The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-31

DOUStS lutIt was uO WOOu W Ut ChTTltu.
for it was nearly midsummer. and there
seemed to be little encouragement to
industry.
Three weeks passed slowly, and
found the twenty cents only increased
to seventy. 1t was growing hopeless.
Fritz might die of old age before the
tax could be paid, at this rate; and,
anyway, the poor fellow was growing
thin in his close confinement in the
shed. Then one hot July morning
Robby walked down the road, kicking
up the dust in clouds with his bare
feet, and hugging tight a bright five
cent piece, which a gentleman had
given him for carrying traveling-bag
to the station. just quarter more,
but oh, how big quarter seemed, as
he thought of it'll 1t seemed bigger
than r-plate-bgger than the
moonl He was thinking 80 hard that
he did not notice Teddy Brown looking
through the fence as he passed, until
Teddy hailed him.
Hello Robbyl"
Hellop' Robby answered; " What
are you doipg?"
Nothing" Teddy answered, adding
with sudden glee, g got a quarter"
Then it was Robby's turn to show in
terest. A quarterl The very height
of his own ambition was to possess an
other quarter.
Where did you get it?" he asked
of Teddy.
"The marshal's paying quarter for
every dog what's took up without a
check on" Teddy explained; "and l
caught one this morning, and got a
quarter for him. HIP and the happy
possessor turned handspring and two
somersaults in quick succession. "Pm
going to buy fish-pole and some lines
and hooks" he said. 81 don't have to
fish no more with willer sticks and
strings"
Robby moved away, without word
of goodbye. The marshal was paying
quarter for stray dogs, was he? A
ray of new hope came into his heart.
and during the afternoon Robby crept
about through the alleys and down one
side street after another looking for a
dog which seemed to belong to nobody
At last he found him, poor, half
starved cur, which looked utterly for
lorn and friendless as he hunted for a
bone around the back door of the hotel
He looked up when Robby whistled,
and stood winking and wagging the tip
of his dropping tail doubtfully, and
then, step by step, he came up and al
lowed the rope to be tied around his
neck.
"Come, old feller," Robby said-and
then his conscience smote him as he
saw the expression of trustful affection
in the friendless animals face. "Maybe
he's some other boys dog, like Fritz is
mine," he thought. And he cut the
rope loose again, and thrust it in his
pocket. He was thoughtful all the way
home, and slowly ray of satisfaction
came into his face, and this deepened
into broad grin when he reached the
shed and united Fritz's rope.
Gwen show 'em, Fritzy, that they
can't beat u.s." he said.
And he led the frisking dog out
through the gate and down the road,
straight toward police headquarters
where he demanded to see the marshal.
Here's another boy with dog, sir,
wants quarter" the old janitor said
when the big, blue-coated marshal
came out.
g How much is dcg-check?" Robby
asked.
Dollar" the officer replied shortly
Don't you give 'em for no less?'
r Jbby asked again. "Won't you give
me one for seventy. five cents?"
"No; can't do it. It's against the
law. Do you want me to give you {
quarter for that dog?" and he reached
out his hand for The rope.
D,,hk . To nj -
hand upon the bright quarter which The
m irshal gave him in exchange. Then
he produced the seveuty-fve cents from
the depths of his pocket and counted i
down upon the table, laying the new
quarter beside the pile of pennies and
tive-cent pieces.
"Now," he said triumphantly
"there's a dollar! Please give me ,
! check"
The marshal looked dazed, and turned
from the pile of money to the flushed
little face, and then back again. He
counted the money over himself Sure
enough, there was dollar, and h'
brought out bright, brass check, will
: "76" engraved upon it, in big figures
and fastened it upon the dogs necl
himself. Was there ever a happier
boy than Robby, | wonder, as ht
walked proudly up the street, will
Fritz beside him? And when Robby
told his father all about it at supper
: between bites of bread and butter, hi
/, father only laughed; but the mex
!, morning he brought home shining
new collar for the old Digs neck, ant
Robby's cup of happiness ran over
, w. II. Lighton, IN Golden Days.