The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-11


boys who cared nothing for the heat of the
sun, and at 10 O'Clock one of them cam,
rushing into the alley out of breath anl
gasped out:
Here comes Roger, an he's got de purr
in lis armsl"
Sure enough, Roger was coming, with
the tread of conquerer. A crowd of eager
children logged his footsteps as he swung
around the corner of Roosevelt street into
Cherry, and eager questions saluted him.
such as:
rs We got i'm, Roger?" as he hurted?'
"Did ye kill the dog catcher wot clutch
| 'im?"
But Roger only smiled and walked rap
| idly on, well knowing that to Johnnie the
minutes were freighted with lead. At last
he reached the alley and placed little
bundle in the boys arms. Did ever a
| child's fingers tremble more violently than
those of Johnnie Murphy at that supreme
moment of joy and fear.
Slowly the bundle was unrolled and
twenty pairs of eyes watched the process
as the folds fell away and disclosed the
dogs apparently lifeless body. The eyes
were closed in utter WEAKNESS. Nip had
evidently been injured by the dogs con.
fined with him in the dog catcher's wagon,
for there were fresh wounds on his neck
and blood stains upon his shaggy coat.
And while a sympathetic group stood
around with pale faces and plying eyes,
Johnnie bent down over the dog as it lay
on his lap and whispered huskily:
81 say, purp, are We much hurried"
Nip feebly opened his eyes. and look of
glad recognition came into them. The
stumpy tail moved little, very little.
1t was not such a hearty wag as that with
which Nip was won't TO testify his joy.
The tired head was lifted for a moment
from Johnnie's arm and a low whine, but
an echo of that which had saluted the boys
ears yesterday, greeted him. Johnnie sat
for awhile dazed and uncertain, then an
inspiration came to him.
''Fll fix him, boys, said he eXultingly as
he felt in his pockets. The children
watched his movements eagerly. When
his inquisitive fingers invaded the coat
pockets they evidently touched something,
for Johnnie's face lit up once more with
the light of hope as he brought small
brown paper parcel to view. Unrolling
the paper he disclosed a soup bone to which
chung some fibers of meat.
Here, Nip!" said Johnnie swapping his
fingers and whistling softly, "stand up
and tackle the bone. saved it for yep
But no bone that was ever incased in
flesh, and no steak, however rare and APP
petizing, could make those nostrils dilate.
Hunger was swallowed up in pain and
weak ness.
It's no use to give the dog strong grub
like that now" said Roger. ''He can't tear
it. You leave him to me. pll bring him
through"
But Johnnie refused to allow the dog to
be taken from his arms. He Rugged Nip
to his breast, and again the tide of sorrow
rolled over him in uncomfortable tears.
Meantime Roger filled his pipe and lit it.
Showing his hands deep into his pockets
he sauntered out upon the sidewalk whis-
Ting softly, "And we're going to plant
him tomorrow" When Roger strolled
back into the alley Johnnie was gone.
'Where is he"' said Roger to one of the
groups of children.
He's took de pup up to is mother"
eagerly replied barefooted girl.
Toiling slowly up the dark stairway
leading to the top story of the tall tene-
ment went Johnnie, carrying the dog "a
tenderly as if it had been a child. He
stopped to rest on each landing and then
resumed his journey. When he reached
the upper landing he stumbled painting
into the kitchen, saying:
Mother, where's the liniment? Where's
the bottle wot says on the outside Good
for cuts, burns, consumshun, celery an
everything Where is it?"
'Why, sonny, it's right there on the
shelf beside the clock"
Johnnie placed the helpless dog upon the
bed, and climbing upon chair secured the
bottle, muttering to himself as he did so:
It'll cure him, cause it says on the bot
tie it's good for everything"
All that day Johnnie sat by the dog
bathing its wounds with the magical lini-
ment 1t may have been that the lotion
possessed some of the marvellous healing
powers attributed TO it. AT any rate it
must have possessed some virtue, for ere
the evening shadows began to lengthen in
Cherry street Johnnie noticed signs of re-
turning life and animation in the dog |
Nip's improvement was slow, but under |
Johnnie's unremitting care, and soothed !
by the liniment, the animal slowly came |
back to health and animation, the stumpy /
tail once more resumed the old time wag |
and his playful bark resounded through |
the room.
One week went by and again the lights
on the big bridge were reflected in the |
swelling currents of the East river. Again |
the merry shouts of the children awoke |
the echoes in Cherry street as they romped |
by the light of the stars. Roger Doolan
was seated on dry goods box near the en-
trance TO Middle alley. His attention was
attracted by playful pull at the bottom
of his trousers. Looking downward he ex-
claimed in surprise:
"Well, III be choked with rope if that
amt NipI'
Yes" said Johnnie, whose smiling facs
around the corner OF the alley
ike radiant moon, IAN he amt agoin to
be planted tomorrow, cause / cured him
wild me mothers liniment!'-Ernest Jar
rold in brakes Magazine.