The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-07
THE EVENING STORY
when virginia Bought a Dog.
(By Jane Osborn.)

after his usual game of crfbbage with
his senior partner. Virginia was wait
| ing for him on the porch.
Hello, jimmy said Burton, some
what surprised. Where have you
been?"
Haven't been anywhere was Vir-
ginia's answer. Just waiting for
you"
Virginia started down the stone
steps from the door and beckoned
Burton to follow.
Il have something to tell you" she
exclaimed na .+ don't f,r+, want ,l him to to
the house to indicate her father, Mr..
Caleb Comstock.
She drew close to Burton's side and
spoke eagerly. tits something l want
you to do. 1t would be the most nat
ural thing in the world and 1t won't
cost you a penny. Say you'll do iti"
She looked steadily at him. 1t struck
Burton quite by force that her eyes
were pretty and that the child"
Virginia had grown to be quite
woman.
GO on, child" he said. 'I won't
promise till L know"
There is a perfectly lovely terrier
one of those nice. little brindle Bos-
tons with little round brown eyes that
make you want to hug hin-and he's
going at $50. [ saw him at the deal
er's today and I want him dread
fully
NuSllld OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Will d uOCp
sigh. He'd keep me from getting
lonesome. 1 know I'd like him.
"You lonesome, Jinny!" exclaimed
Burton with sudden sympathy. Why
didn't you ever let US know before?"
He recalled guilty that he and Mr..
| Comstock had never thought to in
vite the girl to join their game.
81 could get him for fifty dollars"
Virginia went on rapidly. 81 am sure
that is a great bargain Now, there
| @o%I
me fifty dollars, and it is all mine to
spend as I choose. Father would
think 1 was silly to put all on a dog.
He thinks all dogs are alike. But if
some one gave him to me he couldn't
| object, could hep"
$50 on commanded Burton, I'M
willing to commit himself.
Il would pay for him and see about
everything and all you would have to
do would be to give him to me. Won't
81 wouldn't very likely give you a
fifty dollar dog. Your father would
surely see through the trick;
81 should think you might" pleaded
Virginia. "You are in business with
father and you spend so much time at
our house. People always feel indebt-
| ed to their hostesses, and am your
hostess. If you don't want father to
think you bought the dog you could
| intimate that he was yours and you
Ididn't want him and you thought l
might. 1t wouldn't be a f1b, because
I can have him sent right to your
rooms"
Something - caution or discretion
was at work within Burton West,
| but this new feeling of pity for the
| lonely girl and anxiety to make her
| happy led him, with little further de-
| lay to agree to this end O. the bar
gain He knew we'll enough how stern
Mr.. Comstock was in spite of his love
for Virginia.
The next morning Virginia went to
the pet store with $50 in neatly folded
bills. please send him to Mr.. Bur
ton West" she told the dealer. giving
the young mans address. "Be sure
to have him there by 5 o'clock"
That night Mr.. Comstock was some
what surprised and distinctly pleased
when his Junior partner put in his ap-
pearance shortly after dinner for
game of cribbage. He never came
more than two evenings a week and
Mr.. Comstock had sometimes feared
that young West was growing weary of
the older mans society
Don't mean you are ready for an
other game said Mr.. ComStock,
warming up with pleasure. ''Well, well,
Burton, you can stand more cribbage
than any other man I ever saw"
When they had settled down to their
game and their cigars, Virginia slipped
into the room.
want to watch my hand, daugh-
ter?' asked the father, who always
thought of Virginia as a child in spite
of her nineteen years.
Virginia drew a chair up to her
fathers side and cast an anxious look
at Burton. Burton winked reassur-
ingly when Mr.. Comstock'S eyes were
pause came he said slowly and DELHI
erately:
Il say, Mr.. Comstock, 1 brought a
trife for Virginia 1t is in a basket
in the passage under the front porch.
Shall I get it, Virginia, or do you want
to discover it 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 explain
and make light of the matter with
Mr. Comstock. But Mr. Comstock 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 rack in the hall Burton found a
little slip of note
st am so happy. Thank you a mil
lion times Devotedly,
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 he 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
it 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. us this honest? Is it fair :?
When I have been entertaining you
in my house as a gentleman, and have
cared for you as a soni''
Burton actually turned pale with