The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-11-13

stick with a sponge tied TO the end OF
it In the barrel and Sopped ii over the
Ice. There was no explosion or sud
den outburst of flame Even the cat
tiptoed forward and smplled IF the
chunk. Or course. ice won't melt as
quickly as snow. aud III his OWN mind /
Mr. Bowser gave that cnunk three
minutes to vanish OF the cold earth
The liquid honeycoInbed II and threw
out LANYARD oder but there WIS Do
melting.
What seems 10 be- the nlatter;
Mrs Bowser finally queried
81 may not have put enough on.
replied Mr. BowSer as he renewed the
sop with Eiia.rsll hand There cant
be any mistake in the mixing. aud the
thing Is bolnId 10 work Can't you
keep that blamed cat awayT
The cat was chased away. and there
was another painful period Of waiting
The ice could be heard crackling. aud
it freckled mp like Il st.ho0ima'sfn in
summer. but there WAS no melting.
Perhaps the discovery only alluded
TO very soft snow" suggested Mrs
Bowser.
Soft snow be hanged!' be shouted
- tell you this thing is all right. The
stuff put in cost S1.50. and it's bound
TO work
Then why don't il work? And II
it cost $50 for two pailfuls. how are
you going To remove snow for cent
q ton? hope you have got good
thing. but II strikes me-
"Oh. yes: you are always being
struck be interrupted. And this
very minute you are hoping ! wilt
make a failure of this thing But
won't. though. Perhaps it needs more
stirring"
He seized the stick and stirred aud
swirled and poked and again the.
chunk of Ice was doped The smell
was ranker but that was the only re
suit
Perhaps the. dying sailor left the.
wrong manuscript" said Mrs. Bowser
quietly. by way OF breaking the pain /
full silence.
why don't he take teakettie Of
hot water to melt it?" queried tiit.
cook
by the living lingo. but she'll work
or bust!' shouted Mr.. Bowser as u
wave OF anger surged over him
"Stand back there and gimme more
room!''
He seized the barrel with q strong
grip and upended 1t over the chunk of
ice and then gave it a kick that sent
it flying across the yard Mrs. Bow
ser and the cook had retreated 10 a
safe distance, but the cat had advanc-
ed to satisfy her feline curiosity. As
the barrel went rolling the cat scream
ed out and began jumping up and
down. but in half a minute changed
from jumping TO wild career aboai
the yard.
you ought to be ashamed to kick a
cat!" exclaimed Mrs Bowser as the
cavorting went on.
al never kicked herr be replied.
What in thunder can all her? Gimme
a club till drive her over the fence
He was looking about for weapon
when he gave sudden start Then
| he uttered an exclamation and tried
to lift both feet off the ground at
cnce Then he kicked off his shoes
and seemed to start in pursuit of the
cat, and he had circled the yard twice
before Mrs. Bowser and the cook grab
bed him
'Water-a pail of water-my feetr
/ he howled. and as soon as the water
was drawn he plunged his feet into
/ the pail.
Now. then. will you explain this cir
cus?'' asked Mrs. Bowser as look of
relief came to his face.
"The acid got to my feet" he replied.
There was a gallon of acid. you know.
The cat must have stepped into pud-
die of it."
Mrs. Bowser got out the bottle OF
sweet oil and some rags, and the bills
tered feet were made comfortable. and
their sole owner and proprietor hob
bled upstairs and stretched himself
out on the lounge Mrs. Bowser hadn't
| called him lunatic or an idiot. but
! he felt that be had lost prestige and
must regain it, She was still cud-
ding him when be sat up and pointed
finger at her and hoarsely whis-
| pered:
woman. | understand all!'
"All about melting snow?'' she limo
Gently asked
"All about why my experiment was
failure Don't seek to hide your
guilt by looking at me in that bold
faced way Willie ! was gone to the
drug store you sneaked down and put
salt or ashes or vinegar or something
into that barrel
"How foolish of vout''
THAT will de- Denials are useless
You can go home to your mother by
the 1920 train tomorrow. and my law,
yer will notify you of the legal steps
| take. Woman. avaunt and leave
your victim TO die in peacer
! And. having squared himself and &C