Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-02-11

y
on her blue ribbon. If no a yellow
one. l shall call to-day, and if | see
the color long for on that black Great
ure's head l shall at once beard the
lion and assert my rights"
"Phoney, it shall be blue! Fetch
blue, darling" said Phyllis, with a
joyful smile.
And 1 walked slowly out of the
room to the boudoir beyond. When l
brought the blue ribbon back she
laughed again.
But had laid my plans. Whatever
this yes" was to mean, Mr.. Roft
hoped to read it in the color of my
ribbon. But meant him to read mo"
| would show him that dog of my
breeding could be something more than
mere catspaw in his plot.
rolled over and scratched until the
ribbon came off and lay on the ground
Then l trotted into the garden with
it and buried it in my favorite corner,
where l hide my best bones
L knew l was doing wrong, but
Phyllis would not really mind, and l
owed Mr.. Roft a grudge or two.
Often when my ribbon came off
used to take it to my friend the parlor
maid and get her to put it on again.
So now. as l sneaked down from the
boudoir with yellow one in my mouth
and met her at the foot of the stairs,
she said with a laugh
What, your fine bow off again,
Phoney? What an untidy dogr'
wagged my tail as she tied it on.
For civility lowers no one, and she is
nice girl. Then l sat down on the
doormat to watch for Mr.. Roft.
AT last the gate clicked and he came
up the steps with a light spring. But
as his eyes fell on me such look of
astonished despair crept into his face
that my heart quaked within me and
| hung my head.
He stopped over me as though he
could not believe his eyes, and as |
felt his warm breath on my face l
rolled over on to my back in terrified
! submission.
SILLY brute" he murmured, "get
up. Have you been stealing? Don't
give yourself away like that, Pho
ney"
He looked at me fxedly without
saying anything. Then, STOPPING again.
he took off my ribbon and stuffed it
into his pocket
That night Phyllis was worse, and
no one could understand why. And
hn Inv Oh Ill
out of her window with such distress
ed eyes that l could not bear to look
at her.
And Mr.. Roft did not come near the
house, which proved that he had really
meant goodby.
At last | could stand it no longer.
Surely Mr.. Roft could make things
right again. l would go to him.
So one afternoon l crept silently out
into the road. He did not live far off,
and, as fate would have it, came
across him outside his garden. gate.
He smiled when he saw me.
why, Phoney! Come to see your
friend" he exclaimed; you're only
Just in time, my girl. start to-
night"
L wagged my tail and opened my
mouth. At his feet l laid the earth
soiled blue ribbon. He stared at me
in amazement. "Phoney, you're a
brick! You're trying to tell me there
been some mistake. I'm coming back
with you to make sure. Lead on, you
imitation Mephistopheles, and may the
real one have you if I'm misleading
your
What a race that was felt my.
self really warming to him for under
standing me so well.
And, when we got to the house. ]
crept stealthily in through the oper
door, enticing him up, until we stood
like two thieves within the boudoir
where Phyllis lay on a couch by the
window.
AS she turned her head to look a.
me her eyes fell upon him, and she
crimsoned with delight. Then sud
denly she became quite pale, and sait
in cold voice:
Good evening, Mr.. Roft."
he stepped up to her. and held ou
the ribbon I had given him.
Phyllis" he asked, SIS thir the rib
bon you put on Phoney thai morn
J inar'