The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-08-30
THE KIDNAPPED POODLE.
A Tale Of Disappointed Suitors.

By Albert Ellsworth Thomas.

DILLINGER was one Of those I'M
- fortunate people who do not
like dogs, and, as usual in such cases,
the dogs knew it. Therefore, when
Billinger, on entering Miss Mayhew's
drawing-room, was SO unlucky as to
step on the tail of the pampered
Chicot, 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 a smart blow across
the nose with his heavy walking stick,
whereupon the animal fed yelping
shrilly through the hall and up the
broad staircase to his mistress
boudoir.
In 30 seconds the house was in an
uproar. The butler, the second man,
the cook, and Miss Mayhew's maid
rushed up from below stairs pellmell,
eyes wide and mouths open, and q
moment later Miss Mayhem herself
rustled down stairs, followed at some
distance by the accusing Chicot.
But Billinger had had time enough
to form a plan of action. He knew
much better than to tell the truth,
the whole truth, at 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
humbly but promptly:
$50 sorry, really am, but step
ped on poor Chicot's tail as came in
didn't see him you know; the cur
tains were down and it was dark in
there. So stupid of me-" Miss May
hew was somewhat Modified at the
abject apology.
'Oh," she murmured, as she stopped
to caress the poodle. TOO bad.
Poor little Chicot! Did II hurt him
very much? Poor Chicot!"
Chicot blinked pitifully at his mis-
tress and glared inadvertently 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
ingly gracious, considering the grav-
ity of the offense, and Billinger got
his customary cup of tea. But he
did not pass q 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
departure he was careful to bow him
self out backward. As he went down
the steps to tho street he met the
hated PATTERSON coming up.
Now Patterson got on famously
with Chicot and Billinger was keen
ly alive to the advantage It gave his
rival.
"That COMPOUNDED pup will do for
me vet" he muttered to himself as
he strobe up the street, and he fell
to plotting awful things for Chicot.
AS he turned into the avenue he
met butchers boy whom he re-
membered as having on rare oc-
casions, by reason of q reputation
for unimpeachable integrity, been
intrusted with the precious Chicot
on rainy days when, despite the
weather, 1t 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 grinned amiably, for he
knew Billinger, and responded sue
.cinctly: -