The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-07-02
WANTED-A GUIDE
BY ADA MAY STEVENS.



1t was partly the fault Of the dog.
de is much too impartial, as colles are
apt to be. He spent his time indiscrim-
.snately among his admiring neighbors-
Three of them had houses Just like his
masters. How should he know which
was which, since all gave forth bones?
Were l a dog-but you shall see. For
fellow just recovering from an attack
of nerves, to meet things as unstable
as this dog and the furniture of Maple
street, is demoralizing. that's what 1t
is.
! chose my Cousins from the list of
possible visiting places, because 1t was
quiet. Even the town is quiet. OF tie
house one had reason to expect a
special stability. Alfred explains at
length that l have not been betrayed,
but judge for Yourself
My cousin met me upon my arrival,
for it happened thar had never visited
him since he moved to Westgate We
stopped before a piazza in duplicate,
passing through duplicate door into
what afterward found to be dupl-
NhtC mani iS-Ntel't III 80
Alfred's hall was only a table and
chair. 1t was restfully vacant; from
its plain walls, scant furnishings, to
the cheerful LITTLE wife and pleasant
home atmosphere. / felt at last had
found peace. ! rested well that night.
With the interest of a stranger in
town, l went out next day, proud to
take my first trip alone. | felt duly,
or unduly, e.ated. Returning, / ran
confidently up the steps where sat
Billy the cat; opened the hall door
to be greeted by Major, the dog. But
the hall looked unfamiliar; there was
a tail clock in the corner, and for
midable hatrack almost challenging
the way. Like 8 s50ldier-or is IL bur-
glar?-suddenly seeming danger, !
came to tiptoe position; ! craned to-
ward the door into the sitting room.
did you want to see Alfred Poser?
He lives next deor." The voice was
sweet, and the head that followed it
was pretty but I left as precpitately
as though followed by a bristling war
rior with all swords drawn. There Is
little satisfaction in apologizing for a
frankly bone-headed intrusion, even
to pretty face, so i left at once, with
my apology trailing over my shoulder
Alfred's wife alas a pleasant laugh,
and the mirth of cousins is more heal
ing that than of brothers, so | picked
up courage once more, took back my
rash vow that 1 would never appear
In public again without a keeper, and
went down street on the following aft
ernOon.
| went early and returned late This
lime | left nothing 10 chance; | courit-
ed my steps from the corner to the
house l looked first at the numbers
and then at the draperies and house
splants in the windows. carefully
avoided all piazzas where reposed any
r5f our household pets. Then 'pold
gy walked in
Heavens What iiad I done? Not
an article was fanifiar. BY the stairs
stood a broad oid-fashoned couch II
black walnut wardrobe. and a crock
cry umbrella rack grinned from sep
arate corners. The accustomed chair
where I usually draped my coat was
gene. Standing bewilderes. / clutched
my failing senses ana uttered tne
thoughts within me-.
4fHave l gone mad again--where aru
II Where am II" 1 cried, in the Iouss
voice ordinarily used for such crises
as calls for "ielp'- or "Irire."
As though it were a signal, the
lights went up. A cool voice came
down the hall. 4Why. Cousin Tom is
that you2" Then she went into spasns
Of laughter. Yes, Alfred's wife is Il
cheerful soul, but newer hefore real
ized what a useless thing her laugh
could be. Between sfrieks she
gaspei
"Nn wonder you don't know wiere
you are! Oh. Tom. you look too funny
for words--tiG forgive me-
Explain yeurself." intoned with
much dignity, realizing that only 80
could bring her to herself
why. you see" she laughed, "the
things came from Alfred's fathers
house while you were gone, and We
,plt them asoNnd at once Isn't that
"A love Of eOuch2 Truly. you sioa'i
hive to Ioo'y r, wsld--but after yes.
'tereay-" She 'sias hopeless and resp
less. left her.
It's all very gsall to sonthe my feel
fngs and explaiss things to me; anyone
in my contlitioa ~aa acll yon just hoa
soothing it Is. atier4w refuse TO &c
abroad alone agaiu in this town. Menu
while lind tie piazza 5list the right
length for facing. and spend my
time teaef.ing Ma joy and Billy the de.
lights of home. III place like this.
some guide is necessary.
r...af. =. ,<-,;~,.. t-I