The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-06-02
Tins Tactics
BY CECILIA A. LOIZEAUX

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Cop. right. 1904. by Cecilia >. I.o!zcaux
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1t all Logan when Mr. Jones' Brown
brought Tim home one evening and
laid the dog in the open arms of his
pretty wife. She received him enthusi-
astically and bought him an elaborate
collar. He was q cute dog. Even Mrs.
RObinSOn-Smith, who lived next door
and hated dogs, admitted that-that Is,
she said he wasn't bad for a mons rel.
And 1t must be admitted right here
that the dog wasn't Of any particular
breed; he was just a dog.
He was soon In high favor In the
neighborhood, especially with the Rob
inson-Smiths, who were intimate
friends Of the Jones Browns. Both cou-
pies were newly married, and during
the day while their husbands were in
the city the young wives sewed. talked
and called together.
But to come back to the dog. In time
he passed the stage Of puppy fireworks
and was old enough to know better.
Then Mrs. Jones Browns sister came
to visit her. And during the same
week Mrs. Robinson Smith had a card
from her nephew that he was coming
down to spend a month with her. He
was nearly as old as his aunt, who ad-
mitted that he was called a catch" in
town.
The expected guests arrived almost
simultaneOusly-Eth HerriOt with q
large trunk and Jack Marvin with di-
vers battered suit cases. They were
duly ensconced with their respective
relatives, and then the trouble began.
On the second evening Mr.. and Mrs.
RObinson-Smith traiIed their nephew
across the lawn TO call on their nearest
neighbOr. The two young people were
introduced. Ethel, as Mrs. Jones
Brown afterward said, was unnecessa-
rily embarrassed for a girl who had
been three seasons "out"
In the horribly Irritating way of
young married people the neighborly
quartet Immediately began to talk of
domestic affairs. leaving Jack and Eth
Ell to take care Of themselves. They did
not notice that there was an awful 81
lence, during which Ethel was threat
ened with mental hysteria and was
saved only BY Tim, the thoughtful. who
opportunity appeared and jumped into
her lap. She began to talk to him, and
the day vas saved-temporarily Still
patting the dog, Ethel finally said to
the man:
"Why did you follow me out here?"
II didn't follow you" said Jack
promptly. IF L had known that you
were in this neck Of woods you don't
suppose I'd have disturbed II, do your
Then he added, why did you come to
stay next door to my aunt?'
How was l to know you had an
aunt out hereY' Ethel asked indig-
nantly.
Well" said Jack. Il guess we're
both innocent, SO we need not quarrel
over that"
Then there was another silence. Tim
Jumped down from EtheIs lap and
leaped into Jacks. Jack grinned.
Nice doggiev he chuckled. petting
him effusively. Ethel knew be hated
small dogs. She tried to think OF some
thing crushing to say, but before the
words came Mr.. and Mrs Robinson
Smith rose and said good night, and
their dutiful nephew rose with them
He put out his hand. and Ethel was
forced to let hers touch it for an in
slant, while he said:
so glad I've met you, Miss Herriot
It's awfuily jolly that We know so
many of the same people
Ethel smiled. though her eyes were
blazing wrathfully
isn't it," she said. Good night"
When Mrs. Jones Brown turned to
speak to her sister she found the girls
Chair empty and Il moment after heard
her ascending the stairs
Late that night Ethel rose, lit the
lamp and took from her trunk a pack
age of letters. which she sat dow. II
read Long before she had finished
them she was crying softly. and when
she did go to bed again it was to lie
wide eyed and staring till nearly morn
Ing She was awakened by Tim, who
was licking her hand. She patted his
head
Naughty Tim! Did the missus let
you in?"
Rising on her elbow, she saw that
the door was ajar and supposed that
her sister had sent the dog to wake
her.
Tim seemed full of spirits of puppy
hood this morning. He would worry
the bedclothes with his teeth, dash
wildly across the room to catch some
unseen thing and then rush back upon
her. frantic with delight.