The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-04-06

Your dinners are always good"
said Mr Belknap Loyalty
Mrs. Belknap beamed az him. "Oh.
no. not always" she deprecated mod
estly. She held up silencing forehn-
ger. Just listen 10 that she said
Mr.. Belknap listened and writhed un-
comfortably That" was Enthusiastically
the bark Of a dog.
It's that horrid dog next door,
suppos, :" 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 ] hateful. noisy
dog around I'm sure | can't imagine.
Mr. Belknap devoted himself TO his
chicken pie and held his peace. He
was not the man 10 interrupt when Q
lady had tho floor.
But when he had partaken OF as
many Of is 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
affecti0nately against his. Think soT
she cOoed. She twisted a button OF his
coat and spoke with pretty assump-
ton OF difidence
Il want to ask you something" she
said. but I'm afraid to-"
Mr. Bell;nap laughed. "Oh, that's
what the dinner was for?"
"Of course" said Mrs Belknap. bra
zenly Did you suppose was going
10 give you a dinner like that and get
nothing in return
Mr. BellSnap laughed again. Cut
with it," he said.
But it's a very special favor" said
Mrs. Belknsp.
I'll say yes 70 anything you've .
mind 10 ask" Mr.. Belknap promised,
rashly.
You'd better let me tell you FIRST
I what want" said Mrs Belknap. For
she explained honestly, Il don't think
I you'n like it,"
Mr. Bel!nap thought he saw a way
TO win out on the dog proposition. MY
dear" he said TO his better-half, %
man who won't grant his wife's re
quests before she tells him what she
wants is 4 pretty mean sort. say
yes and mean yes.
Mrs. BelkIap dropped an ecstati,
kiss where his hair was beginning "a
thin out a bit and ran from the room
Mr.. Belknap leaned back in his chair
with sigh of reorganization
Great Scott, this is too easy!" he
thought. after that she certainl,
can't say no to the dog"
Then Mrs Belknap came back. Sh,
carried carefully a fun of white fur
which she deposited on her husbands
knee.
"A kittenl" that gentleman ejaculat
ed weakly. He hated cats even as MI
wife detested dogs.
Isn't L a love?" Mrs Belknap said
smoothing the soft white fur. "Anc
it's pedigreed-a real Angora. Iu
mother has taken prizes at three cal
shows. And you've said could keeI
it. haven't you dear?"
Mr.. BellInap nodded unhappily. The
dog in the woodshed had reputation
as a slayer of cats.
But I've taken a mean advantage
OF you" Mrs Belknap said. though Il
was partly your fault You know ]
wanted to tell you what was after be
fore you promised. and you wouldn't
let me. But guess | can be generous
too" She lifted the kitten and cuddlec
IL against her cheek IF you don't
really want me to keep il, why J
won't" she said
Mr.. Belknap thought regretfully OF
the dog. But he was a man OF his word
and gentleman.
"A bargain is a bargain" he said
you keep your kitten. dare say
shall grow 10 be quite fond of It'll
time"
He looked at his watch. will you
excuse me for an hour or so. my dear
I've got toto meet-man on-on bust.
ness" Mr. Belknap was not a facils
| liar.
Mrs. Belknap looked up from her kit
ten TO say: Don't be long" And Mr.
I Belknap went out.
Under cover OF the darkness he
stealthily removed the dog from the
woodshed The dog licked his hand
\ and Mr. Be.knap patted his head re
Y gretfully
Sorry. old chap" be said, but J
reckon it can't be helped Wish knew
\ how she did t. Why It was all settled
\ before hal even a chance to so much
as say dog And she got cat into
! the bargain
And at that identical moment Mrs
Belknap was making a ccntidant OF the
white kitten Kitty" she said. I'VE
took base advantage of him. For he
had a dog. actually. a dog in the wood
shed. and all through dinner he was
trying TO Tluck up courage TO ask II he
might keep II. But we simply couldn't
have a horrid dog about the place now
\ could we. kitty, lover"
King Using Dumbbells.