Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-04

intently watching another chauffeur
UP the street. So Binko had gone a
block before his absence was dis
covered by his mistress. Then she be-
gan to look about for him, calling his
name. The chauffeur got down from
his seat and gave his assistance In
looking for Binko.. Up and down the
pavement he stumped, calling out:
"Huh, Binko! Huh, Binko! Where's
you, old dawg?" And at the same time
the pretty lady was becoming anxious,
Just minute had passed but Binko
had seemed to be swallowed up, for
nowhere could they ind him. Il know
he came out ahead Of me-" declared
the lady "He was so anxious to get
out this morning. He has run up or
down the street. I'll call to Jenkins to
come out and go in search Of him
down the street, while walk up the
street. You please follow me with the
automobile"
"All right, ma'am." acquiesced the
chauffeur And he started the great
machine slowly, while his mistress
called to man-servant to go down the
street in quest Of runaway Binko. Then
she turned her steps up the street.
Hardly had she gone dozen steps
till she reached a corner of the block.
And there she beheld her dog, stand
ing close to little figure In the snow
and licking a cold little hand. Mug had
become so benumbed from cold that
he could no longer stand, and had
dropped down close beside high iron
paling that ran about the small yard
to a church. Binko had come just at
the moment Mug fell; and as dog
knows boy better than he knows any
other being, the little fellow at once
understood the child's distress. So he
went straight to Mug and began lick
ing with his warm tongue the cold lit
tie hand that had failed to receive any
aims on that winter morning.
When the pretty lady saw Binko and
then saw the boy he was trying to
warm with his little tongue, she hur-
ried to the spot and bent tenderly
over Mug, questioning him Then she
hastily beckoned to her chauffeur, and
within few seconds Mug was safely
stored away inside the great, warm
automobile. He smiled family, whis-
pered something about heaven, then.
swoomed away.
It was long time before Mug was
again himself. Weeks passed over him
while he lay very III in beautiful
room with the attentions of doctor
and trained nurse. And every hour
during the day the pretty lady came
to inquire about her charge, and once
she let Binko enter the room and
stand beside the sick child's bed, his
little paws resting on the pillow. But
Binko seemed to understand and
turned softly away, going quietly out
OF the room. He knew the little boy
could not speak to him now. but he
had the dogs instinct and knew that
before many days his new found friend
would be about PLAYING as a boy
should play.
The time passed by very slowly for
boy and dog, for both wanted to be out
in the open. The boy hated sickness
and the dog hated confinement. One
day after Mug had been sitting up for
several hours the pretty lady came to
talk with him. She told him how Binko
had found him, and how she had taken
him in her car and brought him home.
at was an act of providence" she
said, firmly. "a supreme power sent
my dog to find child for me-a child
who needed q home, q mother. And
since have been unable to locate any
one who claims relationship with you
or anyone who wants to take you as
their former charge, shall call you
my boy and give you, a home and the
love Of childless Woman"
Mug felt happiness. swell up in his
heart Then tears rolled down his
pale face. "a home" he said, cares
sing the word. II never had one In
my life. It will seem very nice to
have warm bed and things to eat
like other folks. Oh, begging was SO
hardin the winter. 1t was not so
bad in the summer, for slept IN the
park And one don't mind being
hungry In the summer-it don't hurt
SO bad. But in the winter-oh! and
a look of pain came over Mugs face.
you'll beg no more, my child"
said the pretty lady. "And from this
day you are my son, and as soon as
YOU are strong enough you shall go to
school. And-there comes Binko. He
loves you. He is yours-your little
playfellow.'
'Mine!" And Mug laughed with
happiness. He's such beautiful
dog and it was hirn at found me In
the snow. IN always look out for him,
will
And from that day Mug-who be-
came known as Martin Thomas, son Of
the rich Mrs Thomas-and Binko
were the pest of friends and now