Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-05-19

had already been done. / understood
Judson to say that he had notified the
| police Of America and Europe and had
engaged large corps OF detectives.
While he and were at the house a
score of men and boys called with
nondescript animals which they were
willing to exchange for 500 bills. Jud-
son claimed all these people as his
agents and went out on the steps to
give them especial instructions for a
further search Of the city. If he had
not done so, should hardly have had
a chance to say word to Miss Marris-
ton.
On the following day l telephoned
| several times to the house to inquire
about Jim and was informed always
that he had not returned, but that Mr.
Judson had just called up" to say that
the search was progressing satisfac-
torily.
1t was absurd for Judson to call that
evening, but he did, and made the occa-
sion very dull for Miss Marriston and
myself. 1t was the same on the even
ing next succeeding.
BY that timeI had made up my mind
that Jim was gone forever. The sight
OF Miss Marrlston's grief affected me
deeply, and l resolved to end it by
means of an innocent deception-a par
donable fraud that should bring back
/ the smiles to the lady's cheeks and, in
cidentally, make Judson look like a
| franc and a half, as the president of
France recently said in expressing his
idea of something cheap.
A man named Bundy has little dog
/ shop on Lexington avenue not so very
/ far from my abode. l pass by in the
mornings and evenings, and have often
| stopped to chat with Bundy and to see
the dogs
| There was in his collection a Boston
! terrier so much like Miss Marriston' s
that when l had first seen Jim at her
house | had taken it for granted that
+ she had bought him from Bundy.
Would she know the difference if
| bought Bundy's dog and carried it to
| her house? Probably not. | took a
look at the animal on Thursday morn
ing and experimental with him a bit to
see whether he would answer to the
name of Jim. He answered to that as
well as to any other and much better
than the original jim, that had never
been known to come when he was
called.
resolved to buy him that afternoon,
and during the day concocted an elab-
crate story of my detective work in re-
covering the lost pet. Not with any
selfish motive did I plan all this, but
for her sake--and a little for Judson's
Just sold him, sir, said Bundy. But
I can get you better one any time on
"a hours notice"
Il don't want a better one" said I,
sitting terrible disappointment. 81
wan one just like him. Can you dupli-
cate the brute?"
Certainly, certainly, sir" replied
Bundy, and upon this assurance / gave
him $40 as a guarantee of good faith.
Then went up to 679 Madison ave-
nue. to shed few tears over Jim's poor
little collar and chain.
There were no tears in the house
when I arrived. Ali was mirth and
| jollity. The fatted calf was expiring
and the prodigal was in clover. The
servant who opened the door informed
me with a happy smile, that Jim had
come back.
In the parlor 1 found Miss Marriston,
with the terrier clasped in her arms.
She was squeezing him so hard that he
looked somewhat alarmed and cast an
appealing eye toward Judson, who sat
there radiant with JOY and triumph.
"Oh, Mr.. Reynolds" cried Miss Mar
riston, tom has found JIM"
Toni" Well, that settled my case
Il congratulate you, Judson," said I
in voice like the wind through weep
ing willows.
Then | cast my eye upon jim, and, by
the high hump of the sacred gnu, it
was Bundy's dog! 1 knew it in a sec
ond.
This infamous rascal, Judson, this
| creature without heart or conscience,
| had dared to palm off bogus brute
upon a gentle and trusting woman. He
had done it cold bloodedly, with his
own selfish interests in view and not
for her sake alone, as l would have
done. The difference was as wide as
the ocean. 1t involved the fundamental
distinction between good and evil.
OF course, the only right course for
me to pursue was to expose the fraud
at once. Yet hesitated to bring pain
to a tender heart, and, moreover. /
might not be able to prove my accusa-
ton. Without doubt, Bundy was bribed.
My own common sense told me that.
| 1t had been in my mind to pay him as
| rancb S10 oyfra oath Of CT