The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1886-09-25


lower than the others and shelter
ed from the wind, Jim crawled i'll,
and the little dog followed.
"The furnace mus be out"
laughed Jim, as he wrapped him
self in bit of old carpeting which
he pulled out of n hole, and lay
down in the corner farthest from
the opening. The little dog eurled
up at his feet, and SO they slept
the happy sleep of youth and in
nocence.
Toward morning smoke began
to come through the cracks in the
box, and presently n flame appear
ed, and soon the box was in n
blaze. The little dog, shifting the
smoke, woke up, whined, and
touched Jim with his paw, but
Jim did not wake. Finally he ran
to his face and put his cold nose
right ON Jim's cheek. The boy
woke with start, and had Just
time to rush out with his backing
box in one arm and the little dog
in the other, before the opening
was closed by the flames. 1t was
too early to think of business yet,
so jim seated himself on the steps
of neighboring house, and
thought.
well, we're turned out" he
muttered.
"Guess its cause [ hain't paid
no rent. And if it hadn't ben fer
YOU" he said, patting the dog al
most tenderly, l shouldn't ha'
needed that kind of a box any
more"
The little dog got close to him
and licked his hand, while he
looked at him with eloquent eyes.
's'longs | have anything to eat,
you'll have part of it." jim said,
choking down n sob and hugging
the dog.
SO the chill morning, while the
milkmen were Just going on their
rounds, the compact was made by
these two, and very true they were
to each other. When business
was good, they had their warm
supper every night together; but
often business was not good, and
then Jim cheerfully ate a piece of
dry bread, ahat his friend might
have some too. Every night they
went to sleep curled up together,
and poor lonely Jim wondered
how he ever lived without his lit
tie dumb friend.
! But one bright morning as jim,
with his blacking-box on his shout
der, was vainly hoping for custom
ers, he picked up piece of an old
newspaper, and in the Lost col
umn, which has a fascination for
most people, he read:
LOST-A Skye terrier with a
yellow ribbon and answering to
the name of Gypsy. A reward
will be given. DIR, Van Norman,
fifth Avenue.
Now Jim did not know what a
Skye terrier was, and, boylike, he
never noticed ribbons, but as he
absently repeated the words to
himself, the little dog jumped up
on him at the name of Gypsy.
He repeated 1t again and,-n
there could be no mistake, it was
his name. A close examination
showed bit of dirty yellow rib
bon under the little dogs tangled
hair.
And now a struggle began in the
boys mind Gypsy wasn't his.
/ Should he take him to his real
master? NO" said self; "Yes, .
said conscience. And although
Jim had never been taught very
much about right and wrong, he
felt that he must lose his little
friend. .--
Hardly daring to think how lone
ly he would be without him, he de-
termined to go that very morning
But first he tried to straighten out
the little dogs tangled hair with a
broken piece of comb, and he ae-
tually stopped at little thread and
needle shop and bought a fresh
yellow ribbon for him. Then CIV
ing Gypsy his favorite breakfast
. r - Ill l. I....aa1f 40 S.,,1,,