“Well, I vow,” said the old dog. Then he added, “I thought I smelt that rat one day when your boss was talking to mine.”
“Yes,” I went on, “your master is looking for a place for mine.”
“I’m mighty glad about having you near by,” said Gringo, but he added shrewdly, “what does your missis say?”
“She started it,” I exclaimed. “It began this way. The other night she and master were talking before they went to bed. Said she, ‘Rudolph, there is much sickness in New York among children.’
“Said he anxiously, ‘Yes, I notice in the papers!’
“‘I’m worried about Baby,’ said she.
“‘So am I,’ said he.
“‘Country life is better for babies,’ said she, ‘but I suppose you wouldn’t like to go so far from your business.’
“Said he quite quietly, ‘I’ve always loved the country better than the city, but I thought you couldn’t abide it.’
“‘I used to dislike it,’ she said hanging her head, ‘but we had no baby then, Rudolph.’”