Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-03-21
The Ownership
Of Pto1emy
Caesar.
By LEONARD FRANK ADAMS.
copyrighted. 1905. by Jessie Morgan.

Ravenor stood IN the library IN all
the luxury OF early morning negllgee
4 gorgeous bathrobe swathcd his bl!
frame from his chin 10 his heels. His
feet were thrust Into par Of com
Portable looking Turkish slippers. BE
tween his lips was II cigarette. de"f
drafts Of which he inhaled thought
fully rs he eyed the man IN the chalI
by the window. The latter was re
sponslble for Ravcnors appearance
downstairs at this unscemly hour.
Rnvcnor's early caller was not pre-
possessing Indeed. he was distinctly
otherwise Ills eyes were srlall. wa
terry blue and shifty. His underJaw
was weak. and his secdy clothes and
frayed linen were none too clean BE
side him. It's own smart appearance IL
striking contrast TO the mans genera
out at the elbows air, crOucAed Bos
ton terrier
Want 10 sell me the pup, ! suppose,
Ravenor said PLEASANTLY That's why
you're here. isn't It: That's Why you
got me ont of bed at this un-C christian
hour
The man nodded hopefully.
Sure. he admitted Il thought
you'd like chance at i'm SO longs
got Ia raise the dough"
"Whcrc'd you get him." Ravenoi
asked sharply.
RAISED i'm from Il pup, s'elp me-
the man responded giibly An
wouldn't lie scllin' i'm II didn't need
the coin the worst way ! card AS
'ow YOU was open for II good trade In
is line. so brought I'm round. 'E's
all right now. ain't e? Stand NJ. Ptol
envy. nm give the gent II good look al
YOU
The dog obediently stood up, anc
Ravenor's eyes lighted with interest
There could he no denying that Ptol
envy was fine specimen Of his breed
Ills clean cut head. his well shaped
shoulders. even his crooked little tall
all bespoke that.
Il got Is pedigree ere on this pa
per-" the man observed. drawing q
dirty envelope from his pocket
"Oh. never mind that" Ravenor re
piled. with meaning grin. What dc
you want for him:"
"I'd oughter get fifty. an 'e's dirt
cheap At that
TELL you what I'll do I'll give you
thirty"
The man shrugged his shoulders. II
can't I've too fussy boss" he said. Il
need the money. an ! need 1t bad. Sc
long as know 'e's goin' Into good
nnds guess there amt nothln' for me
to do but to take you up. though It's
most like glvin' I'm 10 you AT that
price"
Ravenor counted out the bills and
handed them TO the man. who ran them
over with grlmy fingers and departed
with sigh and Il sorrowful glance IN
the dogs direction. both of which We're
rather overdone.
Once the front door had closed be
hind him Ravenor tossed his cigarette
into the fireplace and pressed the but
ton ON the wall
annie" he said TO the second girl
who answered his summons, I've just
bought this pup He answers 10 the
name Of Ptolemy Take him down
stairs and give him feed; then lei
him out In the back yark I'm going
upstairs. You may call me at 10
Ravenor went upstairs To resume his
interrupted slumbers. and Ptolemy
having Jared sumptuously at the hands
OF the cook was turned loose In the
back yard. where he galloped about
gleefully, enjoying n rare half hours
sport With bit Of trailing clothesline
and making desperate endeavors "a
catch the sparrows which now and
again nuttered INTO the yard.
II was perhaps threc-qnarters of an
hour after the sale that cautious wills.
tie sounded from the alley side OF the
high fence which inclosed the back
yard. Ptolemy. with yelp Of JOY. an
swcred IT, The back gate swung noise
lessly open. Just far enough for the dog
10 squeeze through. He was gathered
up by the seedy man who had inter.
viewed Ravcnor In the library thrust
unccrmonlously beneath his coat and
borne down the alley at Il shulilIng run.
Therefore when RavenOr made his
appearance at IL o'clock 40 rtolcmy an.
swered his repeated whlstllngs. Annie
and the cook protested weepin"ly their
complete mystlticatlon In the dogs dis.
appearance. Sure. they had thought
him right In the yard all the time. they
declared He'd been chasing the spar.
rows and yelping there not ten minutes
since. Ravenor searched the back
yard thoroughly. the tool house. the 1T
lie shed tina; held the ash barrels. even
the coll OF hose that lay In one corner
but no trace OF his recent purchase
could he find.
After lunch he went downtown 70
put an advertisement OF his loss In the
paper The afternoon being particu-
larly fine. he decided 10 walk home.
He had re9ched the little square where
Norwood street crosses the avenue and