Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-28


II ended IN their giving him armsful here and
there, till before nightfall he had collected a
bundle quite As large As he could stagger under.
de carried it home. and hid it for the night in
q rubbish-closet under the stairs, making no
commences to anybody concerning his novel
enterprise. In the morning he contrived to get
II ont Of the house again without being noticed,
and tramped away manfully, an endless dis
lance, TO the hieroglyphic place where he ex-
changed his burden for the handsome sum of
seventy hve cents-just about half what he had
expected to realize.
"Seems to me it takes a great many papers
to make pound, he thought, rather crest
fsllen, as he fobbed his six shillngs. "Never
mind, though; there's more where they came
from"
And nothing daunted. he trudged ND. town to
try his luck again. At home Susie pouted when
the hours slipped by and Tom did not put in an
al think when it's Saturday he might stay
home and play with me. Don't you, m mma?''
cn b9t Ms, heht , was 700 busy to answer the
column story for 1.-THE Weekly Banner" in a
wild hope of raising ten dollars. and so having
trlfie for the Christmas stockings. Susie had
10 content herself with her own company, but
she found the morning dull, and. when Tom
came home at noon, she received him with dig
Dified displeasure.
''I don't want any of your kisses sir "a ha
ran up to her. his cheeks all aglow with the
frosty air. and his eyes sparkling. ~ think it's
awful mean, do, for you to stay out so long.
Mamma writes all the time. and I'm Just as
lonesome! But you don't care"
'NOw, don't scold, ;" said Tom. al stayed out
for good reason, and when you see what I've
81 DON. believe you've brought anything, Z"
"Don't you? Wen, shut your month and open
your eyes, and look here -
Tom unbuttOned his jacket cautiously, and
Susie gave scream of delight, for little shag-
gy white head, with satiny-pink ears and twink
ling black eyes popped up over his collar.
ITS little dog! it's little teenty white live
deg :" che screamed in an ecstacy. s'Oh Tom
where did you get it? Did Won bring it for me.
Tom? want little dog, worst OF anything in
ooh, you do? And you wouldn't kiss me lust
now" cried Tom, tessingly.
"What Is all this?" asked Mrs. Kent, coming
in from the little kitchen with a dish of baked
potatoes in her hand. "Where have you been
all the morning, Tom, and what in the world Is
that?-a little white poodle?"
"Isn't she cunning" said Tom, setting the
dog on her legs. "She isn't much bigger th an
akitten-see. And look how she cuddies up to
me-"
at is a lady's lspdog," said Mrs Kent, strok-
ing the little creatures silky curls. sit is used
TO being petted, dare say. Where did you get
il, Tom"
.'Feund it, said Tom, exultingly "I was
just crossing the street. over in Clinton Place
and the little thing came trotting round the
corner, and ran against my legs. 1 saw she was
lost by the way she looked and so 1 picked her
Up. And then rowdy fellow tried to sn atch
her away. 'Wnst you doing with my dorg?' ne
says, and doubles up his fists at me. And L says,
Sits none of your dog and doubles ND mine;
and then he jumps at me, and tries to snatch
her, and what do you think dido"
"What?" cried Susie, breathlessly. "Tsll
me quick. Tom"
"well, the loafer, you know, he puts his head
down. so, Won see, To give me a punch; and then
1 went for him, right over his back. 1t was a
regular Spanish fly"
so, Tom ~ Mrs. Kent exclaimed. half laugh
ing, half horrifed. The idea of your wrest.
ling in the street with losters!"
81 didn't wrestle, not bit," said Tom
cOolly. 81 only astOnished him little; and
didn't stop to pick him up any, you bet. wasn't
dog-not If knew it."
'sGoOd for you!' cried Susie, warmly. But
Mrs. Kent looked grave.
Isl don't see that you have any better right to
it than he" she said.
al found il first" said Tom.
"But somebody lost Ii. And somebody a. this
very minute may be fretting over the loss"
"How can help that?" asked Tom, rather
fretfully. 81 dom know where to lind the Own
er, mamma"
"Of course, you don't how could you?r
echoed Susie, alphabetically. 1t Odd not oc-
cur to her as at all desirable that the owner
should he found.
Mrs. Kent poured some milk into a saucer,
and set ii before the poodle, who Tapped 1t up
in a famshed and yet dainty manner, az IT she
were accustomed to cream for her daily food,
and only accepted milk as N after of necessi-
ty. Having satisfied her hunger, she curled
herself up on the chintz covered sOfa-pnlow,
and went to sleep, Susie watching her "cun-
ming ways" in rapture of admiration.
"Come to your dinner" said Mrs. Kent; "the
potatoes are getting cold" But the child paid
10 heed.
"Susie, Susie her mother called, in louder
tone.
And up sprang the little dog. to everybody's
surprise, wide awake in a second, and greatly
excited. She wagged her tail violently, she
jumped down from the sofa, and scampered
and running to and fro, as if in search of some
thing.
"What Is the matter with her?n said Mrs.
Kent.
Toms face frightened with fash OF inspir-
alton. "SusieI here, Susie :" he called and
with bound the poodle was in his arms, bark
ing. and favning, and licking his fa;s all over
III rapture Of recognition.
"Her name Ia Susie don't you ses?"
And Tom and the other Susie were both 80
delighted with this wonderful discovery and
DO consequence, and baked potatoes went by
default.
They spent the afternoon playing with the
poodle, who developed the greatest quantity of
cunning and pretty tricks convincing Mrs. Kent
more and more that the dog was some fine lady's
pet, trained to amuse her idle hours. A thought
came to her that made her pretty, pale face
flush with q sort of shame. Time was when
such thought would have been houted with
scorn; but there was temptation in 1t now-such
a temptation that she actually sent Tom ont
"Herald;" and, with fingers that trembled with
her eagerness, she turned to the page where
things "Lost and Found are advertised.
Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes, and
IL is true that the secret thought she had been
cberishing was answered by this advertisement
the very first one that met her eye:
FIFTY dollars will be paid for the return OF
poodle dog, lost from q carriage on Broadway,
on the morning Of the 22d. Answers to the name
Of Susie. Inquire at 23s Madison avenue, for
Capt. Meredith"
She grew DO pale as she read this-for the re.
ward vas double the widest fancy she had en-
teTtained-that Tom, who had been watching
her with the sympathy that was instructive
between them, came Clsse to her in q sort OF
alarm.
Mamma, what is the NATTER"
"LoOk here, TOm"-and the boys face flush
ed and faded, in q curious likeness to her own,
as his eyes dsvoured the wonderful, potent al
paragraph. He could hardly take in its full
significance at first, for he had never thought OF
the dog being OF such Importance that a reward
would be offered. Such g reward, tOo-dfty
dollars! 1t fairly took away his breath.
'Do YOU thinks II really that little d0g?''
he asked, TREMENDOUSLY.
al haven't q doubt of it, said Mrs. Kent,
with thrill OF excitement running through her
own voice. "Answers to the name OF Susie, you
see."
"And, if take her to that place, 1 will get
fifty dollars asked Tom, in an awe-struck
way.
.'If Captain Meredith is as good as his word"
said Mrs. kent.
so motherID Tom clasped her round the