The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-31

| legs from under him. A policeman came
rushing up but found it hard to deter
mine which of the squirming tangle was
Hopkins and which was the boy. There
were muffed yells and stifed weeping,
and the policeman tore away a turn in
call for the patrol wagon.
Presently Hopkins unraveled himself
from the wreck and stood surveying
| his broken umbrella and swearing at the
kid with great fluency.
Look at my umbrella, you young
fiend!" howled Hopkins.
Look at the wagon!" shrieked the
boy, "an' look at mel"
crowd began to gather. Hopkins
wisely slipped away, lest he be mobbed.
lis new coat was ripped up the back,
md the usefulness Of his silk umbrella
vas gone forever. He purposely lost
hat unlucky article around the next
orner. Immediately it began to rain.
Did you ever notice how much wetter
md colder the rain is when you're mis-
>rable and have lost your umbrella?
Hopkins was half way to his destna-
ton. but was firmly resolved not to let
his late mishap shake his newborn res
olution regarding economy. He splashed
on through the rain and mud. getting
more wretched and more disreputable
every second.
IN save this Nickel" he muttered.
doggedly, "or go to the hospital!" and
the rain drops that moistened his glasses
and trickled down his neck but served
o increase the firmness of his resolve.
Then there came in sight a mackin-
soshed figure with damply shining hair
and a frolicsome dog careering at the
end of string. Hopkins broke into
I'M fn ooh Il off tiyV,n
The dog also accelerated his pace in
order to meet and welcome Hopkins. The
unlucky canine. finding himself in inn
minent danger of being run down. cir
cied around the flying man and tangled
his feet in the rope.
Poor Hopkins unhappy destiny Sc
iected the largest and muddiest puddle.
nd threw him into it with the snarling
dog mixed up in a most bewildering
manner with Hopkins calves. The
maiden shrieked and tainted. Hopkins
rose and rose again, only to be tripped
and thrown again and again by the
wretched dog, which by this time had
chewed his victims anatomy in a way
horrible to contemplate.
Again a policeman appeared.
"Phwat's the r-row?" demanded the
official.
The young lady came from her sWoon
OPPORTUNITY and pointed ner finger at
the PROSTATE and struggling Hopkins.
, "He-he tried to steal my dog" she
walled Historically.
r "Ah, We wud. wud yez!'' said the Of
ficer, advancing threatenirgly. I'VE
disreppytabe thramp: COON out av it
Eow!" and he seized poor Hopkins by
the collar and yanked h i'm into an up
right posture.
But" began Hopkins. But he was
shaken into state Of breatth!essness.
'Shtop thot. now! Yen COON along
an tell it to the coort."
And Hopkins went-for he was
crushed.
The judge gave the prisoner a pri-
vate examination before committal
And you say you'll buy to the extent
of $40. Jack?' grinned His Honor.
Twenty of 'em, Bil!' said Hopkins,
'if you don't tell my wife"
Then the judge grinned: Hopkins
srinreA weakly: the policeman grinned
and accepted S.. - $50 ..-rf
Its a good thing I ran across you
before they got you booked!' said His
Honor. Then he gazed at Hopkins tat
tered clothing, mud-smeared figure and
scratched coun tenance.
But you saved nickel, didn't you,