The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-23

she felt the little package the washer
woman had given her. She opened IL,
and there was a big. bright silver dollar!
"Oh. here is a fortune!" she exclaimed
joyfully Dry your eyes. Dot, ana let
us go to the grocery quick. They set
OFF on run and were soon there.
live got money now" she exclairn-
ed breathlessly to the grocer, "and /
want--oh--lots of things1 Some bread,
stale II you please-that's cheaper; some
apples-would you like some bologna
Doty
.'Oh. pleaser'
Some bologna. some mush.'' continued
the little housekeeper
Some sugar, Nina
Eyes, and some potatoes
"a can of corned beef, Nina, please
II don't have to be cooked, and / am so
hungry
why, you poor little thing! Here,
take cup of this hot coffee-I made II
for my supper" the grocer interrupted.
So Dot enjoyed the coffee while Nina
made the purchases. When the parcel
was ready Nina had some coffee, too;
then she laid the silver dollar down on
the counter, and he gave her fifty cents
in change.
"All that for fifty cents?' she exclaim-
ed. ooh! thank you, Mr."
robbins, that's my name, Robbins.
Yes this yer Queen City is the cheapest
place in the world for food leastwise
what I've struck" He was 20 cosmo-
not tell If he was English, American
or a miner
The little girls were soon at home again.
and as happy as IL they had fallen heir
to a fortune.
I'VE have food enough for week.
Dot. Now we can 60 ahead with our
work and open our stand just in time for
Christmas
Wasn't 1t good Of Mrs. Wilkinson to
give us that money? She knew" said
wise little Dot. Then they had their sup
per, and It was veritable banquet to
them; and when 1t was over they went
to work with renewed energy.
Suddenly they heard some boys In the
lot; Nina went quickly to put out the
light The boys came to the door, and
one cried:
'"The old skeexicks. has fastened the
door; here goes for bustl" But before
he could give the blow Dot cried:
Papa. papa there are some boys at
the door! Here's your pistol; fire 1t
quick. The boys did not wait for
second warning. but fell over each other
in their haste to escape. When they
were gone, Nina said:
ooh, you cunning Dotr' She lit the
candle again. went out and nailed up
the loose board, then came back and
went to work.
Don't be afraid, Dot. They won't an
noy VI any more tonight" said Nina.
inn not afraid, Nina. 1t Ia just like
my fairy book!' cried Dot, delighted.
After making plans for the morrow
and increasing their stock of flowers and
dolls. they went to bed, not forgetting to
return thanks for their good fortune.
The next morning they rode in the cars
to the park and away at the end found
a lot of beautiful red berries They took
or their aprons and nlled them with
mosses leaves ana the red berries. and
each was packing . big bundle when
burly policeman grasped them by the
shoulders.
Eyer young thaves. you: how dare We be
robin the city's property" and he shook
them roughly "3ut III take We along to
jail. an ye'll see how ye like that"
"Oh, please. sir: don't! oh, please don't
punish my little sister! We didn't know
that we mustn't. We thought II was only
the flowers we must not pull. Please let
US go!'
90. is 1t? Yen go to the office. an
I'll touch the button, an yen have free
ride in the patrol" And he laughed
cruelty.
Nina burst out crying.
Il don't see how you can laugh when
my sister feels SO bad. You ought to be
ashamed of yourselfr' cried Dot. her eyes
flashing with indignation. 'youll not
take us to the jail. either. for I'll tell
the superintendent"
With that she slipped from. his fingers.
dropped her bundle, and fed like a deer.
stop. thafer he cried. and rushing
after her. he stumbled over the bundle
and fell fiat. This gave Dot good START.
ana as luck would have IL, at a short
distance she met the superintendent and
hrrriedly explained everything to him.
She told him how poor they were and
what they were going TO do and declared
tina. they did not know II was against
the rules to take the berries. as they
grew so far away. Then the policeman
appeared. half dragging Nina.
.Ha we've got the other young thafe,
have ye3" he said Hold her tight. sir.
I'll ring for tho patrol, an TN gladly
give thin free ride to jail: ha, hal''
And ne shock his fist AT Dot. who had
unntentionaliy caused his fall.
''oh. sir. please. please do not let him
take us TO Jail, should die OF shame
oh. please dontr' begged Nina.
"s-hi7 whispered Dot. i've told him
everything. It's all right"
LET the girl go. officer. I'll attend
to them" said the superintendent.
"There-go to your reward" And the
policeman let her go with parting
shake touched his hat to the superin-
tendent and went away.
81 am very sorry for you. little girls.
4 1On tliGh you luttIftfoHHut uio "fVuEs
but Il is the rule and the policeman
must DO his duty; but this time you shall
not be punished. You may keep the ber-
ries and I VIII give YOU some OF my
flowers that you can sell" So he took
them TO his house and gave them each
a beautiful big bunch OF flowers. saw
them safely out OF the park and wished
them good luck.
fOh. but | was frightened, Nina; but
I wasn't going to let that mean police
man see II. Let US hurry homeI' cried
Dot So they walked back TO town, hid
ing the flowers In some papers that they
picked up.
After they had eaten their dinner they
made wreafhs of the berries and tiny
bouquets Of the flowers; then Mira
thought II time TO see to their stand 80
thev hurried to the groceryman. told him
their circumstances. and asked him II
he would please let them have a stand
outside OF his store.
ssoh, we have such pretty things to
selIr' cried Dot. THE sight OF them will
At ID. esnA -