,
which amused old Spot greatly. And he
told Miss Kitty, in what was almost a
growl (except that it wasn't loud enough
for one), "Wait till I catch you out of
doors, my lady! I'll have some fun with
you."</p>
<p>Then Farmer Green's wife opened the
door and told Spot to be gone.</p>
<p>"You ought to be ashamed of your<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_7" id="p_7"></SPAN></span>
self—"
she scolded—"teasing a poor little
cat!"</p>
<p>Old dog Spot tucked his tail between his
legs and crept through the doorway, keeping
one eye on the broom that Mrs. Green
held in her hand. And as soon as he was
safely outside he gave two or three sharp
yelps, telling Miss Kitty Cat that he would
watch for her the very first time she set
foot in the yard.</p>
<p>Somehow Miss Kitty Cat wasn't specially
worried. She knew a thing or two
about dogs; and she didn't intend to let
old Spot bully her. It took her a few
minutes to get over her anger. And then
she came out from beneath the table and
lapped up the milk that Mrs. Green had
set temptingly on the floor, in a saucer.</p>
<p>When Miss Kitty had finished her
meal she washed her face—a duty that
she performed with great care, for she<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_8" id="p_8"></SPAN></span>
prided herself on always looking neat.</p>
<p>Watching her, no one would ever have
guessed what was in her mind. "I'd like
to wash that dog's face for him!" Miss
Kitty was saying to herself. "He'd have
some reason then for yelping and whining."</p>
<p>Having completed her toilet Miss Kitty
jumped into a chair that stood in the
sunshine, near a window. And there she
composed herself for a nap. When she
was well fed and well warmed she liked
nothing better than to curl herself up and
doze and dream.</p>
<p>Meanwhile old dog Spot was telling
everybody in the farmyard about the new
cat and the fun he intended to have with
her.</p>
<p>"There'll be lively times around here
when she comes outside the house," he
chuckled.</p>
<hr class="chapter" />
<p class="chapter"><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_9" id="p_9"></SPAN></span></p>
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