The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-09-05
The KIDNAPPED POODLE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
4 Tale VI Disappointed Suffers.
AAeAeeeeeeeeA4AAAAAeAAAAe


II fortunate people who do not
like dogs. and. as usual in such cases,
the dogs knew il. Therefore, when
Billinger, on entering Miss Mayh.w's
drawing room. was so unlucky as TO
step on the tail of the pampered
Chicof. Miss Mayhew's French
poodle, which happened to be slum-
bering on Persian praying rug Just
inside the door, the injured animal
emitted howl Of mingled pain and
rage and snapped at the innocent
Billinger. Billinger. on his part.
struck the poodle q smart blow across
the nose with his heavy walking stick,
whereupon the animal fled yelping
shrilly through the hall and up the
broad staircase TO his mistress
boudoir.
In 80 seconds the house was in an
uproar. The butler, the second man.
the cook, and Miss Mayhew's maid
rushed up from below stairs pcllmell.
eyes wide and mouths open. and a
moment later Miss Mayhem herself
rustled down stairs. followed at some
distance by the accusing Chicot.
But Billinger had had time enough
TO form plan Of action. He knew
much better than TO tell the truth.
the whole truth, Mt any rate. He
knew full well. and to his boundless
disgust. that Chicot was the real mas
ter of that house. Nobody would
have believed Billinger had he said
that Chicot, dear Chicot. had snap
ped at him. No. indeed. Chicot was
such dear. sweet little doglums.
yes he was. At least. so Billinger
had been told a sufficient number of
times. Consequently he appeared at
the drawing-room door and said
humblv but promptly:
so sorry. really | am. but ! step
ped on poor Chicot's tail rs came in
didn't see him you know: the cur
fains were down and il was dark i'm
there. SO stupid If me-" Miss May
hew was somewhat Modified at the
abject apology.
oh" she murmured. as she stopped
70 caress the poodle. Too bad
Poor little Chicot. Did il hurt him
very much? Poor Chicot,"
Chicot blinked pitifully at his mis-
tress and glared malevolently at Bill
linger. by that time the servants.
treasured. had retired.
I'm horribly sorry" repeated Bill
linger, contritely. And he was. but
not for Chicot
Miss Mayhem saw fit to be exceed
In ~lv Cracioue conSideriny tho .rrav
ity Of the offensc. and Billinger got
his customary cur Of tea. But he
did not pass a very comfortable half
hour. for Chicot declined his polite
advances. being quite aware that they
were insincere and eyed him vicious
ly from under his mistress chair.
When the unfortunate man took his
self out backward. As he went down
the steps 10 the street he met the
hated PATTERSON coming up.
Now Patterson got on famously
with Chicot and Billinger was keen
~ alive to the advantage il gave his
rival.
That COMPOUNDED pup will do for
lHt Ntt. Nv iuutttTeu W UiI>tlI rs
he strobe up the street. and he fell
TO plotting awful things for Chicot.
As he turned into the avenue he
met a butchers boy whom he re-
membered as having on rare &C.
casions, by reason Of reputation
for unimpeachable integrity, been
intrusted with the precious Chicot
on rainy days when. despite the
weather, II was deemed desirable
that the animal should be exercised.
Billinger stopped the hasting youth
and addressed him something in this
wise:
Young man. are you ambitiousf"
The boy grinncd amiably, for he
knew Billinger. and responder sue
cinctlys