The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-19
THE EVENING STORY
Man Wanted.

ton was returning to his boarding
house on bad terms with himself and
the world. He had sat through a
stupid show for no other reason than
that he had nothing else to do. He
was wondering how many of these
lonely evening he could endure. He
had been in the city six weeks and
was as friendless as when he started,
the acquaintances he had made in.
connection with his business and at
his boarding house not appealing to
him as possible intimates.. But this
evening he recognized that he was
becoming desperate.
"Other fellows make friends" Moul-
| ton reflected. "They don't need six
weeks to do it, either. How the deuce
do they manage it 2" He told himself
gloomily it was partly question. of
luck and the luck was always against
him.
What further pessimistic conclusion
he might have reached, left to him
self, it is impossible to say, for at
this instant he was accosted. and by a
young woman. She was dressed most
peculiarly for the street. guiltless OF
| hat or wrap. Her close fitting blue
frock gave a glimpse Of a white neck
and the sleeves, ending at the elbow,
revealed a pair of plump pretty arms.
| Excuse me- said the girl to Moul-
! ton, and paused.
In Moilton's present state OF feel
| ing he would have excused any
human being who made advances TO-
ward acquaintance, but in the case OF
| the girl, the need of excuses was es-
| pecially slight.
sDo you" began the girl hesitat-
/ ing, do you mind-rats 2?
| In an instant Moulton- understood.
Her unusual dress. her unconvention-
al hating of a stranger and-When
/ he came to notice it-a certain Wild
ness in her gaze, all pointed 10 the
same painful conclusion: This fair
= I'D
cusabIy careless keeper. Moulton had
had few dealing with the insane, but
| he recalled having heard 1t was advls-
able always to agree with them. her
voice had trembled as she asked the
question, and Moulton promptly fell
| into her mood.
mind them?" he repeated, Il
should say I do. Horrible vermin-"
It is never well to trust too much
| to theories, especially the theories OF
other people. The girl stamped her
II never heard of such a thing, :"
| she cried. "a great big man - you
must be fully six feet afraid OF
| rats.''d W
Moulton fastened to appease her;
"Afraid!" he exclaimed. mot a bit
| of it. In fact, I rather ike them, IL
ANYTHING. Playful little creatures!"
would object to killing one?'' the girl
asked anxiously.
And at that moment it occurred to
MouIton that perhaps there was meth
| Cd in her madness. He murmured
| something unintel1igible which she
| evidently took for assent, for she
seemed relieved.
sTn that case" she said, I'll ask
YOU to come up to the library. It's
unconventional, I know, but as rat
! has had grandma freed on the library
| table for two hours, and it is long
past grandma's bed time. 1t doesn't
| Seem to me a time to stand on cere-
mony."
She led the way into the house. and
Moulton. convinced by her tone that
| her questions were all method and no
| madness. followed her, congratulatlng
| himself on his own. gooo fortune.
ITS only unconventional feature was
an old Iady sitting on the library table,
Nth her feet drawn up under her.
| On the floor below, a fat terrier gazeo
fixedIy at some object hidden by the
dropping cover. .,,s
| At the door the girl paused strand
ma she said, "this is Mr.-Mr.--
nd acuonIton-'' prompted the owner of
ssThis is Mr.. Moulton, grandma, and
he is going to be kind enough TO XIII
the rat for u.s." =
| armchair as she spoke, and stood with
her Garments drawn tightly about her-
The old lady on the table acknowl-
edged the introduction Win illuei uis
nifty. ,a r1oir+;va1v
..vo,, have explained the situation. In
1 a housekeeping experience extending
/ over fifty years, Mr.. Mouiton there
has never been rat IN my MUSE uii-
IL ..I haven't explained. but I will. !"
said the girl with an air OF not rellsh :,
/ ino the prospect. PUCK, our dog
5Your dog, my dear" said the OLD q
1adv "And very worthless animal:
ssPuck.'' repeated Ethel, looking IN
the direction of the fat terrier, caught
| . RAT In the back yard this evening
/ 7 called him into the house ana ne
rushed by me and brought the raI
upstairs to show to u.s.. he was SO
proud of it, poor fellow.
| oDropped it almost at my feet, ex-
! claimed the old lady, with shudoer
| Of disgust ''The beast!"
/ "And the rat ran under the taDle,
~ GIRL Continued. "And when Puck
tried to seize him again. the rat bit
| him and the poor thing cried just
| drea dfully." Ia
s"The coward!" observed the Old
lady. in a sepulchral voice.
land that's ALL said the girl, "ex-
! cent that we didn't dare wake our
cook, because she has an aversion 70
rats compared with which ours Is
positive affection ana there it, Is no n man
nle of hours for Puck to finish him,
:, I appealed to you"
I'd to this time Moulton had done
little of the talking. Now ne took !, a
hand. He expressed his pleasure in
| being able to assist two ladies in such
an emergency, and he spoke with
fIuency and feeling that surprised him.
self. Then he seized brass poker
1 from a little stand near the fireplace
| and advanced upon the enemy.
The poker was uplifted but did not
descend on any scampering rodent
i Moulton's look of ferocity gradually
/ changed to one of perplexity.
I'm afraid that he's gone,'' he said
/ dejectedly.
i "Gonei- walled Miss Ethel, in ac-
i cents of heartbreak.
4 "Gone" repeated EtheIs grandma,
with a severitv indicating that in this