Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-11-30

|
"He's stolen my dog"
"Humph-youp growled the ac
cused. 81 hain't, nuther He's mine !"
81 ken prove he amt" said the first
boy, doubling his fist in the face of the
other. "You say that agen an III
knock you down. Or eff yer lay hands
on that yer dog I'll pitch into yer, an
all these ere boys II follor suit. We're
a trades-union, we be, every one on us
boot-blacks, an bound to stand by
each other, live or die !"
The united trades-union glowered
ON the would-be-owner of the dog.
The dog meanwhile trembled VIC
lently, looked altogether crestfallen
and acted as if he would wag his tail
apologetically if he had one to wag.
Madge thought she saw her oppor-
tunity.
GLOW much would you sell the dog
for ?" she asked, persuasively.
"Three dollarsp' exclaimed the boy
not-ofthe-union, eagerly.
"Tain't yourn to sell" cried chorus
of voices.
can eff he's with a cent he's with
ten dollars, an no mistake said a tall
boy" tipping wink to his comrades.
eyes, ten dollars an cheap at thatr'
now said a second.
"Give us ten dollars an the dogs
yournp'
eyes, ten dollars p' chimed in two or
three other voices.
"My, what lark we'll have-all on
us what's in the union p said shrill
voice prematurely, for the first speaker
babe him "Shet up" And, picking up
the dog, now looking more like de-
linquent than ever, he held his victim
toward Madge with wheedling smile,
saying,
"Pretty creetur; amt he, now? Tie
a yaller ribbund around his neck, an
a bow in the yere with a hole cut in it,
and he'll look serum, he will Cheap
dog, miss. Ye'd better take it while
we're in the mood ter sell"
81 tell you what | will do said
Madge, "after l have seen your teeth.
Stand in row and show me your
teeth"
The boys, nothing 10th to be part
ners in this mysterious command, shut
fled into irregular line, and each max
ing his own individual horrible grimace
they exposed such an assortment as
Madge had never dreamed Of
A sudden revulsion of feeling seized
her. She turned faint with momen-
tary nausea. But, remembering Juliet,
and that her sisters beauty hung, if
not by thread, by tooth, she selected
two of the Migrants with strong white
even teeth, and said firmly,
"a bargain is bargain, isn't it,
boys?"
eyes, bargains bargain, an no
mistake"
"Well, here is my half Of the pro-
position. | will buy this valuable dog
for ten dollars-although / know he
will die on my hands, you have abused
the poor miserable animal so-if one
Of these-two boys, l do not care
which, will sell me side tooth for
twenty dollars
christmas !" exclaimed the leader.
The two owners of the coveted teeth
gazed at each other, broke into loud
guffaw, and doubled themselves in an
agony Of laughter.
Heres fer a corner on side teeth r.
cried one boy, and threw up his hat
dogs an teeth Not cats and dogs
any longer. Dogs an teeth'll be the
watch-word of this ere union" said the
leader "Three cheers, boys, fer dogs
an teeth. One, two, three !"
Dogs an teeth !" screamed volley
of voices.
Madge, growing paler and paler, but
firmer and firmer, made her offer again
and this time with so much solemnity
that one of the urchins said,
Il say, miss, be you really in air
nest ?"
"In deadly earnest" said Madge
tragically.
"Come, who'll sell a nut-cracker fel
twinty dollars ?" said a toothless lad
loosely.
'1'll sell yer tooth, " now said one
Of the two possessors of the coveted
treasure "but it must be cash down
an the hull union fer witnesses"
at shall be just as you say sale
Madge. "Now | will tell you what W.
will do. One Of you carry my dos
and all Of you walk behind me to DR.
Ponds. DR.. Pond will extract tn,
tooth, and the instant it is out I'll pa,
for both the dog and the TOOTH
"My, amt this one original lark ?
said the leader. Here, Teller boot
blacks, rally round our hero an marcl
him to DIR. Ponds. He'll be able t.
set up the jauntiest establishment ago
ING, he will, an all fer one tooth