The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-18
TWO BACHELORS
 AND A WIDOW
BY J. J. BELL. Author Of "Wee MacGreegOr."

Copyright 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles' Until the Widow came they were sep arated only by an empty house or nve rooms and kitchen. Mir. Thomas Had bery, of No. g, Wellington Terrace, were regarded by the neighborhood as delightful exemplars of pacnelor
 When they took the air they did so together; when they desired an enter tainment they sought 1t in company; and their annual summer tour cost each the same amount of money to penny, and provided each with an equal amount of enjoyment
 Thrice a week MT. Haddock dined at No. g; thrice a week MT. Mulberry dined at No. [; once week they met in an old-fashioned eating house ana shared a pie specially prepared Tor them, and likewise two bottles of good red wine Occasionally they were asked out to dinner. but none of their friends would have dreamed of inviting the one without the other.
 One morning in early spring, as Messrs Haddock and Mulberry were starting off to business. they noticed at the same moment that the long fa- miliar bill at No. bearing the words ITO Let" had disappeared. The widow was moving in.
 MT. Paddock was the first to make
  just finished his breakfast on bright May morning when 1t occurred to him that he might enjoy his pipe none the less if he opened the French window and let the freshness of spring into his parlor.
 the window. whereupon he beheld white cat strolling adout his flower beds.
 "Confound the animal" he muttered, and flung open the glass door.
 Peter. Peter, pretty Peter. come here. come here!' he heard votce-a sweet voice-calling.
 Pretty Peter, however, paid no at- tention, and continued his peresrina- tions.
 MT. Haddock peeped out.
 ''Ah. good morning." said the widow, pleasantly. Lovely morning! You see I am trying to get my naughty Persian to come back. Come here, prety Peter" she called once more.
 If could do anything" began Mir. Haddock lowing.
 Oh. if you would trouble to catch him and hand him over the fence, I should be so obliged" said the lady. He wont try to escape, If you don't alarm him."
 There was no trouble whatever. Pretty Peter merely gave MT. Haddock a mild look, and allowed himself to be caught.
 His new neighbor appeared pleased. q trust he has not annoyed you" she murmured.
 Not in the slightest degree, madam. I shall be glad to hand it-him back to you at any time" 1 She bowed and smiled again. You are very kind indeed. Good morning"
 Half a minute after her departure | MT Haddock became aware that MT. | Mulberry was standing in his own gar d errin a nance. Somehow the grin irritated MT. ] Haddock. He smiled stiffly in return and his morning greeting was trifle | less warm than usual But by the time they met in front of their houses his | ll-humor had evaporated. and he bore MT. Mulberry's chaff calmly. But the tables were soon turned. Three mornings later MT. Haddock came out of doors and discovered Mir. Mulberry returning the Persian to its fair owner, and performing the service with not a little gallantry. Mir Had dock was amused a least he told him | self so.
 MT Mulberry submitted to being chaffed on his way to business, but lost his temper with his head clerk | over a trifiing mater immediately on his arrival there.
 Nearly every morning the Persian was handed over the fence by one or  | gractousness by the widow, whose name they had discovered was Mrs. | Neville.
 With the beginning of September trouble came to the widow. Pretty | Peter was missing.
 Fave you seen Peter?" was her plaintive inquiry morning and evening.
 MT. Haddock had insisted on being | allowed to put an advertisement in the l papers, but he unfortunately omitted to state that the creature was of Persian | extraction.
 1 Meanwhile MT. Haddock had traver- sed every lane and street in the neigh | borhood, also without avail; nothing was ever heard of pretty Peter. | Late on the evening of the fifth day | the bachelors sat in the solitude of | their parlors.
 Suddenly the pipe fell from MT. Had docks fingers The bachelors stood up l trembling and peered into the widows garden. Surely-surely-why yes without a doubt the Persian was there Pretty Peter had returned. He squat