Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-23
CHAPTER "

POINT.
CHAPTER ".
supposed that the little fellow be-
longed TO Mrs. Ess Kay, and that he
was bein: brought in to bid his mis-
tress good morning. but she said quite
sharply, "What dog is thatT'
Hes parcel ma'am," said the but
ier addressed to Lady Betty Bulke-
ley. He was left at the door by a mes
senger boy, and the labels on his col
lar"
In another instant that little live,
warm bundle of brindled satin sewed
on to steel wires was in my lap, and
1t did seem as If he knew that he was
mine. The queerest thing was that he
had no note with him. On the label
just luggage label tied to his collar
was my name. III a strange but very
interesting looking hand. and these
words besides: The dog is now found.
His name is Vivace."
"Who has sent it to you, Betty"
asked Mrs. Ess Kay, and | could see
by her eyes that she was very curious.
l had just answered. Il don't know
from ADAM" when some words of my
own jumped into my head. l could
hear myself saying. II must first find
the dog" and then I knew that the
giver of Vivace wasn't Adam. But
4uckily hadn't thought before spoke
so 1t was no harm to let it rest at that
and just sat and played with my new
toy while Mrs. Ess Kay and her
brother jabbered about him excitedly.
''It must be Tom Dorelnus," said she.
Hes the only man l let you know
well enough on board to take such n
liberty"
l thought of another man she hadn I
wanted TO let me know, but rubbed
my chin on Vivace's ear. which felt
like wall flower, and Kept quiet.
Cheek of Doremus," remarked Mr..
Parker. Hes josher from way
back How does he know Lady Betty
likes dogs? l should send the little
brute off to the dogs, home"
IF Mrs. Stuyvesant-KnoXm makes me
do that, shall have to go with him
and stop with him. too" said l. And
I almost hated Mr. Parker for n min
ute in spite of the walking stick roses
and the snowstorm of gardenias up.
stairs.
''Of course, you shall keep the dog
if you want to- said Mrs Ess Kay
''unless we find out that he's been sent
by some one undesirable, and then OF
course the duchess would expect me tC
see that you gave him back"
Il feel somehow that, we shall never
find OUT | said, and Rugged VivacC
so hard. without meaning to, that hi
gave tiny grunt But he didn't MIND
bit and licked my hand with a tongue
that was like sweet little sample o.
pink plush.
/ was suddenly SO happy with m!
surprise present that forgave Ameri
ca for having imaginative reporter:
and wasn't homesick for the pony Of
for Berengaria and her puppies or any
thing
Vivace went out with Us in the cleo
tric carriage, and even Mrs. Ess IA!
had to admire him as he sat straigh
a dog. Hes thoroughbred, any
how" she remarked. HE can't have
cost Il penny less than $500, so who
ever the anonymous giver is, he mus
be rich man."
~ I'm rather hazy about dollars, still
but when | heard that, l felt myself
go red. 1 knew well enough that the
giver-who wasn't Adam-was very
far from being rich man, and
couldn't bear to think that he had per
haps squandered some hard earned
savings on buying such an extrava
CANT present for me. But the more
thought of (which l did all the way
down to the shops-the more / thought
it impossible that a man who had
been obliged to cross the Atlantic IN
the steerage would even have a hun
dred pounds in the. world. Somebody
had perhaps given him the dog from {
good kennel, when 1t was n wee pup
Ply. said to myself, but this, though
it eased my mind in one way, mad,
the gift seem all the more pathetic
that that poor, handsome Jim Bret
should part with something he mus
have loved Qor who could have yivac
and not love him? p to please me.
should have liked to write note t
the Manhattan club where he had toll
me he was employed. to thank hin
But he had sent the present anony
mously, and | felt somehow as If b
hadn't meant or wished me to az
knowledge 1t.
While 1 was wondering what
should do. the brougham stopped b