The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-08-06
An AMT Climax
BY MARGARET BLOOMER
@ Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

N}u
~ laughed as Tony, the ant-killer,
stood up arms akimbo. spraddle-legged.
A cutlass at his side and bandanna
about his sleek black head would have
completed the picture of a swash-
buckling pirate-whose only victims
now were ants.
"They all die, he keel |" Tony grinned
Mr.. Karnot almost expected to see
Tony lift his great boot. pirate WISE
to crush the little mounded ant city.
Just SO Tonys forebears had probably
ground the conquering heel into the
torsos of fallen foes. Tony's eyes
were mere slits as he watched the
mound where an Industrious army Of
ants carried the poison away.
"They all feed the ba-bee," he
grlnned broadly, 'get-a da beeg stomach
ache"
Aren't you ashamed, going round
giving ants ptomaineT asked Mr.. Kar-
not.
II Ikea my Job. Mr.. Karnot,"
laughed Tony, carelessly tossing cans
onto the seat Of his car, as he pre-
pared to leave.
Two days later the insurance agent
telephoned Tony's boss Mr.. Faunce
was angry. Tony hadn't been to work
| for two days. AS Mr.. Karnot still sat
at his desk the telephone rang. Where
the devil have you been. Tony2" he
| asked.
81 been taking care, Mr.. Karnot,"
| Tony answered
Taking care OF what, your ant
| hillsP' Mr.. Karnot was decidedly ex-
| asperated.
! pleta lack of concern for the ant busi-
ness. About my insurance, you know,
| have to take care!"
well, II you don't take care Of 1t
before midnight tonight itll lapse"
said Mr.. Karnot caustically.
No use pay now" sighed Tony,
my wife she die. no need insurance"
When did that happen. TonyS I'm
/ sorryl Why didn't you tell me she
was sick2"
ITS no happen yet" answered Tony.
"Say, what do you mean9 Is your
| wife ill2"
mo sick but no use pay now REL
piled Tony my wife she die tomor-
row, no need insurance"
I'm coming right over" yelled Mr.
Karnot But Tony had hung up
Visions of Tony distributing deadly
! ant food flashed across Mr.. Karnot's,
mind and he started across town with
record speed. Then he remembered
| Tonys childlike grin and slowed down.
! But if Tony's wife wasn't even sick,
| why did he think she was going to diea
tomorrow? he cogitated, and stepped
on the accelerator again.
He stopped before a modest house In
| the italian quarter. On each side,
groups OF children sat In the dusty
yards playing noisy games. Tony's
green square of lawn with Its prim
flower beds was an oasis, trim mirage
| OF order and neatness In desert of
untldy dwellings.
AS he walked up the steps Mr.. Kar
not saw a slip from one OF his choicest
rosebushes. "Aw, Tony's all right, the
guy loves flowers" His heart jumped
with relief as handsome Portuguese
| girl came to the door. Her cheerful
smile showed that she was In complete
and happy ignorance Of her impending
demise.
"Er-is Tony homer" Mr.. Karnot
stammered Her earrings danced as
she shook her head.
"Do you feel all right7" he asked
solicitously.
Tony's wife looked surprised, "sure,
I'm fnei'
The telephone was ringing as Mr..
Karnot entered his office. 1t was
Tony They duplicated the converse
ton OF the morning But before Tony
could hang up Mr. Karnot demanded,
TONY, does your wife know she's go
Ing to die?"
Tony lowered his voice. mfr. Kar-
not, you think I'm crazy that tell my
wife?" That was too much for public
spirited Mr.. Karnot He called the
police. He hated doing 1t but Tony
had left him no choice
The desk sergeant took down Tony's
name, address and occupation. ANT
killer-handled poisons, huhf Might
bear watching--m bring him in on
some technical charge" the sergeant
thought Mr.. Karnot was glad he had
passed the information on. At least
1t was off his conscience. That was
Saturday.
| On Monday the sergeant asked Mr..
Karnot to stop In at the station. Tony
| was seated i'm the middle OF an iron
contraption that looked like huge
bird cage. He was deplorable sight.
Vacancy oyerspread his usually grin
ming countenance.
"A hard case," said the sergeant.
admits his wife Is marked for death !;
that all we have been able to get out
of him."
| Relief leaped into Tony's eyes at
sight of Mr.. Karnot. The sergeant
repeated the questions he had been
asking Tony at intervals for twenty
y N ~ a S.ol