Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-12

WITH Il luuO b-cSSuulS ndu NanlSDeu-
simply melted from view. But the
chair was there. by some magic OF cir
cumstIEce standing on its four legs in
the middle of the path.
Frank went back to bed and to sleep
dreamlesSly till morning.
"Oh, Frank, the QueereSt thing has
happened" fUttered Linda when he
appeared at the breakfast table.
What is it," he asked curiously.
why, when looked ont Of my win
dow at o'clock this morning what
should l see but Blessums sitting on
one OF our bedroom chairs In the mid
die Of the path! He looked too cute
for anything. Frank, but how do you
suppose the chair ever got out there"
Linda's blue eyes We're innoCently
wide
"Blanked If I know" lied Frank
GROSSLY.
why. Frank Hndreth! think it's
perfectly awful for you TO sw-swear at
NEE like THAR cried Linda, suddenly
teavfully indignant.
1t required Il half hour to properly
apologize TO his wife, and in the end he
felt ike a criminal. Il told you. my
dear. that nothing short OF sudden
death would ever terminate his sere-
nades," he said moodily.
~ don't care how or when he dies
If don't have TO hear any of the de-
tails" said Linda dejectedly. 1T does
seem rs though BleSsums was deter
mined TO come back here and disturb
your peace"
/ Perhaps l can think OF some rene
/ dy during the day" said Frank, and
/ once more he set forth on his morning
sprint for the sos train.
The result OF u whole days cogita-
ton on the part OF Mr.. Hildreth was
that he brought home that night
large paper bag filed with soot-black
chimney SCOT secured from some I'M
known place by his office boy.
He struggled the bag up into his
own room and hid it under his bed.
He did not wish to shock his wife's
tender sensibilities with the details of
the horrible way in which he was to
end the nightly serenades OF Blessums,
the tortoise shell cat How could he
tell Linda that it was his intention to
listen for the first signal from the ma
rauder and then, creeping softly to the
window, which he would leave wide
open, he would decoy the unsuspectnS
Blessums up the rose trellis, and
when the cat was almost up to the
window he would empty the bag of
black, smothering, choking SCOT full
into his face. Result-a hurried and per-
manent exit on the part of Elessums
and possibly the determination of his
whole nine lives at once.
That's one way to get rid Of cat"
he thought gleefully as he went to bed.
Frank left the window wide open.
He opened the bag of SCOT and placed
it in convenient place. He went to
bed determined to remain awake until
BleSSums turned up.
He went to sleep at once and slept
sOundly until he was awakened by the
signal voice of Blessums.
. Nee e-e-row"
"Ahar' grurted Frank sleepily and
slipped out of bed.
He reached for the bag OF SCOT and
tiptocd TO the window. He leaned out
, noiselessIy, the bag poised for bust
+ ness. He looked down ut the rose
treIiis and for an instant was para
, lyzed with surprise
A dark. bulky human form was
stealthly creeping Up to the tempting.
" open window. Franz; had a brief
+ vision of the form of Blessums sitting
as OF yore in the middle of the garden
5 path.
5 Immediate action was necessary. fol-
the approaching burglar turned mask
4 ed face upward-and received the full
/ contents of the SCOT bag in nose and
5 eyes and mouth.
There followed choking growl and
/" laundering crashing descent TO the
I ground. Frank leaned from the win
dow and saw the burglar leap the
4 fence and dash across an open lot int
q black shadow. He saw the frightened
Elcssums pcrched narvousiy on tins
- gate post
/, Here. Blcssums! Here kitty. kitty
i kitty" coaXed Franl, gently
4 Just as Blessums lcapcd from the
Il tottering rose trelis into his arms Lin
h da's white robed form appeared be
II side him
, "Oh. Frank. what has happenedT
9 she whispered anxious!y. Il thought
t heard footsteps outside"
y He told her briefly and advised he
0 to cherish the astonished BIessums
whose voice had awakened him in tim
= to rout the burglar and thus save thel
valuables and perhaps their lives.
He can't 20 back to Mrs. Bliss" de
p clared Frank firmly. III! buy her
cat If necessary. bpt Blessums shal
q sleep In my room every night so tina
serenadcs viii be out Of the question
- Perhaps he's hungry, Linda wonde
: II there's any OF that chicken left
: font believe Nora gives him enough t
!" eat, anyway"
. Frank Hldreth.' cried mis- wife hys
tericaliy. I've heard Of all sorts 0
: ways Of trying to Kill cat, but be
> lieve you're trying to kill him witt
kindness now"
g july IL in American