New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-11
''TOOTS."
A STORY OF A BANDY-LEGGED BULLDOG.

Swing low. sweet chari-o-Ot"' shrilled old
Dinah from the kitchen. in high and pene-
trailing falsetto. whose many quavers were
jerlicd out in a way that sounded II the
singer were undergoing some mysterious torture.
Mrs. Stocker. tending flowers in the back gar
den OF her ranch-house in the San Fernando
Valley. stopped to listen.
"Gwine for to cary me hO-o-ome," continued
Dinah in deep, rumbling tone. suggestive OF
asthTc+>~ bass and accompanied by
ergetic rafting Of dishes
AS the negress paused for breath Mrs Stocker
heard a heavy pounding at the front door. and.
still smiling at Dinahs like efforts hurried
round the house
On the porch she found q testy and eccentric
old man. VINO gazed with marked displeasure at
her lovely face and unappeased by her friendly
smile. roared out What in thunders going
on in this house, prayer meeting cat
fight? I've been hammerng on this door Cor
ten minutes seems to me-
I'm sorry if we've kept you waiting" she
answered gently
The various hard knots into which his face
seemed to be tied slightly relaxed but he
vOuchsafed only a sceptical grunt in reply.
i've come to your husband" said he.
abruptly; is he to homer
mo. he is not"
"When'n he be back?'
Not until tomorrow"
Il spose you don't know how to write
ceipt:' he queried with his chin cooked scorn-
fully in he air
II think ! could" said she smiling
We'll. I've becn owing your husband some
money for three years and couldn't even pay ,hc
interest, cause people didn't pay me: but I've
had stroke O. luck. and here's the money.
Gimme a receipt and We'll be quits" he said
he lifted heavy bag lying beside him.
oh dear me- she exclaimed: could you not
give me a check for it? I'm afraid to have so
much money in the house"
He looked upon this feminine timidity with the
contempt Of a bitter old bachelor and promptly
snapped no, can't. It's all the money we
got People seen me luggn IT from the bank.
and If you don't take 1t likely some one else
will. I'm skeered myself" with sardonic grin.
She reflected that this crusty person might
never make another effort to pay. and that no
need know she had the money: so she asked
him into the house where she counted the coins
and gave him a receipt
When h was gone she hid the gold among
some scrapbags IN dark corner OF her bed
room closet.
As the day wore she grew anxious and
nervous. There occurred 10 her the fear that
some passerby who had seen the old man bring
tho bag from the bank had noticed his horse
standing nj her gate and would suspect that she
had the money
II seemed To- her that the very birds had too
knowing air tney ;ip-tiited on branch
outside her bedroom window and cooked their
heads OH side to look in.
ll any one broke into her lonely house. which
was a half-miio from nor neares' neghbors. the
NordOns she and her feeble old Dinah would
have defence.
Il was with a feeling OF relief that she saw
John Gordon. nor husbands best friend walking
toward the house lie was dark. slender man.
with a nervous manner and rather Joy"ss
smile
How are YOU. Mrs s,ockcr? Feeling rather
lonesome en- he called ont We saw your
husband driving 10y this morning with his rcgi-
montas on. and knew that :ieLnt ned be- gone
some time. Wife isn't very well and wants 10
know q you won't 60 over and stay with h"r
Thank you ! wish ! could but Mr stocker
can't possibly bc back until tomorrow. ana
Randall has paid rc large sum tn gold that
] dare not leave"
''IIas ne at last ! saw his morse standing
herc but had no idea you'd eyer See that money
again" After a moments thought hc added.
"Bu, WHY not leave 10? Does any one know you
have h -
NO one but he man who paid Il TO me that
know of-0u; ne looks iilSe a Drigani
Nonsense. nv dear woman You're letting
vour fears run away with YOU. Br.gands
don't usually pay d"hts. ana there's r'ihng 20
90 over 30 our house 600 spend the night barkics
are acary Got. and you haven't even sensible
dog - keep you COMPANY.
She i1ngel 20 WELD. but she thought of all that
this money would mean TO- nor ov"r"orkrd nus
band and hardening nor heart against Mr.. Cor
don's repeated urgings persisted IN staying mt
aviug that he was late for an engagement.
he noighhl~ bad" nor hasty farewell.
As the carly darkness ~ the December nigh;
be,au 10 close IN Nature herself seemed 10 Mrs.
nov
consp.ripg with evil beings 20 heigh'en hey help-
To-. i"-r>Ir.
br,ke the gloom by cheerfully announcing the
evening meal While this was H. progress
wagon drove up. and Mrs. Stocker heard me
welcome voice ~ 1iann"y. sturdy. Jolly irish
pedler with whom she had had dealings Tor
s.-eraf years. His ono ~ those rotund and
iovial personalities that look Ike embodied jokes
and the very alght OF whom HhN'N 'N'lg ""'
Vow Toots." he was saying. don, We be FOR
ating me- up ne minute git down IT'S so long
since I'VE had bite that Ia De nilgh'F poor
nickinr -. alsv now and the ladyl give $"
a bone. maybe. with some marrow in II. I'm
hollow clare through.
Mrs. Stockcr opened the door In time To near
fhnsa las, words and called out: I'VE shAl te
glad t. I'm you up. Mr.. Ranney. and Toots' too
Come In. both 81 YOU. 49,,
In walled master and beast the man with
eo,rathln,, II a roll on his handy legs. the Will"
dog-whosc legs seemed respectfully modelled on
thc same plau-with thc air of Conscious lover
and dignity belonging 10 p"''- ~, ~ ~. 80.
Ae IN. ucdlcr took his seat ~ table Toots sat
down beside, him. and. without taking the siiSnt
cst motto, of any one else. looked quietly into his
masters face. -, ,o
"rvo becn driving about without a bite since
airIv morning" said Ranney. and thought Ia
sion nov. for supper and drop the things thmt We
ordered last trip. Mrs. Stocker knew l0ols
,,os n,rr,., roo. hut. We see. he don't beg. IKE
common doCs He's TOO much OF gntlemah
for ihat Tie knows his masterl feed him when
he can. and he has no patience wild Winning IT,,
alone doing Il himsili e.,o-
..Toots is the best dog know. Mrs. Stocker
arswered enthusiastically She took M bone
and held n out. saying: ioo'S' h''' ''o' WIN
YOU come and get this? M ,,
Toots eyed her gravel. with an ehpr pre- S'
which said that ne knew she appreciate, ms
worth but thought her tone was uhduiy ll'iiIi'h.
Then he looked inquirngy at his master 10 see
II ne approved OF accepting bone from
strange hand. -, w.. o,d how. On and
Eanncy NODDED and said: Yes ora ooy' =" anu
get i" a 90 Mrs s,ocker