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

"There must be girl in it." sale
John Locke, as he took down his over.
coat. II never saw fellow more
anxious to get home nights than you
are"
II do enjoy my evenings" laugh
ed Elmer Stearns, land 1 have very
pleasant companion" Then he
walked away whistling softly to him
self.
Elmer Stearns had many pleasant
acquaintance in New York, but SO
far only one friend. Elmer was a
quiet fellow who stuck to his work
while in the big counting room, but
from the moment he left it banished
all thought of business and gave him
self up to the enjoyment of his books,
his pipe and his faithful friend, a pure
bred pointer named Clover.
He stopped for her now at a neigh
boring stable and the two went on to-
gether to his boarding place. Mrs.
Nubbs, his landlady, had said "no"
very vigorously when Elmer had ask
ed if he might keep dog, but after
Clover had waltzed, stood in the cor
ner and finally gone to her beseech-
ingly and made his best bow, all in
response to Elmer's command go
and beg her to let you come, Clover" !"
her face relaxed and she said "I
never allow no dogs here, Mr..
Stearns, SO don't ever let me see that
animal go in that door or over these
stairs"
Elmer was not obtuse and under
stood the emphasis on the word See"
ninT Inr0 rne naII- ana over the St2ifS
at bound, so Mrs. Nubbs never saw
him come in, though she often shut
the dining room door in order that
she should not, and she silently hand
ed Elmer brown paper parcel every
night, which was always found to
contain tid-bits for the dog.
City life was new and strange to
them both, and though the dog found
interest and variety in the novel
things he saw from the gate of the
box stall where he spent his days,
and Elmer enjoyed doing the work
he was fitted for, both felt great re-
taxation when the day was over and
they were together again.
If the man wished to read or write
without interruption, the dog sat mo-
tionless by his side, sometimes resting
her head quietly on his knee to invite
caress. If the man was pensive and
wished to smoke and muse, the dog
put her paws on his knee and rested
her head on his shoulder, and thus
they sat hour after hour.
Her personal beauty would have de-
lighted any dog fancier. She had a
coat like satin, brown head penciled
evenly with white up the forehead,
and on her back was well-defned
-leaved clover in brown, of which
her brown tail formed the stem. The
rest of her was purest white. This
odd marking explained her name.
With this sympathetic companions
ship Elmer Stearns was content and
rarely felt lonely during the long
winter evenings. He kept early bed
time and spread a shawl on the foot
of his bed for Clover, and the two
friends slept as only healthy, free
| hearted animals can
The winter passed and one sloppy
April day Elmer called at the stable
for his dog. Mike, the groom, came
forward with sorrow pictured on his
kind face.
"I don't know anything about it al
all, but the door must hev been un-
locked. I've been here ever minute
of the day except just two hours.
missed her about four O'Clock, and !
walks over and looks,in the stall ano
the door was a bit of a crack open
and no dog inside"
Elmer went to his boarding house
to see if the dog had been there, ther
back to the Office and then to the po
lice. Next day he advertised, anc
for many days he tried every possible
means to trace the missing dog, anC
finally decided she was stolen and be
yond his reach.
The summer days dragged on ant
the heat of the city became almost in
tolerable. Elmer had promised him
self vacation in the mountains, bu
hunting without Clover would be sor
ry sport. However, the weeks Sc
apart for him on the schedule of th
great business house were at hand
and he was wondering moodily wha
he should do with them as he walked
to his boarding house one sultry Au
gust day.
AS he neared the house he starte'
suddenly, for on the steps sat a browl
and white dog, gazing wistfully a
him. Gaining his room, be took tn
great dog bodily in his arms and hug
ged her tight, and they rolled AM
frolicked together on the dusty car
pet.
So Clover and her master took
two-weeks' hunting trip, and the
were short and happy weeks. The
returned together rather reluctantly
and mounted the dingy stairway t
the stuffy city room and began to IN