The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-12-01

trifie for Virginia II is In q baske
In the passage under the front porch
Shall | get it. Virginia, or do you
want to discover 1t for yourself?"
Virginia dashed out OF the room
out the door. to embrace her pet In
the meantime. Burton with what
tact he could command tried to OK
plain and make light of the matter
with Mr. Comstock But Mr.. Com
stock was not to be appeased, and
Burton was more than relieved
when their usual number OF hands
were over and he was on his way
home. In his hat on the hat rack in
the hall Burton found little slip OF
note.
Il am 80 happy. Thank you a mil
lion times. Deyotedly
Jimmy"
Poor little girl" said Burton to
himself as he slipped the note into
his pocket
The next day Burton did not see
Mr.. Comstock. and when no returned
from business he was surprised TO
find the dog whining in his rooms.
There was no note accompanying
him, and no explanation had been
left by the Comstock servant who
had delivered him.
The next day Mr.. Comstock sum-
moned the young man to his office.
He looked at him with an express
sion that was expected to carry with
1t utter scorn, but which, in spite OF
Itself, showed a grain of amusement.
Then he cleared his throat and rose.
See here. young man." he began,
solemnly. rs this honest? Is II fair?
When have been entertaining you
In my house as gentleman, and have
cared for you as n SOM"
Burton actually turned pale with
alarm, for he was in a difficult posi-
tion and could think of no means Of
escape.
IF you cared for the girl-mero
child like that-you should have
told me"
1T was a mere trife." stammered
Burton. 81 thought she might care
for the dog"
"A mere trile. indeed" broke in
Mr.. Comstock 81 guess I know the
value Of n dog as well as any one else.
That dog is a thoroughbred, and l
know It. Don't try to fool met
Mr.. Comstock had worked himself
into such a state of indignation that
the grain of amusement had disap-
peafed. Any explanation on Burton's
part, had he had any to make, would
have been useless. and tho young
man slipped out of the room to think
over the unfortunate affair,
As Burton thought the matter over.
It occurred to him that really the
most embarrassing problem he had to
solve was concerned with Virginia
and not with Mr. Comstock. The dog
for which she had spent her boarded
birthday money was in his posses.
sion and she was in the meantime
without dog and without money.
As he could not return the dog.
he could return the money, and 1t
was with this conviction that he
counted out five ten-dollar bills from
HE wallet and folded them into an
envelope. He could get It to her
somehow, though he wasn't sure how.
Then n note came from Virginia. She
thanked him again for his kindness.
Il have n great idea about the deg"
she went on to say. III you will
keep him | can still manage to see
him. Could you send some one out
in the park with him In the morning
before father is up? | will meet him
there. and then perhaps I can think
of some place to send him, where
can visit him"
This seemed to Burton n fairly
good scheme, and as he put the fifty
dollars back into his wallet he de-
cided to conduct the dog to the park
himself the next morning.
1t was decided that for the present.
at least, Burton should keep the dog
and for two weeks Virginia and the
young man arose early for morning
stroll In the park. At first the dog
was the chief object of interest, but
when on the fourteenth day Burton
in his hurry forgot the dog entirely.
did not notice the OMISSION.
do you remember, jimmy" Burton
asked her, when you wanted me to
give you that rascal of a terrier, do
you remember how you went about