Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-02-08

| Versed every lane and street in Tho
nelghborhood, also without ava13
! nothing was heard of pretty Peter.
Late on the evening Of the fifth day
the bachelors sat in the solitude a
their parlOrs.
Suddenly the pipe fell from Mr.. Had.
| docks fingers, the cigar from Mr.. Null.
| berry's. The bachelors stood up treuap
bling and peered into the widows gar.
den. Surely-surely-why yes: With
! out doubt, the Persian was thero3
Pretty Peter had returned. He squat.
| ted in the middle of the garden ana
meWed wistfully.
Out of his parlor popped Mr.. Had
dock; out of his stumbled Mr.. Mul>
berry.
"Puss, puss! Che, che, chez said MI.
Haddock, in his most winning tones,
from his side of the fence.
Poor pussy! Pretty Peter" said Mr..
Mulberry, in seductive but husky
voice.
The Persian looked from one to tho
other and remained in the middle q
the garden.
| The tenant Of No. 9 Wellington T0p.
race put one leg over the fence, and
his action was Immediately repeated
by the tenant of No. T. Each had al
intense ambition to have the honor a
handing over the Persian to the fan
widow. They dived forward. Mr.. Mus>
berry felt rush of triumph through
his being as he secured pretty Peter b.
the "scruf" of the neck; but stimuli
taneously Mr.. Haddock grabbed tho
fine bushy tail. The rudely surprised
creature kicked and mewed in protest.
! Let go!" exclaimed Mr.. Mulberry.
| MIR. HaddOck merely .rigntened hlo
grip.
! Il got it first, you fool" mutterea
| the former, with a cruel tug.
! "You didn't you idiot" retorted tho
other, in passion
| A savage jerk was followed at once
by burst Of loud squalls. The French
window flew oron, and the two BACH
| elors, half daze@ With the flood OF
light, stood PAM ng and pale in the
sight of Mrs. Neville, her mother, and
a tall man of about 40.
| "Oh, my Peter, my pretty Peter!" be-
gan the widow, but suddenly choked
| and went off in soft peals of merit.
ment
The Persian kicked himself clear OF
the now unresisting hands and troLted
to his mistress as if to confide to ner q
tale OF the shocking treatment to
which he had just been subjected.
Mrs Neville checked her mirth. but
only for moment
"Oh, thank you, thank you," she
managed to gasp, and then relapsed
into laughter once NC re-
Mr.. Haddock and Mr.. Mulberry could
bear it no longer They grunted some.
thing unintelligible and retired in ln-
dignitied confusion.
Mr.. HaddOck left business the foI-
lowing afternoon somewhat earlier
than usual, and instead of taking gu.
his latchkey as he reached No. Well
l1ngton Terrace, he took out his hand
kerchief, wiped the perspiration from
his brow, passed his own door, and
rang the bell of No. 8.
The widow received him with
kindness which was quite unex,
pected
IL called, madam" he said, FUN.
bling for nearly every word, "to apolo-
gize for-for hurting your cat last
night. lit was all my fault Your
cat was really found by-by Mr.. George
Mulberry, madam, I-I-I-" Here he
broke down miserably.
UNI" she murmured thoughtfully.
Il should tell you, Mr.. Haddock, mat
/ have to-day received a note from MP.
Mulberry-pray let me go on-in which
he positively informs me that Peter
was found by YOU"
Mr.. Haddock was staggered. At laak
he said, in feeble voice: MADAM.
that just shows what-what a good tel-
low George Mulberry is. But-but
don't believe his letter, madam. H.
I repeat it-found the cat!'
Mrs. Neville was amused, but sho
was also touched.
II am very much indebted to MI.
Mulberry, I am sure" she remarked.
gravely. And I should be glad II
you would dine with us on Saturday.
Mr.. Haddock bowed. Il shall be do.
lighted" he said.
Il have written to MIR. Mulberry"
she continued, asking him to Join
u.s."
She accompanied him to tho door
and there bade him a gracious good-
by.
1t was when the second bottle had
just been opened that Mr.. Haddock
said:
George, Mrs. Neville is giving up
No. 8 in few weeks. expect she n
going to marry again."
"Tlere seems to be no doubt about
1t. She's fine woman-a fine NO.
man."
"She is, indeed"
For second their glancee mot.
Still, never was marrying man.,
remarked the one, examining a cork
with interest