The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-06-13
Usefulness of
F1ypatia

b
other festivities appropriate to the
occasion, the burning question Of the
hour became what to do with the club
house cat.
"One Of you fellows" said the man
who owned the house and incidentally
had owned the cat. ought to take
care Of her. Hypatia is good cat and
fine locker. 1t would be a shame to
turn her out into the street with no
home and no friends Bellamy, She
has always been fond of you. What's
the matter with your taking herr"
Me-" exclaimed Bellamy. "Me?
Good Lord. Ny wife hates cats"
Meow" interrupted Hypatia, and
rubbed patches of her new summer
garments off on the leg of his trous-
/ ers. Bellamy softened at that mark Of
confidence.
Never mind, old girl" he said, 81
won't go back on you. Well go up
to the house together and see what we
| can do"
Bellamy carried Hypatia home in a
hat box. Mrs Bellamy viewed the
bundle with suspicion and alarm.
What have you there?" she asked.
"Just a little surprise" said Bel
lamy lanely.
He raised the lid of the box and
Hypatia, released from her unwonted
/ confinement, jumped half way across
the room.
"a cat!" she cried "Why, Harvey,
that is a cat What did you bring her
here for?'
ITO kill the mice" said Bellamy.
"Mice?" she echoed. why, there
isn't mouse about the place"
There ain't?" said Bellamy ex-
citedly. Great Scott haven't you
heard EN-? Why, the way they ram,
page through the walls every night
playing golf and baseball IS enough
to wake the dead. haven't been able
to sleep for a week on account of the
racket. That's the reason l got Hy-
, patia. want her to kill them off"
So for one night at least Hypatia
was permitted to enjoy the hospital
ity of the Bellamys The next morning
( Rellamy took his time at dressing,
. !
welfare of her unwelcome guest, pre-.
! coded him to the store room where
I Hypatia had been quartered for the
night, and cautiously opened the door,
As Hypatia rushed out she looked in
and straightway sounded a ringing
call to arms Bellamy bolted down
the hall from one direction and the
cook from the other
What is the natter" they asked.
"a mouse" responded Mrs. Bel
lamy, weakly, and keeled over against
the wall Bellamy held the rodent a.
arms length and flourished it by the
tip of the tail triumphantly.
What did tell you?" he said
Didn't I say the house is alive with
them?"
Yes admitted his wife. TITS funny
I never heard them. though. I sup,
pose Wen have to keep Hypatia an,
other night now.
Immediately after breakfast Mrs
Bellamy summoned the ianitor and
pointed to the moribund mouse.
Henry" she said severely. what is
that?"
A look of CONSERVATION overspread
the big Swede's infantile face.
"a MAS he easped "a MAS
WHARF you gat heem?'
If the cultivation of mice in a pr,
vate apartment had been the height OF
human ambition Mrs Bellamy could
have betrayed eXultation no more
complete than that which thrilled her
voice as she replied:
! Here. Right mere in our own fiat.
l want you TO clean out my storeroom
and take up my carpets and rugs and
stop up all the rat holes The things
will eat us alive if We don't get rid OF
them"
Although the bewildered Swede
worked until bedtime tearing up car.
pets and moving furniture, neither
mice nor their means OF egTess and in.
gress were discovered Nevertheless
that night Fypatia slew two more of
her hereditary foes
Il am going out this afternoon to
look for a fat l cant stand it to be
eaten by mice said Mrs. Bellamy
She really did start, but she had
got no further than her own hall door
when she met boy who wanted to
see Mr. Bellamy
What do you want TO see him
about?" she asked
ooh, nothin' much" was the vague
reply
Mrs. Bellamy opened the door to
the widest limit
Little boy" she said with seduc-
tive graciousness, wouldn't you like
dish Of pudding and some frut?"
yes, ma am" said the boy
She entertained him for halt al
hour As a result of the interview she
abandoned her intention OF looIing for
another fat
Il am glad of that" said Bcllamy
that evening when appraised Of her
decision. "1Where is Hypatia2"
The distilled sweetness Of Mrs Pei
lamy's voice was positively cloying
II gave her" she said ito little
Billy Moses. He was up here this afr
eruoon to see if You want him to ae-
liver any rr0ra daod mice and 10 .Ol-