Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-03-31

| heard one little Teller say he'd like to
Skinny up his neck! It's a mercy it's
/ such warm night and they've left the
| skylight open. 1 should give up if Nina
caught cold, but she's sleepin' quiet's
a mouse, and l guess she'll be all
right"
The giraffe had been busily eating his
hay, with no eye for such lowly beings
as his visitors, but now he had emptied
the crib and turned his soft eyes on
Miss Hitty.
IF those amt the loveliest eyes!"
said Miss Kitty, admiringly, ''but I
kinder wish he'd look at me straight on,
and not round the corner, that way.
Nice graft, handsome fellow! If only
l knew his name; seems foolish to talk
baby talk to a great big thing like that.
| I might call him Spotty, though it don't
suit as well as it might. Wisht he'd let
me feel him."
| She spoke coaxingly, but quietly, so
as not to wake Nina. The great timid
creature regarded her with curiosity,
turning its head and viewing her from
the most impossible angles. He craned
and twisted his neck till Miss Kitty
feared he would get STITCH It was
| quite dark, though the twilight had not
ended. But Miss Kitty had become ac-
customed to the dusk. The giraffe came
gradually nearer, apparently puzzled
! by the unusual voice.
81 hope I'm not keeping him awake.
| I should think he'd want to go to sleep,
but perhaps he's like horse and don't
| like to lie down before folks. Land,
| I'm glad he amt a horse. I should be
scared to death. It always makes me
nervous just to hitch up a team, but
| Spotty-I'll have to call him that till
I get something better-he's so gentle
that couldn't be scared leastways."
''Spotty" seemed to ignore Terminals
| presence, though he rolled his eyes
once or twice in her direction. His cu-
riosity in Miss Kitty was absorbing. He
| gradually came as near her as his tether
would allow and bent his great neck
towards her.
| ''Now I call that real friendly of him!"
| exclaimed Miss Kitty in delight. May
be he remembers me. l should almost
think he might, I've been here so often.
1t does seem shame he should have
to have that halter on all night. They
oughter take it off. l declare if I could
| only reach I've a mind to take it off
myself. He couldn't come to no harm
| while I'm here to look out for things.
| There, dear, couldn't you get your head
down a mite Iower?" She rose cautious
ly. not to startle him. I'm such
saNed-off, [ never could reach any
where's, and even this box amt high
| hn : !,
in the dusk till she stumbled against
barrel, aad with much painting mounted
| it. Then she reached down for the box
and placed that on top of the barrel. BY
this time the giraffe had become sus-
| picious and had retreated. 1t took some
| time to coax him back, but finally he
came near enough for her to pat him.
He rubbed his neck against her caress-
ingly and nearly caused Miss Kitty to
lose her balance.
! There, there, easy, dear. Just hold
still a bit till 1 unbuckle this strap.
| There you are-my, I guess it's re-
lief!"
The giraffe appreciated his freedom
and became more friendly than ever.
81 declare, wish had something for
him to eat. Not that l suppose he's
hungry, after all that hay, but he'd
relish a morsel of something green. If
Nina were awake she'd give me spray
out of that bunch O. flowers she's TAX
| ing to Sister Jane. I don't see why
| Spotty shouldn't get the good of them;
| they'll be all withered before we get
there. 1 don't believe she'd say a
word"
| Miss Kitty slid off the barrel and took
the bunch of old-fashioned posies out
of Jcmima's bag. One by one she held
| the flowers out to Spotty, and he curled
| his long tongue about them and carried
them up to his mouth. 1t was while
! she was feeding him that there came
footsteps along the gravelly walk out
side.
81 clean forgot to slip old Long-neck's
| halter" one voice was saying.
"Well, you'd better step in and do it
now" replied the other. IF the in
spector should come round"
There was a click in the lock and
| lantern flashed into the room.
"Gosh!" gasped one of the men.
"What on earth!" They both stood
| speechless, regarding the little old lady
on the box who was patting the gil
RATES. pretty head.
She looked up and smiled.
Good evening, sir. 1 guess you
didn't expect to see me here. We got
| locked in, and Nina johnson she's gone
to sleep in the corner there; she was
clean tuckered out; so thought I'd be
| friendly with Spotty. I'm real fond of
him. l took his halter off, SOS he'd feel
more freedom. I hope you don't mind
thought t would be all right so long
as didn't leave him alone" She smiled
so pleasantly that the men gradually
recovered their speech.
"Much obliged, ma'am," the keeper
stammered. Il was just coming to do
it myself. Lucky forgot, though he
added, with a smile, ''or you wouldn't
have got out tonight"
''Why, sure enough" said Miss Hitty.
81 do declare if I hadn't forgotten we
was prisoners"
| Jemima. Weakened by the sound of the
mems voices, had hastily risen and
seized her bag.
I'm sure we're much obliged" she
FASTENED to say, land glad enough to
get OUT
''Why, Nina, you had splendid nap;
you oughtn't to complain"
Then, turning to her deliverers and
shaking each cordially by the hand,
Miss Kitty added: eyes, I've alters