The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-02-03


Docs one of your boarders keep
dog?" he queried.
well, I should say not" she an
swered, fercely. "What sort of
house do you think I've here? On
of my young men did bring a dos
here, and 1 told him never to let IN,
see dog come in this house. Tha
was six months ago, and I amt neve
seen dog come in her since
"The man and dog passed in here,
persisted young woman standing by
the officers side.
So they instigated their search, anc
in short time knocked at Elmer
Stcarns' door.
"There he is" cried the girl, anc
to Elmer's unbounded astonishment
she rushed into the room and began
to lavish caresses on Clover.
"There is some mistake here" he
remarked, quietly. "May ask why
you manifest SO much interest in my
dog?"
"Your dog p cried the girl. "Id
like to see you prove it,"
Let the dog speak for himself, "
he suggested, mildly. Clover stood
looking from one 10 the other with
sad eyes.
"Sit here, please" said Elmer,
land 1 will go quietly to the other
side of the room. Now we will call
her together, and see what she will
do. Clover, come her." the man
said, quietly.
Come, Luck, Lucky pleaded
the woman.
Clover stood with her tail and ears
dropping. The woman was nearer.
In passing her Clover stopped, and
allowed her to stroke her, and even
licked the girls cheek. But her eyes
were on Elmer, and as soon as posi-
BILE she broke away and came to him.
"You see," cried the girl, "she
came to me first your own proof is
against you. Let us go, officer. Come,
Lucky"
And placing her hand on Clover's
collar, she led her out of the room and
down the stairs. Elmer heard cab
door slam and sat down YEARLY, Won
dering what to do.
He decided to wait quietly for the
dogs return and watched eagerly
each night for it. Two week went
by, when John Locke invited him to
spend the evening at his home. It's
a meeting of little informal card
club" he explained, without con-
stitution or bylaws. The host can
invite one friend and second invita-
ton makes you member. -
Elmee's evenings were long now,
co +1.n.-r-l. 1->-1:-i:i---l---- ----l-r-a-~----.-
and among them Miss Esther DAILY.
He recognized her instantly as the
young lady who had claimed his dog,
but she showed no signs of recogni-
ton.
Before the evening was over he was
head over heels in love. When a
man reaches the age of 80 without
love affair he is apt to make short
cut of it. Elmer Stearns received an
invitation from the next hostess and
was thus installed as member Of the
Informal Club" At the weekly
meetings he met Esther and soon they
were on excellent terms.
At last it was her turn to entertain
the club, and there he met Clover.
The dog was overjoyed and plainly
showed her pleasure. Esther was
surprised and said it was very unusu-
al for her to show any interest in a
stranger. AS for Elmer he snubbed
Clover numerically in spite of her
iuyfu1 whines and manifestations of
love for him.
Clover thought it over sadly as the
gardener tied her rope that night, and
she decided on a desperate course.
She knew the way quite we'll now to
her old master, though she had made
it before in the day time. The rope
was new thing since she had gone
home before, and she resented it.
She set her firm teeth in it and
managed to tear away few shreds,
but it was a big rope and she tore her
her mouth more than she did the rope.
Then she strained her collar and the
metal edge cut her neck, but she
strained hard and it came over her
head with a jerk and she was free.
Elmer was awakened by scratch
on the front door and ran down stairs
without waiting for clothes. Clover
slipped in upstairs in her old way and
soon both were asleep.
He telephoned Esther in the morn-
ing that he had found Lucky and
would bring her back that evening.
Clover's tail hung lower and lower as
she found herself near her former
prison, for home it had never become
to her, but Elmer urged her on.
How strange that she should have
come to- your rooms" said Esther,
land last night she seemed to be glad
to see you. Have you some myste-
rious power over dogs? or, and then
came the CLEAN of recognition Elmer
had always feared. eyes, she said,
breathlessly, you are the man.
He answered by calling Clover to
him and putting her through many
clever tricks. Then he told her
frankly all about Clover, while the
dog sat by whining dolefully and
keeping on the side of her master
farthest from Esther.
The girls cheeks burned hot at the
close of the recital Uncle Harry
gave her to me on the date you lost
her, my twentieth birthday. 1 sup
posed he bought her, but he mus
have picked her up on the street
Whatever shall I do to make it up tc
youP'
"There is one way that would more
than make up, DEAR" he said.
"I'll try" she whispered, "anc
you shall take Clover home with yol