Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-04-08
RANSOMING FANCY


ment of which Miss Thayer entirety
approved, though she had no reason
to insist that Paul Nisbit follow the
rule, for he loved Ida Thayer, dogs in
general, his own brindIe bull in par
ticular, and Miss Thayer's Boston ter
i rier but little less
Fancy, the terrier, had been his first
| gift to Ira and Paul believed that it
| constituted the strongest tie between
them, for in dogs they had found a
common bond of sympathy
This Nisbit had industriously sought
| to strengthen, with no small results,
| though he had not vet dared to put
| his fate to the test and lose
through precipitancy all he had gain
| ed.
That Ida Thayer liked the friendly,
cleancut young man was evident, but
| friendliness is not love, so Paul wait
ed for the opportunity that should
show him more clearly where he
stood
And a dog it was that again tight
| ened the bonds. rhe hydrophobia
scare struck Wellington, and the edict
went forth that all dogs must be muz-
zled, while the local papers dilated N
the danger that threatened and cali
ed upon all broadminded citizens to
destroy their pets before the town
should gain an unpleasant notorie. ~
through an epidemic or rabies.
Nisbit, coming up the walk to The
Thayer home with the latest diatribe
in his pocket found Ida dissolved in
tears.
Take that horrid paper away" she
| cried, as she saw what he carried. Il
wouldn't mind muzzling Fancy, but
the idea of killing her. And father
believes that horrid stuff-and he's
he's going to have Fancy chloro-
| formed tomorrow"
Poor little Fancy" said Paul, As
he stopped to pat the dogs head and
wished instead that he might rest his
hand upon the golden strands which
crowned the shapely head of Fancy's
mistress
"Of course" he continued, ''if we
are threatened with an epidemic Of
caution; at the same time to kill all
dogs because one of them might so
go mad is absurd as to want to kill all
human beings because some men are
afflicted with mania for murder |
am going to take Sir Herbert out o
the Oaks this evening. What do you
say to an abduction"
"Mr Nisbit!" Ida's voice startled
him. He had never heard her speak
In that tone before. Anger and sur
prise were. mingled in her voice, and
with a sinking heart Paul "ealized
that she had misunderstood him.
81 didn't mean to abduct YOU" he
cried 1T was Fancy | was thinking
Of If Fancy should be sitting out on
the lawn this evening, and long,
low, rakish car should happen along,
and if, after the dust had died down,
it should be found that she had dis
Nappeared-don't you think that would
better than chloroform? Out at
Che farm there will be no stray ours
20 carry infection, and she and Sir
Herbert could have a glorious time
with the run of the grounds under
Chester's watchful eye. He loves
dogs as well as I do"
In her eagerness to atone for her
misunderstanding Ida caught Paul's
hand impulsively
you are so good" she cried Then
she realized that she was holding his
hand, and Redeemed as her fingers I'M
clasped their grip. Il was so worried,
don't think I know what | am doing
today" she continued, Il could think
of no way of saving poor Fancy, and
it seemed so wicked to kill the poor
little thing
Then is is settIed?" he cried.
"The piratical auto will be along after
supper. Don't you want to 60 too, and
see what fine quarters she will have?
It's a splendid run, and there will be a
moon tonight. Of course if you don't
want to turn kidnapper-"
But | do" cried Ida, when it is
Fancy who is being kidnapped
AS the summer twilight faded into
dusk Paurs racing car pulled noisily
into the Thayer driveway, and Cog
gled figure sprang up the steps and
caught up the doomed pet. Then lie
gave Ida the leaders of the two dogs,
and the car commenced it's noisy puff
fing. In a fash they were in the
street again
1t was a delightful run out to the
farm, which was PauPs hobby, and
when Ida saw the two new kennels
that had been built, in compliance
with Paups telephone message to his
superintendent, she went into costa
sizes.
81 wish | could stay here, tool" ex-
claimed Ida, with sigh as she gave
Fancy a final petting and prepared TO
follow Paul to the car.
"Ill bring you out whenever you
want to see Fancy he promised
We'll come every day IL you wish
81 should like to come tomorrow"
assented Ida, ito see how our victims
are getting along Our abduction S
successfully accomplished"
tThat shows you how much of a
novice you are" retorted Paul az the
car started "The abduction is not a
success until the victim is restored to
an anxious family and the ransom
has been paid This is only the first
chapter"
and the second is the homeco IL
ing
"That's the third" corrected Paul.
''The second has to do with the ran