The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-04-06

Your dinners are always good"
said Mr.. Belknap loyalty.
Mrs. Belknap beamed at him. "Oh,
no, not always" she deprecated mod
estly. She held up q silencing forefin-
ger. Just listen to that" she said.
Mr.. Belknap listened and writhed un-
comfortably. THAT" was Enthusiastically
the bark Of a dog.
ITS that horrid dog next door, 1
suppose" Mrs. Belknap went On. Mr..
Belknap composed his agitated features
and hoped his wife had not noticed his
perturbation. II wish they'd get rid,
Of him" Mrs. Belknap continued. Why
anyone wants to have q hateful, noisy
dog around I'm sure I can't imagine"
Mr.. Belknap devoted himself to his
chicken pie and held his peace. He
was not the man to interrupt when O
lady had tho floor.
But when he had partaken OF as
many Of his favorite dishes as could
be fitted into one dinner he thought IL
time to try diplomacy.
This was really very nice Of you,
my dear" he said.
Mrs. Belknap came and sat on the
arm of his chair and rubbed her cheek
affectionately against his. Think SOP
she cooed. She twisted a button of his
coat and spoke with a pretty assump.
ton of difidence.
II want to ask you something" she
said, but lin afraid to-"
Mr.. BellSnap laughed. ooh, that's
what the dinner was for?"
"Of course" said Mrs. Belknap, BRA
zenly. Did you suppose | was going
to give you a dinner like that and get
nothing in RETURN"
Mr.. Bell1nap laughed again. "Uut
with it,. he said.
But It's a very special favor said
Mrs. Belknap.
"Ill say yes to anything you've a
mind to ask" Mr.. Belknap promised,
rashly.
you'd better let me tell you first
what l want" said Mrs. Belknap. For"
she explained honestly, Il don't think
you'll like it."
Mr.. Belknap thought he saw a way
to win out on the dog proposition. my
DEAR" he said to his better-half, 80
man who won't grant his wife's re.
| quests before she tells him what she
wants Is \ pretty mean sort. l say
yes and l mean yes"
Mrs. Belknap dropped an ecstatis
kiss where his hair was beginning ia
thin out a bit and ran from the room
Mr.. Belknap leaned back in his chair
with q sigh OF self Reorganization
ar .A o4Nk Nhto ta AA@ AaaxytD ha
thought. "After that she certainly
can't say no to the dog"
Then Mrs. Belknap came back. She
carried carefully a fluff Of white fur
which she deposited on her husbands
knee.
"A kitten!" that gentleman ejaculat
ed weakly. He hated cats wen as hid
wife detested dogs.
isn't It a lover" Mrs. Belknap said
it's pedigreed-a real Angora. Iu
mother has taken prizes at three ca,
shows. And you've said I could keeI
it, haven't you. dear?
Mr.. Belknap nodded %unhappily. The
dog in the woodshed had q reputation
as a slayer Of cats.
But I've taken q mean advantage
of you," Mrs. Belknap said, though "
was partly your fault. You know
wanted to tell you what I was after be.
fore you promised, and you wouldn't
let me. But l guess / can be generous
too" She lifted the kitten and cuddled
1t against her cheek. "If you don't
really want me to keep 1t, why !
won't" she said.
Mr.. Belknap thought regretfully OF
the dog. But he was a man Of his word
and a gentleman.
"A bargain Is a bargain" he said.
"You keep your kitten. I dare say J
| shall grow to be quite fond OF it-in
time"
He looked at his watch. 'Will you
excuse me for an hour or so, my deari
I've got toto meet-man on-on bust.
ness" MI. Belknap was not a facile
liar.
Mrs. Belknap looked up from her kit
ten to say: Don't be long," And Mr.
Belknap went out.
Under cover of the darkness he
stealthily removed the dog from the
woodshed. The dog licked his hand
and Mr.. Belknap patted his head re-
gretfully.
Sorry, old chap" he said, "but J
reckon it can't be helped. Wish I knew
how she did 1t. Why 1t was all settled
before l had even a chance to 60 much
as say dog And she got q cat into
the bargain"
And at that identical moment Mrs.
Belknap was making a confidant of the
white kitten. Kitty" she said, we
took a base advantage of him. For he
had a dog. actually, a dog in the wood.
shed, and all through dinner he was
trying to Eluck up courage to ask II he
might keep 1t. But we simply couldn't
have a horrid dog about the place, now
could we, kitty, lover"