The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-05-24
Usefulness Of
Hypatia

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 a good cat and
fine locker. 1t would be q 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 her?"
"Me?" exclaimed Bellamy. me!
Good Lord! My wife hates cats"
Meow" interrupted Hypatia, and
rubbed patches Of her new summer
garments OF on the leg of his trous.
ers. Bellamy softened at that mark OF
confidence. p.
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 lamely.
He raised the lid of the box and
Hypatia, released from her Gwonted
confinement, jumped half way across
the room.
"a cat!" she cried. "Why, Harvey,
that is cat. What did you bring her
here for?"
"To kill the MICE" said Bellamy.
mice" she echoed. ''Why, there
isn't mouse about the place"
"There ain't?" said Bellamy ex-
sitedly. "Great Scott, haven't you
heard 'em? 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 week on account Of the
racket. That's the reason I got Hy'
patia. want her to kill them or. .
So for one night at least Hypatia
was permitted to enjoy the hospital
ity Of the Bellamys. The next morning
Bellamy took his time at dressing
His wife, being curious concerning the
welfare Of her unwelcome guest, pre-.
coded him to the store room where
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 at
arms length and flourished 1t by the
tip of the tail triumphantly.
what did I tell you?" he said
Didn't I say the house is alive with
them?"
Eyes" admitted his wife. TITS funny
I never heard them, though. ! sup
pose We'll have to keep Hypatia an
other night now.
Immediately after breakfast Mrs.
Bellamy summoned the janitor and
pointed TO the moribund mouse.
Henry" she said severely, what II
that?"
A look ue CONSERVATION overspread
the big Swedeh infantile face.
"A MAS" he gasped. "a MAS.
WHARF 1sa cat heem?"
II the cultivation of mice in q 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 here in our own fat.
I 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 egress and In
gress were discovered. Nevertheless
that night Hypatia slew two more of
her hereditary foes.
II am going out this afternoon to
look for a fiat. can't stand 1t 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. WV
"what do you want to see him
about?" she asked.
"Oh. rothin' much" was the vague
reply.
w Mrs. Bellamy opened the door to
the widest limit.
Little boy" she said, with seduc-
tive graciousness, wouldn't you like
a dish Of pudding and some fruit?"
Yes, ma'am," said the boy
She entertained him for half an
hour. AS result OF the interview she
abandoned her intention of looking for
another fat
81 am glad OF that" said Bellamy
that evening when appraised of her
decision. Where is Hypatia?"
The distilled sweetness of Mrs. Bel
lamy's voice was positively cloying.
Il gave her." she said, ito little
Billy Moses. He was up here this aft
ernoon to see II you want him to de-
liver any more dead mice. and to col