Middletown transcript., 1904-05-28
THAT MYSTERIOUS MAJOR
the trees revealed a glimpse Of familiar

~ iuuiesbicks Decaus6 MISS IuIIreii
J had chosen to bring her book into the
+ garden was no reason why any Of tise
t other inmates OF the Royal George
! shonld not feel something Of tile same
inclination. So long as he did not take
up his position under precisely the same
, tree, nobody could raise the slightest Oh
jectioato the proceeding.
III Illuminating thus, the Major moved
) slowly on his way, passing first one en-
ticingly shady nook and then another,
' until he reached high overhanging bush
: about twenty yards from the group Of
| trees which Miss Luttrell had selected,
where he threw himself down upon the
I dry burned-up grass and gave himself up
to the delights OF a peaceful summer
afternoon.
And yet, as he took out his cigar case
and, lighting fresh cigar, gaEced cas-
ually down the columns Of the news
paper, it was evident that something be-
sides the perusal of the Times had brought
him to that secluded spot, or he would at
least have exhibited some annoyance
when, instead of finding himself in pos
session of that star Of London daily
literature, he discovered himself aim
lessly scrutinising the visitors list and
tie many advertisements which occupied
at least two-thirds of the Satellite Ctron-
icle.
No wonder therefore that after some
minutes he quietly discarded it, and,
lying back on the soft green sward, tilted
his hat far over his eyes and prepared to
enjoy the perfect calmness of the day
1t was exquisite, certainly. The weather
was all that could be desired. Still it
was clear that Major Brown was not
entirely happy. If he hadimagined that,
because Miss Luttrell was sitting reading
under the trees, he would be satisfied to
be similarly occupied at short distance
from her, he was mistaken.
When he had accidentally discovered
her programme for the afternoon, he had
congratulated himself that he was in for
some luck at last.
But half an hour had passed quietly
his feeling of perplexity had given place
to hopelessness, and hopelessness to a
general sense of lassitude, which had
brought him to that stage when the sights
and sounds around him had grown vague
and indistinct, and before long he was
travelling peacefully in the land OF sleep.
Thus he was quite unconscious of the |
fact that little black French poodle had |
discovered him and had shifted suspic- |
iously round him for two or three mini
utes, and also quite unconscious that,
when that little black French Poodle had
disappeared, his cigar case, which had
been lying on the grass at his elbow, had
disappeared also.
Meanwhile Miss Luttrell, who had COM
fortably ensconced herself in large bam-
boo chair, was deeply absorbed in the
thrilling incidents Of her three-volume
novel. So deeply was she absorbed in
deed that she had not the remotest idea
that Major Brown had even crossed the
lawn, or that Sambo, who had been lying
on the rug at her feet, had grown tired
of making little grabs OF the army of
gnats and flies which had been lowering
round his head and had gone trotting of
to pay visit to that hapless individual
Yet, when he returned again and set {
tied himself in silence by her side-a {
silence which was perhaps ominous Of |
coming evil from the very fact that any t
unusual calmness upon Sambo's part [
generally foreboded mischief-she bent 8
forward and, raising her eyes from her q
book, asked what he was doing. (
Sambo! III
Horror and dismay were depicted upon
her countenance, her tones were filled s
with the keenest reproach, as she sprang y
up from her chair and paused in conster- 1
nation at the sight which met her eyes, c
There was Master Sambo literally sur 6
rounded by mixed collected of cigar t
and cigarettes, whilst between his paws a
was calmly resposing a silver-mounted k
Russian leather cigar case, at which he v
was gnawing with apparently as much Ii
enjoyment as if it had been one of the
most tasty bones. Il
Sambo, where did you get it? Oh,you e
BAD dog Whose in the world can it be ? o
In an instant Evelyn had seized hold o
If the cigar case and dragged it away a
rom the poodle's clutches, but, alas, not b
,efore the whole of the leather had be- g
ome indented with well-defned tooth tt
marks, whilst one of the corners had tt
,een entirely nibbled away
Well, sambo, you have quite sur tc
'assed yourself this time
Evelyn held up the cigar case before hi
he culprit with threatening air, and lie
hen gave him couple of small pats ca
With it on his two front paws. til
But what was she to do about it? To ci
whom could itbelong? That was more fe
o the point than scolding Sambo. She in
aised her head and looked round anx- q
ously, but drew back as her eyes fell
pon familiar form.
Sambo, surely you have never touched ez
nything of that MANS? v,
Yet, as she gave hurried glance at
he initials engraved upon one side of fe
he case, her heart sank within her. re
est was too true. Sambo had been M
iost undiscriminating. And to think, sis
all the men in the hotel, it was Major vi
'rown whose cigars and cigar case lie ul
hould have actually chosen to devourl on
Should she make her escape into the wi
ouse, and leave Sambo, surrounded by tai
ne litter, to settle his own difficulties tu
would certainly be the easiest thing to wi
o but, considering that Sanlbo was her fol
VII dog and that she was responsible for sic
is actions, would it not be rather mean tin
ay OF gettirg out Of the mischief? She br,
'ok up her book and set off with Sambo. tb