The Ordway new era., 1912-08-09
Usefulness Of
Hypada


occasion. the burning question OF tho
hour became what to do with the club
house cat.
"One of you fellows" said the man
who owned the house and incidentally
aad owned the cat. "ought to take
care Of her. Hypatia is good cat and
ane 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 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.
"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 homo in
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 a mouse about the place."
There amt" 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 a week on account Of the
racket. That's the reason I got Hy
patia. I want her to kill them on
So for one night at least Hypatia
was permitted to enjoy the hospital
ity Of the Bellamys. The next morning
Bellamy took his time Mt 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 matter?" they asked.
"A mousse" responded Mrs. Bel
lamy, weakly. and keeled over against
the wall. Bellamy held the rodent al
arms length and flourished It by the
tip of the tail triumphantly.
"What did I tell you?" he said
Didn't say the house is alive with
them?"
"Yes." admitted his wife TITS funny
I never heard them. though. ] sup
pose weIl 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?"
look Of CONSERVATION overspreat
the big Swede's infantile face.
"a maas." he gasped. "a maas
Whar9 you gat heem?"
II the cultivation Of mice in pri
vate apartment had been the height o!
human ambition Mrs. Bellamy could
have betrayed exultation no more
comrlete than that which thrilled hel
voice as she replied:
'Here. Right here in our own fiat
want you to clean out my storeroon
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 oi
them"
Although the bewildered Sweds
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.
"1 am going out this afternoon tc
look for a fiat. I 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 dooI
when she met a boy who wanted tc
see Mr.. Bellamy.
"What do you want to see him
about?" she asked.
"Oh, nothin' much" was the vague
reply.
!; Mrs. Bellamy opened the door te
the widest limit
Little boy" she said, with seduc
live graciousness, wouldn't you like
dish Of pudding and some fruit?"
"Yes, am" said the boy.
She entertained him for half an
hour. AS result Of the interview she
abandoned her intention of looking fol-
another fiat.
'I am glad Of that" said Bellamy
that evening when appraised of her
II decision "Whera la HYnatia 2n