The herald., 1897-02-24
AN ERRATIc ASS
As Doclie as Dog With Children and Elusive
With Strangers

With Strangers
There is a donkey on East Twelfth
street so erratic that much confusion Is
the usual lot OF anyone who tries TO
anticipate it's movements. Frank Will
son owns the animal, or rather his chill
dren do 1t is as docile aS dog and
their meek and patient companion when
ever they desire him as a comrade.
They are as fond of him as simple mind
ed boys and girls always are OF a pet.
He strayed away from the house early
last week and could not be found. They
grieved go much over their loss that MI.
Wilson advertised for him, Offering
reward of s25 to the finder. Last
Wednesday night James Dowd, an alert
young attache Of one Of the Broadway
real estate offices, was going home. II
was about 10 o'clock. AS he went along
West Sixth street he happened to no
tice in the vacant space west OF Collins
Bros establishment dark object.which
upon examination he found to be Will
sons donkey, leaning against the wall
quietly sleeping. Jim pulled out white
satin handkerchief which the Sunday
school class he teaches presented to MIN
on Christmas day, adjusted it around
the little animals neck, and led him out
on to Spring street. AS he walked along
he met an acquaintance, Barney Reilly,
who sang out:
Hello, Jim, fat've va thair?"
why, don't you see?'' Jim interrog-
atively answered. Its Wilson's donkey;
s25 reward, old stocking. Say. Barney
walk up with me until I put him in
Manley's stable. can AFFORD to set them
up on this"
When they reached the alley leading
to the stable Jim remarked:
"I'll leave him here minute. Well
go in and have something"
The donkey was shivering with the
dampness and Jim pulled off his coat
and threw 1t over him. Barney laughed
and tentatively said:
"Fy don't you pit yer hat an him
He'd look like . praycher wild his fite
choker."
"I'd as soon as not" Jim remarked,
and sure enough he pulled off his hat
and hung it on the donkey's ears, and
they went into the Elite.
Give u. the best in the house, Fred"
Jim ordered, as he whlried a silver dol
lar on the shining bar. Take some
thing yourself"
The glasses and bottles did duty while
Fred Crotty was told of Dowd's lucky
find Both Fred and Riley expressed
themselves pleased with his luck.
"It isn't luck. tell you. 1t is some
kind of system. If go up again a
Chinese lottery I never get left"
He then narrated several incidents
listeners seemed proud of the acquaint-
ance of so fortunate a being.
Let's have the tsishars Fred"
1t was Barney who spoke. They lit
their cigars and smoked while Dowd
ventilated his system of good fortune.
The saloon man set them up.
We'll" Jim suddenly remarked, IT
L, -. L. I~J
until morning" and he and Barney
stepped cut. The donkey was not at
the entrance to the alley where he had
been left, nor out in the street, nor in
the yard nor stable. Jim gazed up and
down Spring street, at the tops of the
houses, up at the watery moon. He
threw his right hand UP and around
wildly until it rested on his bare head.
That was not lost, but it contained no
idea except that the donkey was again
lost. The next day the following notice
appeared in a newspaper:
"Lost-$5 reward. This amount will
be paid upon the return to this once Of
one black Prince Albert coat one black
Derby hat and one white satin handker-
chief, lost on Spring street February
II. No questions answered. JAS. D."
Thursday morning when Mr.. Wilson
youngsters arose and gazed out through
the windows TO the lawn they were
startled by an apparition that stood by
a palm tree. 1t was the lost donkey, in
his peculiar dress, standing there asleep.
They disrobed him and went
into ecstacies over his return.
Little Oscar Wilson bundled UP the
clothes, called at the newspaper Office
and obtained Dowd's address, returned
him his apparel and received from Jim
bright S. gold piece, without either
exchanging so much as a "thg-k you "
Jim now manifests positive aversion
toward expounding his scheme Of for
tune when solicited to do 80.