The Colorado statesman., 1911-02-04

| show for no other reason than that he
had nothing else to do. He was won
dering how many of these lonely even
ings he could endure. He had been in
the city six weeks and was as friend
less as when he started. the acquaint-
ances he had made in connection with
his business and at his boarding
house not appealing to him as possible
intimates. But this evening he recog-
nized that he was becoming desper-
ate.
"Other fellows make friends.
Moulton reflected. "They don't need
six weeks to do 1t, either How the
deuce do they manage it?" He told
himself gloomily it was partly a ques-
tion OF luck, and the luck was always
against him.
What further pessimistic conclu-
sion he might have reached, left to
himself, It is impossible to say. for at
this instant he was accosted, and by
young woman. She was dressed
most peculiarly for the street, guilt
less of hat or wrap. Her close-ftting
blue frock gave a glimpse of white
neck and the sleeves, ending at the ell
bow, revealed a pair of plump, pretty
! arms.
Excuse me-" said the girl to Moul-
ton, and paused.
In Moulton'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
DO you," began the girl hesitating-
ly, do you mind-rats?"
In an instant Moulton understood.
Her unusual dress, her unconven-
tional halting of a stranger and
when he came to notice it-a certain
wildness in her gaze, all pointed to
the same painful conclusion: This
fair young creature had escaped some
inexcusably careless keeper. Moul-
ton had had few dealings with the in
sane, but he recalled having heard
that 1t was advisable always to agree
with them. Her voice had trembled
as she asked the question, and Moul-
ton promptly fell into her mood.
Mind them?" he repeated 81
1t lis never well to trust too much
to theories, especially the theories of
other people. The girl stampeS-her
| foot
81 never heard of such a thing"
she cried. "A great big man-you
must be fully six feet-afraid of rats. !"
Moulton hGstened to appease her
Afraid" he exclaimed mot bit
of it, In fact, rather like them, if
anything. Playful little creatures!
DO you like them so well that you
would object to killing one?" the girl
asked anxiously.
And at that moment 1t occurred to
| Moulton that perhaps there was meth
cd in her madness. He murmured
something unintelligible which she
evidently took for assent, for she
seemed relieved.
I'm that case" she said, "Ill 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 bedtime, 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, congratulating
himself on his own good fortune. The
| library was on the second floor. Its
| only unconventional feature was an
old lady sitting on the library table,
| 1-a Ia- har nn
the floor below, fat terrier gazed
fixedly at some object hidden by the
dropping cover.
At the door the girl paused. Grand
ma" she said, this is Mr.-Mr.-''
'Moulton," prompted the owner of
the name.
This is Mr. Moulton, grandma, and
he is going to be kind enough to kill
the rat for us"
The girl climbed nimbly into an
armchair as she spoke, and stood with
her garments drawn tightly about
her. Tte old lady on the table ac-
knowledged the Introduction with
much dignity.
Il hope, Ethel" she said plaintive-
ly. you have explained the situation.
In a housekeeping experience extend
ing over fifty years, Mr., Moulton.
there has never been a rat In my
house until this moment"
Il haven't explained, but l will,
said the girl with an air of not relish
ing the prospect puck, our dog
Your dog, my dear" said the old
lady. And a very worthless animal. =
Puck repeated Ethel, looking in
the direction of the fat terrier
Caught rat in the back yard this
evening l called him into the house
and he rushed by me and brought the
rat upstairs to show 1t to us. He was
SO proud of it, poor fellow"
Dropped 1t almost at my feet" ex
claimed the old lady. with shudder
of disgust. THE beast!"
MAnd the rat ran under the tahla :,