Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-01
THE EVENING STORY.
Game.
Copyright. 1918, by W. wener.)

Copyright. 1918, by w. Wernef.)
1t was the opening morning of the dog
show held in the pavilion OF the Country
Club at Boulder bay. AS expeditiously
as possible the dogs were being benched
and everything put in readiness for the
Judging in the afternoon.
Seventeen-year-ol Billy Weston was on
hand early with his handsome little cock
er, Rob Roy. for several years winner Of
the blues at the annual show at the bay.
1t was a purely friendly show, unrestrict-
ed by the rules of any kennel club.
Rob Roy was in the pink of condition.
Billy's eyes glowed triumphantly as he
passed the entries in the cocker class.
There's nothing here can touch you,
Rob- he said, softly, his hand going
down for a moment and resting on the
silky head. He paused as he came to an
empty space, NO "a next the vernon
cocker, and his glance went down the
line he had been examining All the
dogs are here that l know he thought.
and pondered moment. There was no
catalogue of the show, simply the names
and numbers of the dogs and the names
of their owners being in the hands of the
show officials. Anyway, Rob, I'm not
afraid there's only one cocker could beat
you, your own son, and it's clnch he
not going to be placed under q. Jim's
fellow and take chances on having him
make a show of himself"
At the thought of Jim, Billy's frank
young face clouded. Jim Vernon had
member. until early in the season when
the Hartleys had come to the bay and
Margaret had come into their lives. From
the start she had shown decided predi-
lection for handsome Billy, favor1ns MIN
so greatly that Jim told him he was get
ting too blamed toplofty.
Then came the day Margarets canoe
tipped over in front of Vernon's and Jim
had happened to be the one to go to the
rescue. Girlish Margaret was sweetly,
breathlessly grateful when he brought
her ashore, little the worse for her i'm
promptu bath, and disdainfully silent
when Billy approached. OF course 1t
was Jim upon whom her sweetest
evening, and he became quite hero
under her glowing description Of the res
cue. While Billy. Well. later Billy
said. when he was alone with Rob Roy:
isn't 1t the punkest luck. and aren't girls
fools, Rob? Does she suppose I'm such
an ass that I'd jump in. after Jim got
there before me- only because he hap
pened to see her first? Anyway" Billy's
voice lowered mysteriously. 1T would
have been dead easy, Rob, for Margaret
to walk ashore, because it's shallow all
along there"
Rob's answer was a riotous wagging of
stubby little tail, as though he would
tell his young master that he knew what
no one else knew-that Billy had kept
Loyalty silent on the question of the depth
of the water where Margaret had been
immersed when she had gushed over
Jim's bravery, for Jim was his chum,
and, though but a boy, Billy was true
blue.
Quickly following the canoe episode
came the horse show and Blly's second
humiliation under Margarets eyes Jim
took the blues from him in three classes!
He watched Margaret pin them on her
stunning lingerie dress; he saw her BEAM
ing on Jim, girlishly proud, and he grit
ted his teeth and thought of Rob Roy.
The dog show was a bigger event, be-
cause everybody at the bay owned p blue
blood and in cookers Billy owned the
king of them all save for the king 8
son, and he, poor little chap. would never
win blues like his father. because of an
abnormal timidity. In the presence of
strangers. if Rob Roy was not by his
side, he was a pitiful, quivering thing.