The National tribune., 1905-11-02

He resisted an unchivalrous but per-
fectly natural impulse to prod his sleep
ing wife into q state OF consciousness
for wakefulness. like misery, loves COM
pany, and crawled out OF bed.
He reached for bathrobe and slippers
took the night-lamp and began an un.
willing pilgrimage to the cellar. The
pup had somehow managed to escape
from his box. He lay on his back or
the cellar floor. and he howled ano
howled and howled.
DO" urged the justly exasperated
Mr.. Willoughby, do try to see IL you
can't open your mouth just a little
wider. And why don't you get nearer
the pipes? You want us to hear you,
don't your"
He said other things, too-things that
the furnace pipes carried to the ears OF
Mrs. Willoughby, who wasn't asleep al
all-how, indeed, could she have beenf
and caused her to marvel at her hus-
bands strange vocabulary.
Three times that night the enraged
Mr.. Willoughby journeyed from his
warm bed to the cold cellar to replace
that pup in his box.
Each time the remarks Mr.. Willough-
by addressed to the source and author
| of his woes grew more bitingly sarcas-
| tic. Each time the language conveyed
| by the furnace pipes to the listening
Mrs. Willoughby grew more startlingly
lurid and picturesque.
| The next morning Mr.. Willoughby
slept late and his wife hadn't the heart
| to waken him. Business could wait. III
it couldn't, his partner could see to
things.
When he finally came downstairs his
two-dollar bargain dog met him at the
| dining-room door. He had had more
warm milk and another set-to with the
cat. He was in the best of spirits, and
he greeted his new master with a Choir
US of short, yappy barkS that evoked
| unpleasant recollectionS.
"Shut up" growled Mr.. Willoughby.
And he aimed futile kick at the dog.
'sHe made such a hideous noise all
last night" he mumbled in self-justifi-
cation when Mrs. Willoughby appeared
suddenly on the scene.
| did he, really?" said she inno-
Gently.
| "Annabel," demanded her outraged
husband, lam / to understand that you
actually slept through all that racket"
Il had to sleep through it," said Mrs.
}Willoughby demurely. Elise how did
know you wouldn't insist on my going
down to the cellar with your
| Mr.. Willoughby was just finishing his
| came in to announce a visitor.
Hes an officer" she said in an awe
struck whisper.
Good gracious." calculated Mrs
Willoughby. What can he want?
Mary Ann, have you been throwing
garbage in the alley again?"
II have not" said Mary Ann. Her
-four streaked countenance took on an
expression of outraged dignity that
caused Mr.. Willoughby to smile-be-
hind his napkin. Mary Ann was good
cook and must not be offended.
"Of course you haven't, Mary Ann"
he said soothingly. "Show him in here.
He probably wants to see me-"
Mr.. Willoughby's surmise was cor
rect. The visitor proved to be repre-
sentative of the Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Animals.
lone of your neighbors," he ex-
planned, complained that you'd been
torturing a dog all last night in your
cellar. and I called to investigate the
matter"
Mr.. Willoughby glared at the repre-
sentative of the S. p. c. A. 1t is not
pleasant to be obliged to accuse a man
at his own breakfast table, and in the
presence Of his wife. of mistreating
helpless animal. Beside, Mr.. Willough-
by didn't look the part.
Me torture that dog. Me-" said the
outraged owner of the animal with
more emphasis than grammar. ME
torture him." He leveled an accusing
finger at the pup, who seemed to be
trying to remove the greatest possible