The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-11

some few little mice, but dazzling to none, and they are such good sports that they are willing to share thir cheese with the others, e nsequently not one stays nib- bling long enough for me to catch them at it, and alas my claws are quite duil.
 Not even single indiscreet little Mousie, who got gay and fiirted?' l asked.
 Mercy! But we are the Induisitive Guy, said the Kirmess Kat, growing in terested. Gan you keep a secret? Yes? All right then, here goesi Here is one little mouse, a glistenlng gray one, who has had rather sad time of 1t. Her left front paw was promised in marriage to Sir Nibble of Pantry Alley, and every night to rehearsal they would come and take their places wherever there was a vacancy. To mice, the whiff of cheese is their call of the wold and unfortunately one night Little Miss Mousie got a whif of the Cheese of Limelight. She left Sir Nibbe to his own Fate while off she pranced in mad glee within the radius of the cheese. Poor Sir Nibble was on the verge of sticking his head in the first trap he could find, but just then Miiady White Mouse (unattached) passed by and winked enc of her pretty pink eyes at him So when Miss Mousie next deigned to look this way, Sir Nibble had an other one, chrm-tum-a-loo" She left her post at the cheees and went toward them, but Sir Nibbe was visibly lost within the depths of the pair of pink eyes before him and saw her not
 Did nore come to the Rescue of poor little Miss Mousie" l asked.
 "CertainlY," said the Kirmess Kat; that ever present, fascinating eharnier, the Percy -cuter' (NIr. Percival L. Lyn- wood), called on With the Dancer and poor little Miss Mouse's feeling went undehned."
 The Lime Light is very alluring, isn't it?" I said, meditatively
 Yes said the Kirmess Kat, and the poor little Mouse who was offered the Whole Cheese just did my old Maltese heart more good than all the rest. She was about to accept when with her two front paws poised gracefully in mid air she caught sight of Sir Rat in the rear ranks. She wrinkled her charming little nose at the tempting cheese, shifted, and scurried as fast as feet could carry her hack to his side, where now only an oc- casional whiff of the sacrificed cheese reaches her. Sho glances shyly up at the smile in Sir Rat 8 whskers, and side by side they squeak merrily together in the rear ranks.
 Which dance has appealed to you most. Miss Kirmess Kat?' l asked "Mest?" Let me see, They are all so tnCnanllnS, SIle ncUlldleu, put WHen IL comes down to Brass Taclls, I believe the one 1 have enjoyed most is that hilarious Rough -on- Rats Dancel It's so satisfy | ing to CATS! Why, one night in that dance fearless young heroine, when be- l irg swung around a curve on the Belt Line even threw switch at the crucial point and let in a train of thought"
 How exciting some more DoPEn cried.
 Seeing my interest, the Kirmess Kat drew in her claws and said discreetly ;
 Its been very dull on the claws of a mere KAT. The Kirmess participants might all be Little Willie's Pet Mice, so harmless have they proved-that is, while I have been there. Of course, after I've gene, they may have all come out and with glistening gnawers, theratened ev- cry one of my NINE lives. Or, Bristles!"
 "The Pet Cat had grown tired of all our ''Kirmess" talk. and wanted to be retted and l 'sort of felt that it was Mtzi's turn rCw, too.
 How pleased she looked when I got up to go!
 The "Kirmess Kat" being a perfect lady" hid her feelings, but really mo- body could have been more delighted to get rid of mo, I'm sure. for she smiled feline-ly end said sweetiy:
 "Oh, Don't Co.,
 But the The Pet Cat positively heaved sigh of Relief.