Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1908-04-28
The Ownership
Of Ptolemy
Caesar.
Caesar.

frame from his chin to his heels. His
feet were thrust into pair OF com
Portable looking Turkish slippers. Be-
tween his lips was cigarette, deep
drafts Of which he inhaled thought
fully as he eyed the man in the chair
by the window. The Iatter was re-
sponsible for Ravenor's appearance
downstairs at this unseemly hour.
Ravenor's early caller was not pre-
possessing. Indeed. he was distinctly
otherwise. His eyes were small, wa
terry blue and shifty. His underjaw
was weak, and his seedy clothes and
frayed linen were none too clean. Be
side him, its own smart appearance In
striking contrast to the mans general
out at the elbows air. crouched Bos-
ton terrier. =
"wart to sell me the pup. suppose"
Ravenor said pleasantly. "That's why
you're here, Dn't 1T That's why you
got me out OF bed at this un-Christian
hOurf'
The man nodded hopefully. 4.
SURE" be admitted. II thought
you'd like q chance at i'm so longs !.
got to raise the dough-.
.where'd you get himr Ravenor
asked sharply. =
aRaised Inn from pup, s'slp me-"
the man responded giibly. "An' !
wouldn't BE- seliin, I'm II didn't need
the coin the worst way. I card ~
e'ow you swass open for q good trade IN
~ line, 20 brought i'm round. ,Ee
an right now, amt 'ef Stand up. Ptol-
envy, an give the gent q good look at
you"
The dog obedientiy stood up, and
Ravenor's eyes lighted. with interest.
There could be no denying that Ptol-
envy was ane specimen Of bis breed.
: His clean cut head, his well shaped.
shoulders, even his crooked little tail,
all bespoke that
81 got Is pedigree ERE on this pa
per-" the man observed, drawing a
dirty envelope from his pocket.
ooh, never mind that" Ravenor re-
piled, with meaning grin. What do
you want for himf"
sd oughter get fifty. an 'e's dirt
cheap at that.
'sTell you what I'll do-PlI give you
thirty"
The man shrugged his shoulders. Il
can't be too fussy, boss" he said. Il
need the money, an need it bad. So
long as I know 'e's goin' into good
lands 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, Awe just
bought this pup. He answers to the
name of Ptolemy. Take him down
stairs and give him a feed; then lei
him out in the back yark. I'm going
upstairs. You may call me at TO-"
Ravenor went upstairs to resume bill
interrupted sIumbers. aud Ptolemy
having Jared sumptuousiy at the hands
OF the cook, was turned loose in thu
back yard, where be galioped abou
gieefully, enjoying a rare half hour
sr~ mss,nr assnsrsta sndesvors !,
~stc, "a ,,s,rcsss vh,ch nov AM
.ra,r e,,ttarsd mfr tbs vsrd
r. Is n.r,,.r- tbrss -cre ,tey~ NJ :,
rn,,r sss.r ths ,sie that 1 = utious vbis
- scrrdsN srooo ~. .i,ev $40 ~ m,
<s.h sarcs whsch sncio.sd Tho bacI
80 ptoIsmy w,th ! ve,n ~ low an
-srsd - tn. hscr rate .v,,p ~ : noise
ss.s,v 49,, trst a. .,,c,,sb scr tha 40,
q so,,ssss - tr,orst n wss .sshsre'
- q, - 10 $500 man No hsd int,
ssvsd p.venor n tho ythrarv thrus
.n.a~,ro,,s o.,s,v hs,s.t,, h,s cot an,
hcrrs down ~ sI,sv - .hrss,rg rrr