The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-12-25
The Ensign
And the
Poodle Dog
BY SEATON LORD

States navy yard OF Dec. Il.
There he learned that the gun
boat COncas, on which was his Ma
val academy chum, Tom Dresser, was
expected to arrive the next day. Ather-
ton procured leave to visit his home,
but left a note for Dresser asking him
to follow and spend Christmas with
him. The day after Atherton reached
home he went over to Q. to see his
aunt, who, next to his mother, was the
nearest person to him on earth. While
at q. he received forwarded telegram
from Dresser that he had arrived, was
very i'll and asked that his friend would
come to him at once.
Atherton examined the time tables to
find that if he went back home he
would lose twenty-four hours. By go
ing over to n, five miles distant, he
could get train to the city in a couple
of hours, Since he had ample time he
decided to walk. When he reached n.
he went into the station ticket Office
and, looking in his pockets for funds,
found that he had left his pocketbook
at home. In his vest pocket was 26
cents
Here was "a pickle"-no funds,
friend possibly dying, train to leave in
ten minutes.
whats the time of the next train?"
he asked the ticket agent.
''In an hour and twenty minutes
AthertCn went out on the platform to
think it over. A card tackled to the
wall'stared him in the face.
1t was an advertisement %Nf%k
for a lost poodle, with a p~% ~slh
promised reward of $40 if K "a
returned to the owner at EJSeEA&-H
Il Adams avenue. There EAa/%o
was a small park near the EER%lAI
station, bleak looking at EgE<St4>#
that season, but Atherton kN " VI
thought he would go over INIEyW N
and sit down ON a bench to 9zM n
cOncOct some scheme to m
raise railroad fare. While )H
ruminating he felt some pSA W
thing rub his leg and, look ME vi
ing down, saw a poodle. kY 'NT
Unfortunately there was NM Ne
no mark on the collar by klAaEk
which he could identify it, SNW
but it struck him at once 4
that the dog was too valu- ,.ntI
able to be running loose ssSSSs@ ssSSSss4@s==
sns oas ssrssl5sys, he ss'5sysa it was the Qug4
Then and there Ensign T,ookinq
AthertOn conceived a great down, he
plan. He would return the saw a
poodle, get the reward and poooie'
be off on the next train. Picking up
the dog, he inquired the way to II
Adams avenue, found the house, rang
the bell and asked if the dog belonged
there. The servant recognized it at
once and showed the young man into
the drawing room.
Atherton was in citizens dress and
had not had time since reaching port
TO get a new outfit he had ordered
Consequently his clothes were some
what worn and out Of style. He de-
cided to play the commoner, thus max
ing it easier for him to accept the re-
ward. When a girl of nineteen Of dis
tinguished appearance came into the
room he shuddered and hoped sincere
ly that he would be able to carry out
his role. The moment she saw the
poodle she took it up and embraced it
eagerly.
Where did you find it?'
''In the park near the
r>A railroad station"
Lr~-@ I'm very much obliged"
!. ! : !: :. !. !. : !: !: : : !:
80 ~ She looked Atherton over
kAD RAJ from head to foot evident
1T %SSM ly not knowing whether to
IA offer to pay him a reward.
AA IN Atherton was up to the oc-
~ W caSion.
II, 1s%~ IT'S lucky for me, MISS"
TX n | he stammered. I'm a
!" !: !" !" !" !: !: !. :: :: !: !:
In \ sailor lad and goin' back
~ IN to me ship. I've been rob-
E&@A Il bed by land sharks and
MN haven't money enough to
ii buy me ticket"
@ "Ohr' said the girl, as
tonished at his humble po-
An sition. 'Wait a minute.
nv I'll go for the money"
Nv She left the room to re-
IN\NI turn with a ten dollar bill,
ANN ~ which she handed him.
A Il hope you'll reach your
She handed ship safely" she said as he
MN ten went out, land have a
pleasant voyage. l have a
cousin a sailor. He's in the navy"
Yes, miss. Goodby," replied the
sailor boy. and he hurried away fear
ing that some naval officer might run
across the story and ruin him in the
service.
Atherton found Dresser much better
than he expected. Dresser had en-
gagged to spend Christmas with an un-
Gle living a few hours ride from the
city, and as the chums We're anxious tC
pass the holidays together they played
a game of euchre to decide whether
Dresser should go with Atherton OF
Atherton with Dresser. Dresser won
which was well. for he was scarcely il
q condition to visit strangers. Anterior
Informed his mother by mail of the
change and received her consent.
IL. H. H.