Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-19
THE BULLETINS SHORT STORY,
BALLINGTON'S CANINE PARADOX

It was characteristic of Ballington that he accepted even his dismissal as l Katherine Gordon's suitor placidly and with due regard for the propria- l ties. His voice was cool and even, and | shaded to the exact note of regret that a well-brcd man should permit himself. l As Katherine told herself afterward, it was like John Drew matinee. He kept on at the Bruntons house party, and even Dicl1ie Hines lost sleep wondering whether kittie really had given him his answer, so correctly po- | lite was he in his attentions to her; | for which kittie was devoutly thankful, since Mrs. Brunton had given positive l orders that she marry Ballingtol-- and Mrs Brunton's word was law unto itself.
 | It was her disobedience which l brought about the crisis, for when 1 Ballington left there had been an in l quisition, and kittie, with a fine show of spirit, had founced out of the 1 room, declaring that she would return to her studio and freedom rather than | eat of the heshpots as a slave, and the disappointed Mrs. Brunton had or l dered the carriage around and had taken to bed with a sick headache over l the miscarriage of her pet plan for he;' niece.
 | So it happened that Kittie. in her 1 impetuosity, did not realize that she was without money until she ap- pproached the ticket window at the little | station. With a gasp she turned away l from the window and sat down on one of the hard benches to think over the | situation.
 Town was 150 miles away, so that | walking was out of the question. |, There was no one she could write to | to send her money. and she would die rather than go back to her aunt's | house and ask for her fare Her brain i was still in whirl when Harding Ballington. came slowly inko the wait | ing room.
 With rush she had crossed to him and in another second was pouring out her tale;' a trihe incoherently, but in sufficient detail to enable Ballington | to surmise what the matter was. That will be a very easy matter, D he declared. I'm going up to town myself and shall be glad to escort you"
 What are you doing here, anyway ?'' she asked curiously. q thought you had gone away last week." l Fred Cousins and I were back in the woods for little shooting" he ex- l plained. We came out yesterday, and I stayed over to see the county fair Do you know 1 never saw a county fair before?"
 I'm glad you stayed to see it." she smiled. Just suppose you had not come along I should have been stranded here"
 AS it is," he laughed back, q think I had better be getting the tickets" He reached for his pocketbook, but withdrew his hand, empty, and made a rapid search of his other pockets finally turning with a look of blank
 dismay.
 Do you know" he exclaimed, thai my pockets have been picked? have same small change, less than $G, but
 not enough even for your ticket. I vii
 have to telegraph the Bruntons."
 You will not" she begged. "Tc
 have Aunt Emma saying all sorts o1
 horrid things?'
 q might report my loss to the towr
 constable" he suggested. He may
 find 1t in time for us to catch the train
 l might offer my watch as a pledge fDl
 the tickets, only they took that, too"
 Don't you know anyone else abolf
 here?" she pleaded. Some one yot
 could borrow from " Ballington shooE
 his head
 "The best I can suggest" he said
 would be to wire for some money
 But that would not come in tint
 for the train," she objected 'I neve
 could stay in this town all night"
 Why not the Bruntons?" he plead