Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-09-16
.nlf Now thnt man had mol the soul OF

man at all; he had the soul of rat,
a miserable sneaking yermin OF rat,
and when he died his soul went into
rats body. 1t was late one evening
when | saw big black rat run through
my room, which was on the other side
of the wall to this. 1t was an enormous
rat, quite black with long white wills
kers, and very bright eyes, and 1t ran
squeaking and shrielling through my
,om, and then disappeared. | could
not see where it went to.
"The next morning | heard the man
had shot himself. Then knew it was
the mans soul which had gone into the
body of this black rat. OF course, they
had an inquest, and brought in the YER
dict. Temporary insanity and they
mad a big funeral and all his relations
came. They invited me, and went,
out of politeness, you know, but when
they came to that bit of the service
about the soul of our dear brother
resting in peace why, | could have
laughed in their faces, for | knew it
was not resting in peace at all, but ca
reering away somewhere in the body of
| that black rat"
Sir William, who had been looking
very grave during this TRADE, here
broke into smile and observed: well,
old fellow, | dare say you are not far
out; it would be the fittest punishment
for such scoundrel as you describe.
But did you never see the rat againW
Eyes, many times; but the last time
| of all was here, in this very house."
cried Jasper, excitedly.
"Indeedw said Sir william. why,
then, you must have brought 1t with
you"
mo such thing" retorted Jasper
scornfully. "a rat like that does not
want to be brought anywhere. But"
he continued, II am confident 1t is also
| identical with a little dark man who
has taken the lawyers house and goes
10 business every day carrying black.
81. my bag. l watch him every day as
he passes, and l always say Good
morning, Sir Rat under my breath.
| You mark my words, though, and look
| out for that rat. ! got up and chased
| it all around the room and out into the
passage, and l am confident it disap-
reared in the drains. You have not
seen the last of 1t yet"
Before Jasper had been very long n
the house 1t became evident that his
mental arrangement was of more Sc
rous character than had been imagin-
| 4 Ix. OF ,,,1 lnni
enough, and then would suddenly
| break out into some incoherent rodo-
nontade. His inconvenient penchant
| for me still continued and he would
haunt the schoolroom with gifts of
flowers and fruits, or sweets and mu-
sic, or anything for which he heard me
| express a liking.
One morning, soon after breakfast, |
was one the lawn with May, shipping
dead roses off the bushes and gathering
fresh supply for the tebles.
Here comes Uncle Jasper; let's
hide" said May.
l turned and beheld Mr.. Jasper adj
vancing in his peculiar ambling fash
ion. Flight was impossible, so l held
| Mays hand and waited until he came
| up with us. He held an enormous full
blown crimson picotes in his hand and
came eagerly up to me.
"Ah, my princess, have found you;
have been looking everywhere for you
20 give you this" pressing the gaudy
blossoms into my hand. Don't you
remember the old rhyme, Miss Monroe:
1.-The rose Is red-the violets blue,
Carnations sweet, and so are you.
you, you," he cried, you are my
rose and my carnation and my morn
ing star all rolled into one. /" Where
this outburst of poetic eloquence would
have ended l know not, for this mo-
nent Simpson, the butler, came up to
Jasper.
"Mr. Jasper" he said, Twill you please
come and speak to Sir William in the
study? He wants to see you on bust
ness very particular"
"Now, why do you come and talk 10
me about business when you see me
oonversing with Miss Monroe?' de-
lnanded Jasjer, testify. go away! /
cannot attend to you or to business
How"
On my representing to Mr.. Jasper,
| however, that l must attend to mine,
and take May to do her lessons, he con-
scented to accompany Simpson to the
study, saying rs he walked away:
well, ! will so now, but shall come
again; l have something very particu-
ar to say to YOU"
About week after this Sir William
aud Lady Northumberland by the
doctor that though Mr.. Jasper was not
dangerously violent ut present, ne
might at any time become solvent up
20 town to see Mrs. Jasper and arrang-
ed with her about having her husband
placed under proper control, even If
only for short time.
simpson has had experience in men
tai cases and will take charge of Jas
per- so you need not feel nervous said
Lady Mordaunt to me as she went