The Worthington advance., 1899-07-21

gled, wildly. I didn't know went out
last night and left the gas on, indeed, I
didn't, Mrs. Dalton; indeed, and double
deed, I didn't &
"Mrs. Dalton followed the hired girl
to the latter's room. The odor4of es-
Gaping gas which saluted her nostrils
nearly overpgvered her, and she was
forced to gasp for breath. The hired
girl rushed in and threw open the win
dow. Mrs. Dalton entered as soon as
she deemed it safe. There on his3silken
pallet lay Madison jerks, stark and
stiff in the eternal sleep.
"'Never mind, Katie she said, kind
ly, to the distracted girl. Accidents
will happen. The escaped gas will not
be deducted from your wages, so don't
worry
"'But Madison Jenks-what will Mr..
Dalton say?' sobbed the hired girl.
"'Of course, I m very, very sorry that
Madison jerks is dead, Katie said Dali
/ ton, when beseeched by Mrs. Dalton to
soothe the perturbed girl, for loved
him, as did>we all. Mr.. Briefs, the ex-
ecutor, will probably come home with
me to dinner, and then you must tell
him how it happened. Here's dollar
to buy perfume for your room.'' ,.
"Dalton wore black necktie and a
grave expression when he presented
himself at the Office of the executor
that morning. You have called at a
most opportune moment began the ex-
ecutor, as soon as Dalton entered, for
I have important news for you. We
have discovered another will Of your
aunt, which subsequents the one pro-
bated by seven months. In this one.
which shall have recorded at once, 5000
year is allowed for the maintenance
of your lamented aunt's cat, although
the provisions are slightly different
from those incorporated into the pro-
bated instrument. You are to have
charge of Madison jerks until his de-
mise, in which event, if you clearly
prove that death was due exclusively to
natural causes, the legacy is yours. But
should the cats death be due to acci-
dent or design, then the money goes to
the Society for Supplying Spyglasses to
Shipwrecked Sailors. Besides, it is set
forth that must inspect the tonceev-
cry two weeks instead of once a month.
as before. Permit me to congratulate
you on this addition to your income
''That afternoon man in black
necktie was securing the. length and
breadth of Harlem with basket on his
arms. For hours he rushed I'M and out
of those establishments which keep
small animals for sale and excitedly de-
manded Maltese cat-a replica of
Madison jerks. ~
/ f"tThe cat must be medium-sized very
much bloated and lazy,' explained Dali
ton to the youthful saleswoman who
approached him in the last animal shop
he visited.
".I've got exactly what you want
said she, indicating sleeping feline in
the show windows Dalton examined it,
and a smile of ecstatic joy overspread
his countenance. 1t was Madison jerks
all over again-bloated, lazy and utter
ly worthless. The cat was a bargain,
said the saleswoman - $3.9S. Dalton
bolted for home.
Whatever you do, Katie said heto
the hired girl, do not turn the gas on
Madison jerks the second, and never
forget the name.. You may forget, how
ever, that there ever was a Madison
jerks the first, and be sure you mention
not the fact of his sudden taking off, :,
g 1T was narrow escape he told his
wife thatnight. 'I'm glad you said moth
ing about that cats death to the chill
dren.' And the peace of mind of the
| adult inmates thus restored, the Dalton
household settled down to it's usual
repose and vocations. Madison jerks
successor took kindly to it's new. en-
tironment, as well it might, for never
was a feline soHp pampered or5watched
with such anxious care.
The executor will be up Saturday,
said. Dalton to Mrs. Dalton, one
Wednesday evening, as he returned
from the office.
We'll, hope Madison jerks II. will
be on hand returned she. 4 haven't
seen him all afternoon, although am
sure he is about the house, -.
s'But on Thursday the<cat was still
missing. Dalton nearly had a fit when
the delinquency was reported to him at
night, and prolonged search was
made. It came to naught. .$I 1
The cat is somewhere about the
house, + know insisted Mrs. Dalton.
There is no possible way by which he
could run off, and I'm sure he doesn't
want to, after the treatment he has
been getting. However, the children
and will look again in the morning. I
expect he is hiding in the garret, Tor
there are lots Of mice up there. '
Friday night the Dalt ton atmosphere
was decidedly squally. Madison jerks
was still invisible. Saturday morning
dawned and the storm 81 doubt and