The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-09-05

nave You any objection to laying
forthwith the foundations II Tho
princely fortune that will one day
be yours" The boy grinned agar
and guessed not. whereupon Billin
ger. with many admonitions to sc,
crecy. unfolded his plot.
The details Of the conspiracy are
not important. Suffice il To say
that one rainy morning about ten
days later the boy appeared at Bill.
linger's office in John street with q
much-bedraggled and altogether re-
bellious Chicot, whom an Office boy
was straightway deputed 10 tie "a
the safe in BilIinger's sanctum.
We'll done, good and faithful scrv-
ant" said Billinger solemnly to the
butchers boy. Behold. now, vir-
tue is rewarded" And he gave his
fellow coDspirator more money than
he had ever seen at any one time in
his life. did you report the mel
ancholy loss to Miss Mayhem"
Yep" replied the immoral youth.
II suppose there was no end of a
row."
"Orful," admitted the boy. "she
swore she'd have me pinched-"
"Pinched?" said Billinger reprov-
ingly.
II mean arrested, an t'ink she
would. on'y ! promised me kid brud-
der dollar t'swcar he seen der pup
git away fr1m me a run down der
street after annudder dawg."
Just then Billinger's telephone
rang violently and Billinger took up
the receiver.
"Yes." he said. who's this.
please? Oh. Miss Mayhem, De-
lighted, I'm sure. How can ] serve
you? What? Lost, you say? Not
really? How did it happen?"
A long pause. in the course Of
which Billinger glanced grimly at
Chicot. The latter, observing the
glance. showed his teeth and growled
sullenly.
Panic-stricken lest the sound should
travel over the wire. the guilty man
hastily averted his gaze and said:
"Of course, you will advertise for
him? Yes. of course. at once-yes-
| shall be glad to serve youth send
an 'ad' TO all the morning papers at
once. No--no-yes. l should think"
here his voice became sardonic. in
spite of him-"I should think si00
would be ample reward-quite ample.
I'm so sorry--so very sorry-good-
by. good-by" And he hung up the
receiver and rubbed his hands glee-
fully.
"Well?" he demanded of the boy,
who. like the lamb of blessed mem
DRY, still fingered patiently about,
what are you waiting fore"
"Carfare." said the boy. Il d.
wanter break me bill" He got it and
departed joyfully.
Billinger glanced triumphantly at
the captive Chicot and went out to
luncheon in high spirits. what l
will do 10 that pestiferous pup" said
he to himself. will be what the eti-
quette books describe as a genteel
sufficiency"
Alas for Billinger. While he was
treating himself handsomely at a
ncighboring cafe. who should drop in
at his Office but the hated Patterson.
whose partner had q law case in Bill
fingers hands?
Not IMP" said Patterson TO the
head clerk. "All right. III just leave
these papers on his desk" pushing
open the door and entering Billin-
gers private office. The first object
that met his astonished gaze was the
form Of the mud-bespattered Chicot.
Now il happened that Patterson. too.
had received by telephone the awful
thing" he thought. "Billinger must
have found the pup" But then he
that she had asked Bill
linger to advertise for him.
a great light began to illuminate
the ohscurity of Batterson's mind. He
glanced at the door behind him. 1t
had closed automatically. lie strobe |
to the door marked private" 1t was
and led into the hall Then |
he returned to the outer Office |
the door by which he had |
entered.
BE so good" he said TO the head |
clerk, ''as to call MIR. Billinger's at
tenfiop to the package ! left on his
desk" Then he passed into the hall.
carefully closing the door behind
him, and re-cntered Billinger's pri- |
vate Office by the other door. Chicot
was very glad indeed TO see him. but
confined his expressions
Of Joy to sundry waggings of the tail
and wrigglings Of the spine. Bat
lerson united the rope that fastened |
the dog TO the safe. leaving the other
md still tied TO that substantial piece
II furniture. Then. taking the joy
ous Chicot in his arms. he stole ST.
emily out into the hall. closing the |
loor behind him. and walked down
GIT flights Of stairs.
Whrn Billinger returned from
luncheon his first thought was for
Jhicot. In vain he searched the Of