Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-08-29
TITO Hundred
Dollars ReJord
~ - - - y ~ ~ X ,,
Copyright, 1901, BY Authors syndicAte.)
BY Katherine Head.

A s HE was crossing the avenu
~ near TwentY-third street Fell
Singleton, the poet, saw tiny
frightened dog lodging between IN
carriages. The poor little ereatur
was so terrified and so evidently un
used TO being out alone that Fell,
was afraid she would be killed. s.
he picked her up in his arms
She was a beautiful lap-dog AM
her shining coat spoke Of loving care
as did the blanket she wore, whicl
was marked with a handsome mono
gram. in gold. As soon as the dos
felt herself in a safe asylum she begaI
to lick the hands Of her benefactor ant
to look at him with gratitude. The,
were already friends when, having
climbed six flights Of stairs, the poe
deposited the waif in the sorry gar
ret that served him as temporary lodg
ing.
Singleton was 25 years old and was
beginning 20 be recognized as a mar
Of talent, but talent is a merchandise
not always negotiable. Fortune had
not vet discovered the road TO his man.
sard. road that. to do her justice. was
hard travelling for person who is al.
ways represented with eyes shut
While he waited for the blind goddess
TO knock at his sixth story floor, Felix
hav q ha
all right. he often told himself. IL his
great book Redemption" was once on
the market, but the callous publisher.
while not denying its beauties. doubt
ed its popularity. and refused to pub
lishiswithout guarantee of 5000. Felix
could have effected a peace between
Britain and Boer as readily as to have
produced the money; thus were the
wheels Of progress blocked by want OF
paltry 5000!
When he and the dog reached home
Felix lighted candle which was stuck
in the neck Of bottle, and. brushing
the loose which were parts OF
his yet unrecognized masterpiece
from the table, he proceeded 10 set
forth his meager repast. He shared
his dinner and his bed with the dog.
and, in the morning, they divided
equally the milk that formed his
breakfast Singleton was sure that
the dog was a valuable one. So he
went down and bought morning pa
per to see II she was advertised. He
turned TO the Lost and Found column,
and this is what he read:
Two HUNDRED DOLLARS RE
ward,ll-For the return OF lap-dog. an
swering 20 the name Of Mira lost yester-
day near Twenty-third street"
He called: "Mirzal Mirzal"
The dog barked joyfully and ran
toward the door.
"Ah, hal" laughed Singleton. "Now
know your social position and your
name, my friend. Two hundred dol
lars reward To think of giving 5000
for such a very little dogl Some
one must love you very much Two
hundred dollarsi What a godsend for
some poor devil-like myself" he
added as an afterthought.
He rested his head on his hands and
tried 70 think. Two hundred dollars
was just the sum he needed to publish
his book. Redemption" once out. his
play would be accepted. his success as
suredl Why not take this money? II
was simply question of his own
wretched pride. II was honest money.
Or, he said to himself. il he did not
like the idea Of keeping the money.
what was TO prevent him from cons sid
ering II as a loan sent by the Goddess
Of Chance? a lean that he could re-
turn. once the current Of success
turned toward him. The temptation
was too strong, Redemption" should
be published.
This decision made, he felt that he
had crossed the Rubicon; il only re-
manned fer him 70 think Of the least
Notifying way for him to claim the
reward. Suddenly he smiled. "The
very thingl" he cried, patting Mira on
the head. He ran down the six fights
Of stairs and soon returned with the
complete costume Of a house painter.
which he had borrowed from the son
Of his landlady. He dressed himself
in the white trousers and the paint
stained blouse, took Mira in his arms
and went to the address given in the
advertisement.
He was shown into drawing-room.
where. while he waited for some one
10 appear, he had an opportunity of
studying an unfattering reproduction
of himself in a long mirror. His cour-
age began to fail and he looked long
ingly toward the entrance. Suddenly
the door was flung open and charm
ing young girl came in like a whirl-
wind. Without saying a word to him.
she picked up the dog and showered
kisses upon her soft muzzle, inter
spersing them with loving words and
sffectionate reproaches.
Poor Singleton stood as II nailed to
the floor. He was at once disguised