St. Tammany farmer., 1901-07-20
I 6Oo Hundred
Dollars Reuurd
By Katherine Head.


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Copyright. 1901, by Authors syndtcate.l
N HE was crossing the avenue
IA near Twenty-third street Felix
Singleton, the poet. saw a tiny,
frightened dog lodging between the
carriages. The poor little creature
was SO terrified and SO evidently un-
used to being out alone that Felix
was afraid she would be killed. So
he picked her up in his arms.
She was beautiful lap-dog and
her shining coat spoke of loving care,
as did the blanket she wore, which
was marked with a handsome mono
gram, in gold. AS soon as the dog
felt herself in safe asylum she began
to lick the hands of her benefactor and
to look at him with gratitude. They
were already friends when, having
climbed six flights of stairs, the poet
deposited the waif in the sorry gar
ret that served him as temporary lodg-
ing.
Singleton was 25 years old and was
beginning to be recognized as man
of talent, but talent is merchandise
not always negotiable. Fortune had
not yet discovered the road to his man
sard, a road that, to do her justice, was
hard travelling for a person who is al
ways represented with eyes shut.
While he waited for the blind goddess
to knock at his sixth story floor, Felix
lived from hand to mouth. It would be
all right, he often told himself, if his
great book Redemption" was once on
the market, but the callous publisher,
while not denying it's beauties. doubt
ed its popularity, and refused to pub
1ishit without a guarantee of 5000. Felix
could have effected peace between
Britain and Boer as readily as to have
produced the money; thus were the
wheels of progress blocked by want OF
a paltry $500!
When he and the dog reached home
Felix lighted candle which was stuck
in the neck of bottle, and, brushing
the loose papers-which were parts of
his yet unrecognized masterpiece
from the table, he proceeded to 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 valuable one. So he
went down and bought morning pa
per to see if she was advertised. He
turned t6 the Lost and Found column,
and this is what he read:
1.-TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS RE
ward!..-For the return of a lap-dog, an
swerine to the name of 'Mfrza.' lost yester-
day near Twenty-third street"
He called: Mira! Mirza!'
The dog barked joyfully and ran
toward the door.
"Ah. hal" laughed Singleton. "Now
I know your social position and your
name. nv friend. Two hundred dol
lars reward! To think of giving 5000
for such very little dog! Some
one must love you very much. Two
hundred dollars! What a godsend for
some poor devil-like myself" he
added as an aILeT LHOuSAt. -...+
ne rested his head on his hands and
tried to think. Two hundred dollars
was lust the sum he needed to publish
his hook. "Redemption" once out, his
NAV would be accepted, his success as,
sured! Why not take this money? 1t
was simply question OF his own
wretched pride. 1t was honest money
~ he said to himself, if he did not
like the idea of keeping the money
what was to prevent him from consld
ering it as loan sent by the Goddess
of Chance? A loan that he could re
turn once the current of success
turned toward him. The temptation
was too strong! Redemption" shoule
be published.
This decision made. he felt that he
had crossed the Rubicon; it only re
,,ained for him to think of the leas'
notifying way for him to claim the
reward. Suddenly he smiled: lne
yery thing!" he cried, patting Mira OF
~. head. He ran down the six flight:
- stairs and soon returned with tn
aornlete costume of a house painter
.rh;cb he had borrowed from the sol
~ his landlady. He dressed hlmsel
- - the white trousers and the pant
at.;ned blouse, took Mira in his arm
nd went to the address given IN I'M
advertisement.
No was shown into drawing-room
-.are while he waited for some on
~ anpear, he had an opportunity o
studying an unaattering reproauc1lo'
- himself in a long mirror. HIS cour
90 began to fail and he looked ,ong
so ;ae,v toward the entrance. SUDDEN.
.he door was flung open and a cnarm
;me ;ne Young girl came in like a whir, =; If,
s Ind without saying word 70 nm
she picked up the dog and shomels' yer.
,;sses ~. upon her soft muzzle, 1n.er .al
snersing them with loving woros an
sFectionate reproaches.
Poor Singleton stood as II a;sanste nanru
the floor. He was at once disguise