Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-17
The Ownership
OF Ptosemy
Caesar.
By LEONARD FRANK ADAMS.
1905. by Jessie Morgan.

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Ravenor stood in the library in all
the luxury of early morning negligee.
A gorgeous bathrobe swathed his big
frame from his chin to his heels. His
feet were thrust into a pair Of COM
Portable looking Turkish slippers. Be
tween his lips was a cigarette, deep
drafts of which he inhaled thought
fully as he eyed the man in the chair
by the window. The latter was re-
sponsible for Ravenor's appearance
downstairs ut this unseemly hour.
Ravenor's early caller was not pre-
possessing Indeed. he was distinctly
otherwise. His eyes were small. wa
terry llue and shifty. His underjaw
was weak. and his seedy clothes and
fra ed liucn were none too clean. Be
si,,c Linn. is Own smart appearance IN
striking contrast to the Eian's general
ou, at the elbows air. croachel Bos-
ton terr.e:.
Want to sell lae TIE pup, suppose"
Ravcnor said pleasantly. That's why
You're here. isn't It: That's why you
got M out of bed at this un-Christian
hour"
The man nodded hopefully.
Sure" he admitted. Il thought
you'd like chance ut i'm so longs
got TO raise the dough"
"Where'd you get him?' Ravenor
asked sharply.
RAISED i'm from a pup, s'elp me.
the man responded glibly. An l
wouldn't be sellin' i'm il didn't need
the coin the worst way. card as
'ow you was open for a good trade IN
is line. so l brought i'm round. 'Es
all right. now, amt e? Stand up, Ptol-
envy, an give the gent good look at
you"
The dog obediently stood up, and
Ravenor's eyes lighted with interest.
There could be no denying that Ptol-
envy was fine specimen of his breed.
His clean cut head. his we'll shaped
shoulders. even his crooked little tall.
all bespoke that.
81 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 a meaning grin. What do
you want for himf'
"Td oughter get fifty, an 'e's dirt
cheap at that
"Tell you what I'll do-rll give you
thirty"
The man shrugged his shoulders. 81
can't he too fusSy, boss" he said. II
need the money, an ! need 1t bad. so
long as | know 'e's goin' into good
'ands 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 a 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, 'I've just
bought this pup. He answers to the
name of Ptolemy. Take him down.
stairs and give him 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 rare half hours
sport with a bit Of trailing clcthesline
and making desperate endeavors to
catch the sparrows which now and
again f1uttered INTO the yard.
1t was perhaps threequarters Of an
hour after the sale that cautious whis-
tie sounded from the alley side Of the
high fence which inclosed the back
yard. Ptolemy. with yelp Of JOY, an
swered it. The back gate swung noise
lessly 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 shuffiing run.
Therefore when Ravenor made his
appearance at II o'clock no Ptolemy an
swered his repeated whistlings. Annie
and the cook protested weeplngly their
complete mystification 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 coll 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
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. Ptolemy! Come
here! Come here, | say!' he cried.
The dog stopped. seemed to debate
for a moment. then came toward Ra-
venor. wriggllng his twisted stump Of a
tail in ridiculous apology.
"Nice way you deserted me this
morning. wasn't it? said Ravenor Sc
verely. Come on with me now. No
more back yard orgies for you unles'
some one has an eye on YOU"
He started homeward, the dog FOL
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, l beg your par
dom"
He swung about to find himself face
to face with Katherine Gray. Ravenor
unconsciously stiffened. 1t was trifle
disconcerting to come thus abruptly