The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1908-04-10
The Ownership
Of Pto.emy
Caesar.
By LEONARD FRANK ADAMS.
Copyrighted. 1903. by Jessie Morgan.

A gorgeous bathrObe .Swathed his biz
frame from his chin to his heels. His
feet were thrust into Il 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 latter was re-
sponsibe for RavenOr's appearance
downstairs at this unseemly hour.
RavenOr's early caller was not pre-
possessing. Indeed. be 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 q BOs-
ton terrier
Want to sell me the pup, suppose"
Ravenor said pleasantly. That's why
you're here, isn't it: That's why you
got me out of bed at this un-Christian
hour?"
The man nodded hopefully.
"Sure." he admitted. Il thought
you'd like chance at 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 !
wouldn't be sellin' i'm if 1 didn't need
the coin the worst way. card as
'ow4 you was open for a good trade in
lis line. so brought i'm round. Els
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 tail,
all bespoke that. -
II got is pedigree ere on this pa
per- the man observed, drawing a
dirty envelope from his pocket.
"Oh, never mind that" Ravenor re-
piled, with meaning grin. What do
you want for him?"
I'D oughter get fifty, an 'c's dirt
cheap at that
"Tell you what I'll DOLL give you
thirty"
. The man shrugged his shoulders. II
can't be too fussy. boss" he said Il
need the money. an I need 1t bad. So
long as 1 know 'e's goin' into good
'ands l guess there amt nothin' for me
to do but to take you up. though it's
most like giyin' I'm to you at that
price," .
Ravenor counted cut the bills and
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.
,h"Annie,." he said to the second girl,
who answered his summons. 1--WE 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.
havi11g 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 bit Of trailing clothesline
and making desperate endeavors to
catch the sparrows which now and
again fluttered into the yard.
% It 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
swcred It, The back gate swung noise
lessly open. just far enough for the dog
to squeeze through. He was gathered
up hy the seedy man who had inter
viewed Rayenor 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 weepingly 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 coil of hose that lay in one corner.
hat, no trace of his recent purchase
could he find. 60.
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.
lie had reached the little square where
Norwood street crosses the avenue and
was strjding briskly past the statue in
the center Of the diminutive park when
Il dog in full c:y after flock Of elusive
sparrows dashed past him.
There could be no installing that
head. those clean cut shoulders. the
distinc tive markings Of the neck and
flank. Ravenor started in pursuit of
the dog.
Here. you, Ptolemy. Ptolemy! Come
here! Come here, I-say!" he cried. ;.
. The dog stopped. seemed to debate