The Dolores star., 1909-06-04

with minor Interruptions. Assisted by
diabolical banana skin, Mr.. Hopkins
flung his gray-trousered legs violently
into the pit of Crawley's stomach, anc
himself sat down on Rip, the veal, and
the basket.
focated yowl. Rip upset his oppressor
a second time and bolted for home
accompanied by Hopkins veal-but
not by his benediction.
Crawley painfully followed. Rip de
clined to be given away.
At the council of war In the Craw.
ley home that evening the wife hu.
namely decided against poisoning
or drowning. Her spouse. In un-
usual rancor. minated that her mod.
Grafton was due to her not having tried
to give the pup away
well. let the boys sell him to-mor.
row. They may have the money for
themselves" decided Mrs. Crawley.
Rip spent profitable and hilarious
Saturday morning playing with Billy
and Ted. In the afternoon the boys
took him down town to the bird and
dog store, kept by a rotund German
dog doctor.
Billy and Ted boldly entered the
shop. Rip was enchanted. So were
the boys. Monkeys chartered, magpies
screeched, cockatoos preened gorgeous
wings, Angora cats snoozed peace.
fally, puppies gambolled: 1t was a
,la, Nf
fall.
Alas. Rip was cast to play the ser.
peDt. And 1t may be admitted that he
a~umed the role with verve and dash.
"Wotch yer goin' to gimme fer this
dog?" said Billy, as the dealer bore
down upon him.
Vat de matter uf him?"
The dealer stopped to lay hold Of Rip
but he cleverly side-stepped the Ger
mans clutch.
"Yawk!" called the rainbow cocka-
too just over Rips head.
"Yaw-awk" said the cockatoo. with
sarcastic leer at the yellow pup.
Rip didn't quite understand the re-
mark. but he took. it I'm fun, at any
rate, and made friendly snap at the
cockatoo's flowing tail feathers.
Much to his surprise. he got them,
and with blood-curdling screech down
came cockatoo. perch. seed-box. and
all Rip sprang out Of reach Of the
threatening avalanche of tins, talons
and feathers. he added to the general
galety by upsetting a large aquarium
with a terrific crash and splash.
Rip established new indoor record
as he tore the leading-chain from
Billy's clutch and d-iissppesred- through
the door.
You pays me for dis, you young
| gheats!" roared the infuriated Ger.
man, making grab at Billy and Ted.
But they squirmed free and were In
hot pursuit of Rip-joined by an In
creasing mob. yelling: Mad dog!
Shoot him! Mad dog!"
But Rip was not to be caught. by
uncanDy instinct he took circultous
route, and by the time Billy and Ted
had arrived in the back yard he was
drying his aquarium-soaked coat-and
leisurely eating large fat goldfish.
There is nothing left" said Mrs
Crawley that evening after the boys
we're in bed. but for you. Mr.. Crawley.
to take Rip out to the pond tomorrow
morning while the boys are at Sunday
school, tie stone to his collar, and
l hate to say it-drown him"
Crawley sighed-as much in painful
anticipation OF the job as from sym.
pathy for the predestined Rip.
| Sunday morning the pup was on his
good behavior. No criminal about to
be executed could have spent his last
hours more sedately. When the boys
innocently started for Sunday school
unconscious of the last dire designs
upon their strenuous playfellow, he
wagged his tail forlornly and-was II
Imagination, or did unshed tears really
| glitter in his soft brown eyes?
At length Crawley and Rip started
| at funeral pace. for the pond. Mrs
Crawley secretly watched their de
parture with lump in her throat, re
membering how fufiily soft was little
Rip, and how lovingly he nestled
against her cheek, when Mr.. Crawley
had first proudly brought him home
Mrs. Crawley hastily turned into the
house.
| Only once her husband looked back
as he led poor Rip along. He could
see no relenting figure at the doorway
SO he trudged heavily on.
At last they arrived at the pond II
was balmy June day: the white
flecked sky was mirrored in the placit
water, trees nodded their branches
sleepily, the chirp OF birds proclaimed
holiday, June droned in the AR.
Crawley and Rip sat down on the
sunny side of little wooded poin
which jutted out into the pond In {
few minutes Crawley was asleep. 81
was Rip.
BY and by Crawley lazily awakened
to the sound of hilarious shouts anf