The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-05-15
Usefulness Of
Hypatia

i
When it was finally decided to tear
down the old building In one back
room of which Mr.. Bellamy and sew
eral Of his cronies had met on Thurs
day evenings to play skat and enjoy
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. fought to take
care Of her. Hypatia is a good cat and
fine locker. It would be a shame to
turn her out into the street with no
home and no friends. BeIlamy, she
has always been fond Of you. What's
the matter with your taking herr"
"Me?" exclaimed Bellamy. me?
Good Lordl Ny wife hates cats"
"Meow!" interrupted Hypatia, and
rubbed patches Of her new summer
garments on on the leg OF his trous-
ers. Bellamy softened at that mark Of
confidence.
Never mind. old girl" he said. II
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 unwonted
confinement. jumped half way across
the room.
"A cat!" she cried. 'why, Harvey.
that is 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 'em? Why, the way they ram
page through the walls every night
playing golf and baseball is enough
to wake the dead. I haven't been able
to sleep for week on account Of the
racket. That's the reason 1 got Hy-
patia. I want her to kill them of"
So for one night at least Hypatia
was permitted to enjoy the hospital
ity Of the BeIlamys The next morning
Bellamy took his time at dressing.
His wife, being curious concerning the
welfare of her unwelcome guest, pre-
ceded 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 mousei" responded Mrs. Bel
lamy, weakly. and keeled over against
the wall. Bellamy held the rodent at
arms length and fiourished It by the
tip Of the tail triumphantly.
What did I tell your" he said.
Didn't 1 say the house is alive with
them?"
''Yes." admitted his wife. TITS funny
never heard them, though. / sup
pose wen 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 is
that?"
A look of CONSERVATION overspread
the big Swede's infantile face.
"a mas" he gasped. "a mas.
you gat heem?"
II the cultivation Of mice in a pri- |
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. |
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
hem"
Although the bewildered Swede |
worked until bedtime tearing up car
pets and moving furniture, neither
nice nor their means OF egress and in
,ress were discovered Nevertheless
hat night Hypatia slew two more of
Ter hereditary foes.
II am going out this afternoon to
ook for a fat. 1 can't stand II to be
'aten by mice" said Mrs. Bellamy.
She really did start, but she had
,ot no further than her own hall door
yhen she met boy who wanted to
lee Mr.. Bellamy.
what do you want to see him
bout?" she asked.
"Oh, nothin' much" was the vague
eply.
Mrs. Bellamy opened the door to
he widest limit.
Little boy" she said, with seduc-
I've graciousness, wouldn't you like
dish Of pudding and some fruit?"
"Yes. ma'am." said the boy.
She entertained him for half an
our. AS a result Of the interview she
bandoned her intention Of looking for
mother fiat.
Il am glad Of that" said Bellamy
hat evening when appraised of her
ecision. Where is HypatiR?"
The distilled sweetness Of Mrs. Bel
lmy's voice was positively cloying.
Il gave her" she said, 'to little
lily Moses. He was up here this aft
moon to see Il you want him to de-
yer any more dead mice. and to col
'ct for those be has already fur
ished. He says his fathers shop is
verrun with them, and I Thought he
,t~ht IA rr--.4t- ...-A..rsr