Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-11-01
DOLLYS HOUSE HUNTING
have to go house-hunt-

@ HEY'LL have to go house-hunt-
ing, now, and that's all there is
to it," said Mrs. Flynn, decided
ly, as she opened the new dodgers
door, and prepared to sweep the room.
The new ledger. worn young WON
an, had passed away four days ago,
and had left baby girl of four years,
but, unhappily, no money with which
to care for it. 1t was this fact that
called forth remark quoted above from
tall stern Mrs. Flynn.
! Dolly, the lodger's little girl. was
fully out of the dusty window. Spot,
lher dog. and only companion. was
lcurled up on the floor asleep.
7 Yes, they'll have to go house-hunt-
ing for sure" repeated Mrs. Flynn. II
haven't nothin' to keep the dog on,
much less the child" Dolly looked up,
nearing the words. Come. run out
with your dog while l sweep" said the
landlady, speaking to the child, who
slipped to the floor You can't go into
the kitchen cause Mary's washin' and
She'll bite your head off, like as not,
and you can't so into the parlor with
that there dog. Sit yourself down on
the stairs till I'm through. Run,
now"
Dolly trudged patiently down the
narrow winding stairs, and Spot pat
tered beside her.
Look out for the torn place in the
carpet, Dolly" she murmured to her
self. repeating the phrase so often on
mothers lips.
AS she paused on the second land
ing a long mirror caught her eyes
through the half-open door, and, en-
tering the room, she went close to the
glass.
"You s'pose we look good 'nougb to
90 house huntin, Spot?' she asked, af-
fer surveying the chubby little figure
for few moments. You s'pose we
doq Mamma dressed me up when we
canned here, Spot, but can't dress you
M cause you're only dog. But Wen
90 house huntin' just the same"
The two little friends continued their
slow tourney down stairs, and to Dol
Tvs great delight the front door was
omen, Mary stood on the steps with
nor sleeves rolled up, talking to the
postman.
"P'r'aps she won't see us, muir
mured the little girl. doubtfully.
"'Cause I've got to 60"
Nsry did not pay any attention to
the child and dog as they slipped past
her down to the sidewalk, but as they
were about to turn up the street, the
postman put out long arm and caught
Dolly,
Where are you goin, miss?" he
asked. laughing. as she struggled 10
free herself. You're too little to SO
uptown alone.
Dolly Madison. just you take that
doc and trot into the house, where You
belong" cried the exaSperated servant
"If YOU don't move quick, now" she
added threatening. as the poStman set
the child on the lower step.
But the mail carrier showed signs of
continuing the conversation, and.when
Dolly pleaded eagerly to be allowed to
go into the street. and Mary caught
the name of her mistress, she relented
SAYING. carelessly;
Oh. Mrs. Flynn said you could
ri.sn so along. for goodness sake
polly darted ca gerly to the sidewalk
again. followed ly Spot, and together
they buried up tie short street into s
more respectable. peopled one. As they
turned into the crowd. Dolly hreathet
more freely. She was half afraid thai
Mary would change her mind about
granting this unusual freedom, anc
send that awful postInan after her.
On and on they went. past grea'
doors where througs 81 people wer'
entering and leaving. and past stor'
windows fun OF toys which, another
DAY. would have delighted her. No on'
noticed the little runaway, or. il thss
did. 1t was only 10 smile, and remari
how bright and earnest the brown eye.
were. or how the low white socks haC
slipped down so as 20 be almost in
visible-for Mrs. Madison dressed he
baby as well as she could afford. ever
neglecting her own dress to do so.
Dolly took no interest in the ga,