Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1909-05-20

" MS INI'''
"All!" echoed Mrs. Wilk, explosive
". My goodness | guess It's
enough, You may like to have
mice drowned in the cream jug but
as for me-
Throw away the cream and get
some more" interrupted her husband,
absont-miudedly turning the column.
That's easy
1T may be easy, but It is not the
point" insisted Mrs. WIKI, tempest
uously.
We'll. If he's drowned that's an end
to him, isn't it,
sometimes. Antony said his wife,
with deadly sweetness, wonder
how you ever escape being run over
daily by the street cars, such is your
childish faith, There are probably
dozen more that will come to his flu
neral! You've got to do something
| about it! | hate traps. because the
mice are almost always alive when
you find them, and | can't drown
| them!
WELL" said WIKI, firmly, IF you
| have it in mind that I'm going to sit
ND nights in the dark and catch them
by their cute little tails as they go by
and apply chloroform to their dear
| little noses, | would beg to point out
that you are cherishing hopes destined
never to be fulfilled! Never, darling
81 almost hate you at times, An
tony" said his wife. in converse
tional tone. You have no sympathy
whatever! Only l thought you might
know of something. /"
of course" said Wilk, meditatively
having devoted the greater portion OF
my life to working out schemes for
the determination of household mice,
| interrupted occasionally by the annoy
ing interference of law cases to be
tried, I'm Chock full of ideas In that
line Why not reason with them?
! Or take the creatures out for an auto
mobile ride and smash the machine
into telegraph pole? can think
of dozen schemes. though it does
seem a lot of effort to put forth oveI
a few tiny frolicsome mice"
Mrs WIKI shifted disdainfully. "It's
all right for you" she said. "Yol
aren't afraid of them, but am! Why
since the cook told me about this one
| don't even walk across the foo
comfortably! expect one OF thu
creatures to climb my skirt and percl
on my shoulder, and it's no fun t
have to shake out every single gar
2 ment you put on! Just hope one will
t be in your shirt sleeve tomorrow
> morning! do! And they climl
walls, and for all we know will dro
l down on us from the ceiling when W
y are asleep! II get traps you'v
got to take out the mice"
I'D rather shoot them with the gu
l use when l go bear-hunting" sal
\ WIKI, positively. Far rather! w
! need a few more fur rugs anyhow
u and I'll brave the danger!"
'e "Oh!" cried Mrs. WIKI, in impC
70 ten fury. Just because you are bi
and weigh 200 pounds you think 1t b,
IL meath you to worry over anything s
1t little! | don't think it's fart An
n you're just as scared of them as
ami"
VI NONSENSE" said Wilk.
u, We'll, you are!' insisted his wifi
IS I'm going to see If the people nel
"A door have any traps they'll let II
~ take!"
III Mrs. WIKI scrutinized all corners
ne the bedroom that night with lighte
candle. She jumped at shadows al
shrieked when she accidentally kickt
re the fallen whisk broom.
IS "The dickens!" WIKI said at this
- You'll be giving me the nerves mex
- Why. it's silly to be so scared at
IN mere mouse!"
In the middle of the night VIII
drowsily turning over, dropped h
nd hand on small. silky, furry obje
= in the bed and awoke at EXPIRE
III speed, his very ears crinkling In hi
Ar. ror. With strangled shout he be
er- madly in the direction of the thi
Lo and called wildly for light Befo
iiS his startled wife could obey the su
On mons Wilk's hand again had touch
IN the repellsnt object. and punching {
olf bed clothes over It he held it do
with all his weight.
ler IL guess i've choked it,"
gasped at last.
Carefully, tremblingly. Mrs. w
an standing ON chair and looking