The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-30
Usefulness Of
t1ypatia

room OF Wnlcn MT. Bellamy ana sew
aral 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 Ought to take
care Of her. Hypatia is good cat and
fine locker 1t would be 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! My 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. We! go up
to the house together and see what we
can do"
Rellamy 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?"
"T0 kill the mice" said Bellamy
"Mice?" she echoed. why. there
isn't a mouse about the place"
"There ain'to" said Bcllamy 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 week on account Of the
racket. That's the reason got Fly.
patia, want her to kill them off, :"
SO for one night at least Hypatia
was permitted to enjoy the hospital.
ity of the Rellamys. The next morning
l'ellamy took his time ut dressing.
His wife being curious concerning the
welfare of her unwelcOme guest, pre-.
: coded him to the store room whore
liypata had been quartercd for the
night, and cautiously opened the door
q AS Hypatia rushed out she looked In
and straightway sounded ringing
: call to arms Bellamy bolted down
S the hall from one direction and the
cook from the other.
what is the Natter" they asked,
"a mousse" responded Mrs Bel
lamy, weakly, and keeled over against
tho wall Bclamy held the rodent a,
arms length and flourishcd It by the
, tip of the tail triumphantly.
y "what did I tell you?" he said
didn't l say the house Is alive witt
them"
!, "Yes," admitted his wife. "Tt's funn!
I never heard them. though. ! sup
i pose we'll have to keep Hypatia an
: other night now.
fl Immediately after breakfast Mrs
Rcllamy summoned the janitor an,
pointed to the moribund mouse.
II Henry" she said severely. what 1
that"
y A look Of CONSERVATION oversrrea,
the big Swede's infantilc face.
IA maas," he gasped. "A MAS
" WHARF you CAT heem?'
If the cultivation Of mice In a pr
/ vate apartment had been the height Q
y human ambition Mrs. Bellamy cOul
have betrayed exultation no NOR
complete than that which thrilled he
Dr. voice as she replied:
f. Here. Right here In our own IA
tip | want you to clean out my storero0,
and take up my carpets and rugs an
H. stop up all the rat holes. The thinl
G. will eat us alive II we don't get rid I
al them"
Although the bewildered Swe(
It worked until bedtime tearing up ca
pets and moving furniture. neith'
us mice nor their means OF egress and
I'm gress were discovered. Neverthele
d. that night Hypatia slew two more
- her hereditary foes.
TO- Il am going out this afternoon
IN look for a fiat. can't stand It to
eaten by MICE" said Mrs. Bellamy.
III She really did start. but she hi
"a got no further than her own hall do
,ly when she met q boy who wanted
If see Mr.. Bellamy.
What do you want to see b
VI about" she asked.
81 'Oh. nothin' much" was the vag
IN reply.
NE Mrs. Bellamy opened the door
At the widest limit
Little boy" she said. with sed
'"' tive graciousness. wouldn't you II
pei dish Of pudding and some fruit?"
r>S Yes. ma'am" said the boy.
81 She entertained him for half
hour. As result Of the interview
abandoned her intention Of looking
=. another fiat
az a am glad Of that" said Bella
,u' that evening when appraised of
= 70 decision. where is Hypatia?"
'"e The distilled sweetness of Mrs.
e lamy's voice was positively cloying.