New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-11
Brothers All
By DEEMS TAYLOR.

TINE mouse should have known better,
Of course. Nassau Street on Sat
urday afternoon is no proper place fo-
any brown mouse, let alone young one, who
isn't much over an inch and half long and
can't run very fast. But there he was, and
would have TO make the best Of it.
Two youths spied him first as he ran along
the gutter, and their joyous shouts soon at
tracted other spectators. People on the OPP
poste sidewalk stopped and stared and then
crossed over to see the fun.
The mouse came to puddle, tried TO cross
it, found it too deep, and so climbed up the
curbstone and scurried across the sidewalk
until the wall Of building stopped him. The
crowd formed an interested ring around him.
He should have been we'll satisfied, for already
he had drawn a larger crowd than hilarious
drunk or an automobile blowout would have
attracted
But the mouse wasn't thinking of that, APP
parently. He was desperately trying to crawl
up the side of the building. This was foolish
of him, for the wall offered no hiding place.
He soon gave it up and dropped back, for he
was young and had not strength enough 20
climb very far. He ran over and tried TO hide
under the sill of shop door. Even that af-
forded him no concealment, and the best he
could do was to huddle close to the pavement
and make himself as small as possible.
The crowd grew restless. 1t is no fun to
watch mouse that won't move.
kill him." some one suggested. SO
Anybody got a cane?" 4"'
"Step on him."
A stout, CHEEKY looking individual, who
might have been broker, had a sudden in
spiration.
watch thisl" he chuckled
He stepped warily forward and trod upon
the tip Of the mouse's tail. The mouse made
no sound, but flashed around faster than the
eye could follow, and crouched facing the
crowd. 1t was not defiance. He merely wanted
to face the point Of greatest danger. He made
no attempt to escape, but hudded there mo-
tonless-or nearly so. If you bent down and
watched him closely you could see that his
heart must be beating very fast, for his whole
body shuddered-regularly, like the tick of
watch.
The shopkeeper came to his door.
whats the trouble?"
Then he saw the mouse and grinned delight
edy
Got cat?" eagerly asked one elderly man.
mo. Gee | wish had"
The stout, CHEEKY looking individual had an
other inspiration. He put out his foot and
playfully kicked the mouse into the street. The
crowd laughed delghtedly.
alta boy"
Good shooting!"
Right in the corner pocket"
"Some drop-kck"
From under the wheel of passing pushcart
there came thin, high squeal A horse DOING
in front Of the shop pricked his ears inquir-
ingly, and then drowsed off again.
The crowd broke up and the spectators
drifted away. Some of them wert back To
their Offices, some went TO luncheon, and some
Just stroed for the day was perfect-sunny,
and not too warm. 1t was good TO be alive.
On the way to his luncheon club the stout
CHEEKY looking individual stopped to buy an
afternoon paper.
Hello, joe he called afably to the news
dealer, what's new"
He hastily glanced over the headlines.
well, TT be -, Another neutral steamer
sunk by the Germans. Fifty drowned He
clenched his fist and scowled.
THE damned brutes"