The Washington herald., 1907-02-04
HIS CLEVER ALLY.
BY W. CRAWFORD SHERLOCK.

Now. TIP. something must be done.
but how I'm going to do it is more than
I know"
Jim Granville stretched his great length
on the grass beneath an old oak tree
and addressed his fox terrier. who sur
veyed his master with evident interest
and understanding. There was n frown
on the broad forehead of the young man.
and a troubled look in his big brown
eyes Tip sat on his launches. wagging
his diminutive stump OF 4 tail vigorously
one eye fixed intently on his master
face, while with the other he watched the
movements Of a squirrel on an overhang-
ing branch
I'm in love, Tip" continued Granville
Ticking the ashes from his cigar with
an impatient gesture You know what
that means, old fellow. since you've been
paying your addresses TO that little
spaniel of Miss Browning. Yet you
can't understand why I. don't tell the
girl so and settle the whole matter. do
you? Tip, canine affairs are different
from human affairs. Men have response
bIlities and dogs don't That's the whole
difference in a nutshell"
Tip gave a short bark as if he fully
compTehended the distinction. and Gran
Vile went on: Il have a pretty good
income. Tip. but it is not big enough to
support two establishments. If l get
married. my mother would have 10 live
with US: aud YOU know, from your own
experiences, that she is a woman of de-
cided convictions"
Tip shuddered at the remembrance Of a
whipping he had received for the slight
offense Of chewing up one of Mrs Gran
ville's gloves in a moment Of absent
mindedness. and then hung his head
Well, Miss Browning, also, has decided
views on certain questions of life, and
she and my mother disagree upon almost
every subject. The natural result Of
bringing such opposite natures together
and compelling them TO live beneath the
same roof would be trouble, Tip; serious
trouble, too. ! would have TO side with
my wife against my mother. or 1 would
have to side with my mother against my
wife. In either case my position would
be decidedly unpleasant l don't expect
you 10 fully understand this, old fellow.
You We're separated from your mother
when you were too young to comprehend
the meaning of hlial affection. But hu-
man beings are quite different and have
certain duty to perform in looking after
their maternal relations. Now, these are
the facts in the case, Tip. and something
must be done. but ! don't know what it IS
10 be
The squirrel had disappeared from view.
and Tip fixed his undivided attention upon
his master, evidently meditating deeply
over the perplexing problem. The stumpy
tail ceased its pendulum-like motions and
his sharp ears were pricked up in an
attitude Of earnest attention.
This crisis has come upon US suddenly,
my boy, pursued Granville, after a few
moments Of silence. Things were run
ming along all right and there was no
necessity for immediate action until this
big fellow from California, Wentworth's
| his name. came upon the scene. Hes
been showing Miss Browning the most
decided attention. Took her out three
| times last week in his auto and twice
TO the theateT. In fact, every time
went there she was out with this con-
founded Wentworth, and I haven't had
chance TO say a word TO her since he
came"
The terrier whined sympatheticauy. and
his master continued:
Hes twice IS old as she IS, Tip, but
that don't make any difference in these
days when men Of seventy marry women
OF twenty. There ought to be a law
passed that would prevent people from
marrying when there is more than five
years difference in their ages. and If
| ever go TO Congress I'll introduce such
a measure. That won't help me now.
though. and II l don't make a move he'll
win out and leave NE at the post There
you are Tip; I've unbosomed my secret
soul TO you. the only friend in whom
I can cOnfde, and I look 10 you to
straighten this tangle out for me-"
II the fly that lowered about Tips head
had been Wentworth Granvilie's anxiety
it would have been at an end. After max
/ ing sure that his winged tormentor would
worry him no more Tip glanced around
and espied the squirrel several rods away
engaged in making his morning meal
! from some crumbs that had been left
| in the woods. Forgetting his masters
troubles, Tip dashed OF In pursuit. leav-
ing Granville to solve the question that
so greatly perplexed him. The young
I man. ret W AIS Onh hNfl CNos tASu ii
fresh cigar and began a mental calcu-
lation as to the length of time that must
elapse before he could hope for sufficient
income wnerewith to maintain his mother
and wife in separate homes, provided
of course that Wentworth did not sue
coed in carrying off Miss Browning before
his eyes.
The calculation was interrupted by
series OF ear-s9litting yelps, and Gran
Vile. fearing his pet had come TO grief,
arose and hurried down the path along
which Tip had disappeared. As he reached
a clearing. a hundred yards or so away.
he stopped short, his eyes resting upon
q curious scene.
In the center Of the clearing stood
Wentworth and Mrs. Granville The
former had one arm around the latters