The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-05-25

of string with me! Come along, Fido Come
along, good little dog ~
Fido, overawed by his strange surroundings
(he never stirred far from home except in his
mistress's carriage,) approached Dick slowly,
and allowed the young man to attach string to
his collar And even when Dick began to lead
him forward he offered but little resistance,
probably feeling that if left to his own resources
he should be unable to find his way home and
that nothing now remained but to follow his
guide to the bitter end.
They travelled some distance down Bond street,
in the direction of Piccadilly, and Dick was just
cogitating how he should manage to give Fido
the slip, when his medtations were rudely dis
turbcd by a mans hand laid heavily on his
shoulder, and gruff voice demanding authori-
tatively "Why that there dawg wasn't muz-
zled ?''
Turning hastily round, Dick found himself
face to face with sergeant of police.
He had never thought of the ''muzzling
order" until that moment; and it suddenly
dawned on him into what hobble he had per-
haps brought himself.
"Oh it's all right, Bobby!' he replied
hastily "The dogs an awfully harmless little
beggar, and I've got him by n string, you
know!r
"That makes no difference" answered the
officer decisively. "The order is that all dogs
are to be muzzled; and that one amt muzzled
You must hand him over to me at once please
and likewise favor me with your name and ad-
dress.n
Dick felt cold shiver of dismay pass through
his frame. He had indeed let himself in for
it Since, if he were charged at police court
with this offense, (as he doubtless would be,
TRUTH and then it was all up with him in that
quarter What an awful fool he had been |!
One last chance suggested itself. He put his
left hand into his pocket, and, while jngling
some loose silver, said persuasively, Couldn't
you manage to let fellow off, just this once,
Bobby? The fact is the dog doesn't belong to
me-"
''That won't doI' replied the officer sternly
'Unmuzzled dogs never belong to nobody.
Besides, you're leading him.
'Yesm Dick answered, desperately. "But,
you see, the little beggar belongs to friend of
mine-a lady, who values him awfully. And''
with very plausible inventiveness on the spur
of the moment.) ~ found him wandering
about the streets-lost, you know; SO 1 thought
I'd better tie a string to him and lead him
home.n
'luueeu Sdlu tue sergeant, CVlucnCly III
credulous. "And who is the lady?''
''Mrs. Cecil Herbert, of Curzon street, May
fair" Dick replied, promptly.
''Then you're going very roundabout way
to take that dog home,' retorted the officer,
ironically; ''for you're walking slap in the op-
posite direction y
| Dick saw his absurd mistake, and felt that he
was tloored. The policeman eyed him with in
creased suspicion.
81 tell you what it isl he said, drawing his
own conclusions from Dicks confused manner
''its my belief that you haven't come honestly
by that dog at all. So l shall take you into
custody-unless you like to come round with
me to Mrs. Herbert's at once, and"
'No! No! Not for the world - interposed
Dick, hurriedly.
The officer naturally regarded Dicks reply as
further evidence Of his guilt, and he took him
| in charge without more ado.
"Now, he said, laying his hand on the young
mans arm, "will you come quietly, or must
| clap on the handouts ~
"Oh! I'll come quietly enough !" Dick
answered, seeing that resistance would only
make his position ten times worse. 'But, say
can't we go in cab ~
'Very well ~ the officerreturned, with grim
smile. "If it will be more pleasant for your
feelings, I've no objection.''
So passing cab was hailed, into which they
both got, Dick lifting in Fido by his scruff and
in this vehicle they ratified off toward the Y
street police station.
Dicks intense dismay can we'll be imagined
He felt that he had been a confounded fool In
every particular, but most of all in having men,
toned Constance Herbert's name. For the po
| lice were sure to communicate with her on the
subject of Fido, and that would render his ex.
posure, in her eyes, dead certainty.
In fact he was done for
But in his intense desperation an idea, which
nothing but desperation could have entertained
flashed across his mind. Why not confess the
whole truth TO the police officer? If the latter
were good-natured man, his feelings might be
worked upon to let his prisoner go.
Acting on this notion, he made clean breast
of the entire matter to the Sergeant, painting in
| pathetic colors the dire results that would ensuC
from his being charged before magistrate.
The other eyed Dick keenly, and seemed dis
posed to credit his statement for he addressed
him more civilly, though he firmly refused to lei
him go free
cts out of the question, sir, II" he said. "Sev-
eral constables saw me arrest you. And if |
was discovered letting you off, should be dis
missed the force.'
But at any rate, you needn't keep me
locked up atthe station all night" demonstrated
Dick.
The Sergeant did not answer for minute.
Then he said deliberately, with keen glance at