The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

put on the old shade. that hadn't ever
thought to use again. thanks to you,
sir. and tap-tapped across the floor to
Billy Wigg- Come on, Billy says i: 7
wait you to take me out for a walk
Billy jumped uD with a kind OF choky
bark, and hugged Billy and Billy
Rugged me, and-we've been doing
business on the corner ever since"
There was a long pause. Harvey's
expression was queer. I felt little
queer myself. 1t was a queer story.
you know. Finally asked the old man
If business was good. Not that par
ticulariy yearned to know, but 1t
seemed to be time 10 say something
Nicely, sir, thank you." said Solo
mon John But I want to ask you. Is
it a dishonesty, think you, for me to be
wearing my shade like blind man.
and me able to see a flea on the end OF
Billy Wigg's tail the length of the block
away? The Lords been mighty good
to me, sfr-you and the Lord-giving
me back my sight" said Solomon John
simply. turning to Harvey. "and
wouldn't want to do anything that
wasn't just square"
II wouldn't let it weigh on my mind"
said Harvey.
I'D been thinking of bit of sign"
proceeded Solomon John "A friend OF
mine pHnted it for me, but the ideas
my own
After some fumbling under his coat
he produced a pIacard artfully designed
in large and fourishing letters. This
was the order OF it:
Am NOT Blind. but the
Dog Thinks I Am
Billy Wigg seemed pleased because
Harvey kicked me. No doubt he would
have been equally pleased if I had
kicked Harvey But it happened to be
/ who laughed. Harvey covered il up
by soberly telling Solomon John that the
sign was sure to be a grand success
1t was a grand success; quite stu
pendous, in fact. Old Sol did a busi-
ness on the strength of it that would
have made his eyes pop out if he hadn't
kept them tight shut out OF respect to
Rilly's prejudices. Reporters found his
simplicity and naive honesty a mine
of good stuff" and the picture OF the
firm was in all the papers. Billy Wigg
began to suffer from a swelled head;
became naughty. not to say snObbish.
But the fierce light of publicity wore
upon the simple soul of Solomon John.
He discarded the extraordinary placard
and was glad when he faded away
from fame. Billy wasn't. He liked
notoriety as well as authority.
Billy continued to exercise his au-
thority. Perhaps tyranny would be
nearer the mark. But even so meek
soul as that of Solomon John has limits
of endurance beyond which it Is not
we'll to press. Only the other day it
was that the old man said to Harvey.
while Billy Wigg was otherwise en-
gagged:
IT'S as bad as being a henpecked
husband, sir. Last night as I was
quietly stepping out the window to
take a mug of ale with some friends,
Billy wakes up, and the fuss he makes
rouses the neighborhood. Sure, he
wouldn't bark to my going at ALL You
can see his teeth marks on nv shin
this minute, sir. Could you give me
something harmless to put in his food
thatd make him sleep the sounder?''
Harvey said he'd think about it He
wasn't obliged to. Less than a week
later he got note in the mail
Dear Sir: / could not stand Il anv
longer. l have Absconded to Buffalo
to Take a Rest. Please be Good to
Billy Wigg- l inclose his Board and
Lodging any place you Put him. He
Is q good Dog, but too Bossy. am
Going to See Things till my Ewes ~at
Tired. I will come Back in FUTURE
Yrs respectfully.
SOLOMON 10 BOIEs
"P. Sd know you will Treat Bill
Good The fnclosure was twentv-
dollar BILL 1t was the price OF free
dom and cheap at the price
Copyright by s. S. Mcclure Cu