The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-01-11
Tor bloated. lazy. good-for-nothing cat

when the children needed
"'Rough on rats wouldn't do, would
ftp she ventured. sti1 eyeing the pat
terms.
"'No,' answered Dalton. That pes.
tiferous lynx-eyed executor would in.
sist on an autopsy, and have the courts
set aside the legacy on the grounds Of
malfeasance in Office, contributory neg.
ligence, or some other Of his legal quib.
bles.'
Disappearance is also out Of the
question, too, / suppose? continued
Mrs. Dalton. managing to raise her eyes
from the piano legs.
"'Quite.' returned Dalton with de-
cision. Madison jerks must meet with
, n fatal accident. He sleeps in the hired
girls room, doesn't he?
"'Yes.' said Mrs. Dalton, wondering
ly, 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,
l believer
"'It is returned Mrs. Dalton, still
perplexed.
"'Very well,' 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.
ut 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 gasp 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 trick
of her Imagination or lack of olfactory
discrimination.
EARLY the next morning she was
reused from sound slumber by loud
rap at her chamber door. The hired girl
stood without, sobbing hysterically and
trembling violently.
Its about Madison Jenks,' she CUR
gled. wildly. Il didn't know went out
last night and left the gas on, indeed. I
didn't, Mrs. Dalton; indeed. and double
deed, didn't
"Mrs. Dalton followed the hired girl
to the latter's room. The odor Of es-
Gaping gas which saluted her nostrils
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 alken
pallet lay Madison Jenks. stark and
stifl in the eternal sleep.
"'Never mind. Katie,' she said, kind
iy, to the distracted girl. Accidents
will happen. The escaped gas will not
be deducted from your wages, 80 don't
worry
"'nut Madison Jenk.--what will Mr..
Dalton sobbed the hired girl.
"'Of course. ! m YER, very sorry that
Madison jerks is dead, Katie, said Dal-
top, 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 1t 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 !
n 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-
hent or design, then the money goes to
the Society for Supplying Spyglasses to
Sailors. Besides, 1t is set
for tn thatI must inspect the cat onceev-
cry two weeks instead Of once O month.
as before Permit me to congratulate
you on this addition to your income
THAT afternoon maE in black
necktie was securing the length and
breadth Of Harlem with basket on his
arms. For hours he rushed in and out
of those establishments which keep
small animals for sale and excitedly de-
manded a Maltese cat-a replica OF
Madison jerks.
1.-The eat must be medium-sized, very
much bloated and lazy explained Dali
ton to the youthful saleswoman who
approached him in the last animal shop
ne visited.
"'I've got exactly what you want
,aid she, indicating sleeping feline in