84 BRUNO 



the station, and had thus learned that I was 

 alone, sent a message by her little son that I 

 was to "come right around" to their house for 

 the night. I sent our thanks, with further 

 message that Bruno and I had agreed to take 

 care of each other. The child went home; 

 then his mother came. She thought I "must 

 be crazy ' to think of staying alone. She 

 "wouldn't do it for any money." I assured 

 her I w r as not staying alone, and had some 

 trouble to convince her that I could not possi- 

 bly be more safely guarded than by Bruno. I 

 assured her, further, that nothing would now 

 induce me to lock up the house and leave it, 

 for it would be impossible to know just when 

 Julius would return ; he would be sure to catch 

 the first boat and train after his business was 

 finished, and I would not for anything have 

 him return to find his nest deserted. 



I succeeded, at last, in quieting all of her 

 kind objections, and was left in peace. 



Darkness came on, and then Bruno lost cour- 

 age. As I was preparing his evening meal, he 

 ran to meet me as I crossed the room, and rais- 

 ing himself to an upright position, he rested his 

 paws on my shoulders and gazed with mournful 

 questioning into my eyes. I knew what he 



