Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-08-10

OAAASSS
ligence, or some other of his legal quib-
hles.'
Disappearance is also out of the
question, too, I SUPPOSE continued
Mrs. Dalton, managing to raise her eyes
from the piano legs.
"'Quite,' returned Dalton with de-
cision. Madison jerks must meet with
fatal accident. He sleeps in the hired
girls room, doesn't hep
ayes said Mrs. Dalton, wondering
~, but what has that got to do with
Madison jerks ill-health or sudden de-
mise?'
"'Nothing MUCH Dalton replied,
only this is the hired girls night off,
I believer
"'It Isl returned Mrs. Dalton, still
perplexed.
"'Very WE'LL continued Dalton, let
her stay away all night
"'She always does,' Mrs. Dalton an
swered, and would have questioned Dali
ton further, but he said the interview
was at an end for the time being, so
she went about her household duties.
1T was half-past ten when Mrs. Dali
ton shifted the air vigorously and sus-
piciously. Her hair was in curl-papers
and Dalton had already turned in.
Don't you smell gas? she inquired
anxiously.
"'My DEAR retorted Dalton from his
pillow, your overactive imagination
will be your undoing.'
Nevertheless, she visited the chill
dren's rooms, the parlor, the dining
room. and the library before she was
satisfied that it might have been a trick
of her Imagination or lack of olfactory
discrimination.
"Early the next morning she was
reused from a sound ,slumber by a loud
rap at her chamber door. The hired girl
stood without, sobbing Historically and
trembling violently.
"'It's about Madison JenLs,' she CUR
gled, wildly. L didn't know went out
last night and left the gas on, indeed, I
deed, didn't
''Mrs. Dalton followed the hired girl
to the latter's room. The odor of es-
Gaping gas which saluted her nostrls
nearly overpowered 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 his sill1en
pallet lay Madison jerks, stark and
stiff in the eternal sleep.
"'Never mind, Katie she said, kind
~, 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, IN 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
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 acct
dent or design, then the money goes to
the Society for Supplying Spyglasses to
Shipwrecked Sailors. Besides, it is set
forth that I must inspect the cat once ev-
cry two weeks instead of once a month.
as before. Permit me to congratulate
you on this addition to your income
''That afternoon a man in black
necktie was securing the length and
breadth of Harlem with a basket on his
arms. For hours he rushed in and out
of those establishments which keep
small animals for sale and eNcitedly de-
manded Maltese cat-a replica of
Madison jerks.
"'The cat must be medium-sized, very
much bloated and lazy explained Dal-
ton to the youthful saleswoman who
approached him in the last animal shop
he visited.
''Tve got exactly what you want
said she, indicating a sleeping feline in
the show window. Dalton examined it.
and smile of ecstatic Joy overspread
his countenance. 1t was Madison jerks
all over again-bloated, lazy and utter
ly worthless. The cat was bargain,
said the saleswoman - $3.9S. Dalton
told her to keep the change and he
bolted for home.
Whatever you do, Katie said he to
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,
cit was narrow escape he told his
wife that night. I'm glad ousaid 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 its usual