Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-09-13

tween the lines, III IL were only ncTS.
"Oh, do wish this was mine!' she
said to herself, and then looking up she
saw Cousin Ted sitting at the chamber
window.
lis this your book, Ted? Will you
give it to me?' she asked, eagerly.
He glanced down, recognized the book
as cast-off property Of his, and an
swered, carelessly:
"Yes, you may have it"
Mamie was delighted. She showed
it to grandpa, to Aunt Ann and to mann
ma, and told what beautiful things she
meant to mark in it. Then she ran oil
to show it to Johnny.
But now in about moment there
was q great cOmmotiOn. loud cries and
protests, and in rushed the two chill
dren flushed and clamoring for their
rights.
Johnny snstched my copy-boOk
away!" sobbed Mamie.
"Nann;e's been getting my copy-bOok
and she's bent the covert exclaimed
Johnny. 4.
lit mine!" cried one.
Its mine" cried the other.
"Stopr' said grandpa. "COme here;
let me take the book and find out what
this means! Johnny. Mamie has been
showing ME this took, and said Ted
gave it to her, and she was going to
mark in it,
He did give it to mer' repeated
Mamie, firmly.
"Well, it's my book" said Johnny,
just as firmly. Il found it out in the
shed in the barrel of kindling, when !
was going to light my bonfire. and /
saved it to use. l am going to copy
pieces in it, and it mine!'
"No, its miner' said Mamie. "Ted
gave it to me!'
Il laid it on the grass a minute,
while l went to climb the Baldwin
apple-tree to look into a nest that is
there; and while l was gone, Mamie
came and took it. But it's mine, and I
don't want her to have it"
mo, it's minc!' said Mamie, break
ing into sObs again.
- 1t isn't, either!' said Johnny. with
a quaver in his own voice.
why" said grandpa, here are all
the elements of an important law-case,
and we must see that strict justice is
DONE"
Ted was looking over his desk
yesterday" remarked Aunt Ann, and
brought down an armful of refuse paper
to burn. told him not to burn it then,
but to put it in the kindling-barrel."
Then he parted with all right and
title to it," said grandpa, land it be-
came the property of any one who APP
propriated it from the barrel. l think
johnny has a right to it,
''lt's mig bookr' sobbed Mamie, in
one final protest, and then she rushed
out into the yard and seating herself
under syringa-bush near the open
window, wept loudly.
| She felt that the case was going
against her, and that she should never,
never be able to mark in that book with
her colOred pencils.
Cousin Ted passed through the room
with an amused smile on his face, but
did not interfere one way or the other.
Johnny stood hopelessly waiting.
ut is true,' said grandpa, THAT the
original owner afterward gave the book
to Mamie, but it was not then his to
give. He had parted with hts title, and
the book was Johnny's."
Eyes, SIR" said Johnny, II said it
was mine"
The sObs broke out louder from I'M
der the syringa-bush. Grandpa heard
them and wavered.
''DOn't YOU think, Johnny. you had
better let your little sister have it?'
mo" said Johnny, IL want to copy
things in it,"
"Well, Ill tell you what" said
grandpa, ''rll give you five cents for the
book. Will you take it?''
Johnny's eyes glistened. He saw q
chance for trade, but in his inexperience
he made n mistake.
"YOu may have it for ten, he said.
Grandpa laughed, but before there
was time to bargain, the sObs ceased
outside, and little figure came flying in
ut the door, 1t was Mamie, whose eats
had been quick to hear.
she said. and Johnny may have the book.
I don't care!'
THAT'S right!' scid grandpa, well
pleased at this way II settling the tan
gled law-case.
So Johnny took his copy-book with
rather sober face, and Mamie, with
five cents in her hand, sped away to the
nearest candy-shOp.
When she came back, she found John
ny waiting conveniently near the gar.
den-gate, so she shared her good things
with him, whereupor he told he had
another book upstairs. a smaller one.
that would do just as well for her to
mark in, and he would give her that.
So the case was settled in M st
friendly fashion.-Mary l.. Botc
| Branch, in Youths Companion.