The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-24
A DOLLARS WORTH OF ToADs

A DOLLARS WORTH OF ToADs
~ Oily HERBERT had met with what she consd-
cred great misfortune, and, altho she was 13
years old, she had actually cried it, She
was arranging cqueminot roses in the rosebowl
and two three large spashed into the water and
the flowers -s = ri
ftoh, if papa only finds it!'' she sighed
- .'1tn was pretty carriage afghan which Do1ly,s
mother had for her basket phaeton and Dolys
mother Dead and the afghan was very dear to the
girl.
She and her father had lost it the day before drv
ing from the city, and this morning Mr. Herbert had
saddled Dan, and gaopng back over<their road to
see if he could find any trace Of it
Dolly out to the veranda every few minutes,
strainng her eyes to get glimpse of him coming back
but there nothing in sight the winding white road
bat mule team and a Chinaman's 3 vegetable wagon.
Dolly father had California the year
previous for Mrs Herberts health, and they lived in
little redwood house close to the old mountains in
Los Angeles county. e.. .ss-. s - . -
H. There were other little redwood houses near
ing mostly Of veranda and larger where Doctor
James, Dolly s uncle lived. s..-..-- -.--..c III
They were ali perched upon narrow green LEDGE the
sides of which steep and sheer but which Dolly
and Paul James, her cousin had climbed hundred times
to watch the canyon stream ripping along beneath
just below the small mountain settlement group
of noble live oak trees that gave the village it's
Los Robles, which in Spanish means "the oaks''
AS Dolly went out to the veranda for the twentieth
time that morning. Paul coming up the steps He
not yet u.s. but large for his age He wore sombrero
and had an old botany-box slung over his shoulder.
Dolly was interested in spite Of her trouble, and
asked: s-..- ..@=-5 -. - =
: s.What now Panls,',. l ..... -.
- tGuess, said the boy seating himself the steps
/ s'Maidenhair ferns for the party9' = --
stNo - --~a-- - -~.--.- ~ '--<s =
ttNonsense! Do you suppose I'd 60 digging for the
worthless thngse'' 21S..- T.. 49,
guess. Oh, yes heard Cousin Helen say she wished
you'd get her some ssiiver-tips, to paint :"
''Got' ems No, this is business. Mr.. Downing says
he give cents apiece for all the horned toads the
boys bring him. He takes them to Pasadena and Los
Angeles. Don't you remember what lot Of them we
saw in the japanese store last week9' .@g
eyes, but how will you catch the things they hop
so7H - 49,. s=-+ = rae~"'.
EsGrab em, sol" answered Paul. seizng large
beetle which was spromenading across the veranda.
4tSUgh!', shuddered Dolly. .ZaA6E -
vttThen you tt and 90 halvess'' asked Paul
'sTo touch Of them would make sick, - replied
Dolly, .s4and, besides I want to be here when papa
And then she told Paul the lost chan
We stopped at the Chnaman's garden in the big can
knees, under the duster It cold
when came home last night
P I'm sw th but
the pretty mesa beyond Isabel Canyon that we have
wanted to climb for 50 long Wen take our lunch and
make a day of it. Do comel 49,
Dolly was persuaded A tramp with luncheon was ,
Aunt Beulah, who readily gave consent
Mr.. Herbert encouraged Dolly in all her out of door
developing into plump, brown Mexican" they all
Their road lay up Hill and down. Sometimes it was
only trail thru the underbrush where they started
cottonta and quail, but Dolly ebliyous to skirts
and rents therein, and they went merrily
There cloud in Dolly's sky--the thought OF
the precious and the picture Of her father return
ing without it, and again with it his aternated
= In her mind.
stThere's a toadl'' she called suddenly, to Paul
'Now he's gone. There's another! Why don you graf
'emf" she added mischeyousy, each toad made its
happy escape. s~
1Dont be mean, Dolly; just wait There yon are. .
And Paul deposited wriggling toad in the tin box.
ssAren't they queerf, said Dolly. tLet toucl
one Why his back is hard and he looks if he
trimmed with points, almost like rick-rack braid'
s.Try to catch yourself, Dolly. You won't mini
1t a bit
Dolly put out her hand with little gasp
she caught sight of toad, and finally tossed