The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-08

not Suggest 6Om0 WY VI
the pests?"
81 shall try. surely. Miss Fetzer." he
promised with eagemess.' You snail
hear from me later In the day"
Professor Fem was quite radiant ~
he went his way. While in the home
looking for that mouse, he had no
ticed on one end of the mantel .
framed photograph Of Miss Fetzer. To
his surprise and pleasure. at the other
end was one Of himself. It was . por-
trait he recognized as having been
taken from a magazine that had pup
lished It. Glad thought! She cared
enough for him to mate his picture
with her own! He moved them an
inch or two nearer together. He
would have liked to kiss her portrait!
Somewhere in the village. the pro-
lessor remembered, he had seen the
sign OF q man who made business
Of discriminating insects and other
pests. He finally located this man. II
the guileless professor had been an
expert physiognomist, he would have
noted that the rat.catcher's eye resem-
bled that of some of his ferrets. How
ever, he stated his MISSION.
"Hum! hal" muttered the man.
"One mouse? Tell you, sir, we might
be a month finding him. Couldn't
think Of bothering with the case under
ten dollars. Do our best for that.
Rid the premises, II possible"
The professor handed out the
money.
Further, sir, I'll guarantee the job
on a basis Of one dollar for each
mouse caught over ten"
VERY WE'LL" agreed the professor.
Two weeks later Professor Fem re-
ceived a bill for "3s extry mice. Job
done neatly and guaranteed" and paid
1t. Along, too, came a note from Miss
Fetzer.
She thanked the professor for clear
ing her premises of those annoying
pests. Nearly fifty mice found! But,
thank goodness! she was now rid Of
them. She hoped the professor would
pass his coming vacation in his home
town.
Which he did, and that was the be-
ginning Of regular calls on the lady
who so interested him.
Each time he visited the house, sly
", from some cratic within, the pro.
lessor moved the two portraits near.
er and nearer together.
One day he found out that he had
been neatly tricked by the subtle rat
catcher. The latter had played sue.
cessfully on the fears of Miss Fetzer.
He had. in fact, caught Just one
mouse. The balance were felt dunn.
mics, which he showed her. but she
shriekingly refused to inspect them
closely
The professor told Miss Fetzer Of
the incident. and laughed. She was
relieved to think that, after all, there
was only one tiny mouse to get scared
at.
That especial evening the professor
determined to learn his fate. They
were converting casually, when he
pointed to the mantel. He had moved
the portraits nearer and nearer, until
they we're only few inches apart.
II moved tn ose pictures, accordingly
as each Of my visits seemed to bring
me nearer to you, Miss Fetzer," he OBJ
served.
His hostess blushed, showing that
she was aware Of the operation as 1t
had progressed. He drew his chair
closer to her own, and she did not
seem to object.
Nov, how do you think they really
belong" he submitted. Wont you
show me? Shall we say this way?"
and ne deliberately moved them di.
rectly side by side.
II like to see them together, yes"
she futtered, shyly as some school
girl.
Let you and I follow their exam.
pie" suggested the professor. grown
bold and happy all in a flash, and he
drew her to true lovers embrace.
Copyright, 1915. by w. @. Chapman.)