h the fact that
here indubitably was one of the errors of the Almighty. Snakes destroyed
rats and mice at least, but what earthly purpose was served by
mosquitoes?

He knew, as all smatterings of outer information reached him via the
weekly lecture course, that besides being a stinging annoyance to the
human race, the mosquito was a breeder of plagues and had to be fought
in southern climes. Having wrathfully considered his subject and come to
the conclusion that no mitigating circumstances could exist, he next put
to himself this problem:

"If the mosquito cannot be exterminated, can it be neutralized? If so,
how?"

When Snorky Green, to whom Miss Dabtree was more aunt than woman, came
bursting in an hour later, with the rebellious consciousness of having
thoroughly earned the five-dollar bill which lay in the safest of
pockets, he stopped short at the sight of his roommate in that reclining
concentration which Sherlock Holmes has popularized, the briar pipe
being replaced by a large pencil, on which Skippy was chewing in heavy
meditation.

"I say, Skippy, the old girl certainly came up handsome!" said Snorky
gleefully, searching for the bill.

"Sh--sh!" said Skippy without turning.

"What the deuce?"

"I want to think."

"Danged if he isn't inventing something else!" said Snorky, who went on
tiptoe to a position where he could study the frowning outward signs of
the mental disturbances which were undoubtedly working inwardly. At the
end of a silent hour, Skippy condescended to relax.

"Well!" said Snorky excitedly.

Skippy rose with dignity and went to the window, gazing out a moment
into the darkling night where unknown myriads of mosquitoes lurked all
unconscious of the doom impending over them.

"I say, Skippy, what's the big idea?"

"It's big--bigger than anything you ever imagined," said Skippy
impressively.

"Aren't you going to tell a fellow!"

"Perhaps."

Now Snorky was not without a certain knowledge of human nature,
particularly Skippy-nature, so without further interest he proceeded to
disrobe, flipping the five-dollar bill on the table with a rakish
gesture and saying carelessly:

"The old gal has a heart, anyhow. However, ta-ta for the night."

Five minutes later Skippy spoke from the depths of his bed.

"Snorky, I'll tell you this much."

There was a convulsion among the opposite sheets and Snorky sat up.

"Go on, I'm listening!"

"It's bigger than bathtubs."

"You don't s