The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-31
BY LEONARD FRANK ADAMS.


got to raise the dough.
.sWhere'd you get hint" Ravenof
asked sharply.
"Raised i'm from a pup, s'elp me"
the man responded glibly. "An'
wouldn't be sellin' i'm if 1 didn't need
the coin the worst way. 'eard as
low YOU was open for a good trade in
rs line, so I brought i'm round. 'Es
all right, now, amt e? Stand up, Ptol-
envy, an give the gent good look At
you"
The dog obedtently stood up. and
Ravenor's eyes lighted with interest
There could be no denying that Ptol-
envy was a fine specimen Of his breed.
His clean cut head, his well shaped
shoulders, even his crooked little tan,
all bespoke that
II got is pedigree ere on this pa
per-" the man observed, drawing
dirty envelope from his pocket
"oh, never mind that" Ravenor re
Piled, with meaning grin. What do
you want for himT
"rd oughter get Fifty, an 'e's dirt
cheap at that"
.sTelI you what I'll de-I'll give you
thirty"
The man shrugged his shoulders. Il
can't be too fussy, boss" he said. Il
need the money, an need 1t bad. So
long as l know 'e's goin' into good
lands 1 guess there amt nothin' for me
to do but to take you up, though it's
most like givin' I'm to you at that
price,"
Ravenor counted out the bills and
handed them to the man. who ran them
over with grimy fingers and departed,
with sigh and sorrowful glance In
the dogs direction, both Of which were
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, give just
bought this pup. he answers to the
name of Ptolemy. Take him down
stairs and give him a feed; then let
him out in the back yark I'm going
upstairs. You may call me at TO-"
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 a rare half hours
sport with a bft of trailing clothesline
and making desperate endeavors to
catch the sparrows which now and
again futtered into the yard.
1t was perhaps three-quarters Of an
hour after the sale that a cautious whis-
tie sounded from the alley side Of the
high fence which inclosed the back
yard. Ptolemy, with yelp Of joy, an
sweFed It. The back gate swung noise
lessIy open, just far enough for the dog
to squeeze through. He was gathered
up by the seedy man who had inter
viewed Ravenor in the library, thrust
uncermoniously beneath his coat and
borne down the alley at shutting run.
Therefore when Ravenor made his
appearance at II o'clock no Ptolemy an
swered his repeated whistlings. Annie
and the cook protested weepingiy their
complete mystiflcation 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 lit
tie shed that held the ash barrels, even
the coil Of hose that lay in one corner,
but no trace Of his recent purchase
could he find.
After lunch he went downtown to
put an advertisement of his loss in the
paper. The afternoon being particu-
larly fine, he decided to walk home.
He had reached the little square where
Norwood street crosses the avenue and
was striding briskly past the statue in
the center of the diminutiVe park when
a dog in full cry after flock of elusive
sparrows dashed past him.
There could be no mistaking that
head, those clean cut shoulders, the
distinctive markings of the neck and
flank. Ravenor started in pursuit OF
the dog
"Here, you, Ptolemy, Ptolemyl Come
herel Come here, sayr he cried.
The dog stopped, seemed to debate
for a moment, then came toward Ra-
venor, wriggling his twisted stump Of
tail In ridiculous apology.
"Nice way you deserted me this
morning, wasn't itT' said Ravenor Sc
vereIy. "Come on with me now. No
more back yard orgies for you unlesl
some one has an eye on you"
~ klo
lowing meekly at his heels, but before
he reached the other side Of the park
he caught the quick tread Of light foot
falls. An agitated voice close behind
him was saying, "Oh, beg your par
DON"
He swung about to find himself face
to face with Katherine Gray. Ravenor
unconsciously stiffened. 1t was trife
disconcerting to come thus abruptly
upon a girl with whom he had quar-
relied but a short week before--a girl
who before that quarrel had been the
subject of his everyday dream.
The girl was equally surprised and
embarrassed. She caught her breath
in a little gasp, and the quick color
mounted her cheeks. Almost Instant
ly, however, she had recovered her
poise.
"Tm sorry to trouble YOU" she said
coldly. 81 merely came for my dog.
saw he was following you" mi
your dogY' said Ravenor. Il
'My dog" she repeated.
Ravenor looked uncomfortable, but
10 Fooad bor rocoI11fAIv
There must be a mistake about
this" said he. "Im very sure he's
mine"
"Yours?"
"Let me prove 1t to you. He knows
his name. Here, Ptolemy." i
The dog came obediently to Rave
nors side He sat down and looked
up expectantly.
The girl gasped. 81 don't under
stand it." she said. NOW let me try
the same proof. Here, Caesar"
The dog trotted over to her and re-
peated his maneuvers.
"Good heavensF' said Ravencr, utter
" bewildered for the moment. Then