The Washington herald., 1914-03-31

hoped for an opportunity to believe?
She began looking sharply about her
as she entered the woods. She soon
routed up a rabbit and disturbed a squir-
rel. but no razzle-dazzle.
By and by she sat down on a log and
laughed At the cooks declarations.
The spell was broken! The fateful
animal appeared.
1t looked like n small dog. but OF
course it couldn't be. At least, Miss
Florence had never taken notice of 4
shaggy and cock-eared and bobtailed
dog.
II appeared very suddenly. 1t gazei
at her. 1t growled. 1t barked. She
raised an arm and it fed
Gone to its den," she said. as she
rose and followed.
Three hundred feet away the girl
found a fresh burrow in a steep bank
The animal had disappeared from sight
in that direction. and must have en-
tered the burrow.
It's all nonsense. but I'm going to
to have a peep into that hole said
Miss Florence. and she began climbing
the bank.
1t was a task for an active boy. She
had not yet reached the burrow when
her ankle turned under her and she
went rolling down through the under
brush and brought up against a bowl
der with a thump. AS she lay there she
heard the razzle-dazzle bark like a dog.
She also heard a mans voice calling
out:
Go for 'em. Nero, What is it?'
Then she reached for a limb and partly
drew herself up.
Are you hurt" came the question.
Hadn't you better come down and
see? was shot back.
Beg pardon. but 1 was astonished.
you see"
so was I. My ankle turned with me,
but don't think / sprained II much"
He come plunging down and offered
her his hand. and she was soon at the
brow of the hill
"A stone must have rolled under your
foot" he suggested
She looked at him and found him to be
young man of about twenty-five. ana
realized at once that he was not of the
country. He had a pleasant face, and
though he tried hard not to smile there
was a sly twinkle in his eyes. 1t irri-
tated the girl, and she said:
IF it hadn't been for your homely old
dog 1 shouldn't have fallen,"
But I'm sure the dog was with me-"
replied the owner. However"
There is no however about it, He
surely is the homeliest dog l ever saw"
Granted; but he's great on woodchucks
I think that is the burrow of one over
there. and it's a wonder Nero isn't half
crazy over it. l am glad to have been
of some slight assistance to you and
hope you have suffered no injury"
He had turned to go when Miss Flor
ence determined to ask him a question.
''One moment, please. Did you ever hear
of an animal called a razzle-dazzle?''
He laughed right out, but her sober
face warned him that she was not joking,
and he replied:
There is not an animal of that name in
the world"
But the cook at my aunt's said"
''At Coney Island there is a sort of
merry-go-round called a razzle-dazZle.
The cook may have heard of it and got
it mixed up with woodchucks."
Thank you, SIR" was coldly replied.
Perhaps you are a naturalist and know
all about every animal that ever lived?'
Hardly" he smiled. My name is
Frank Walters, and am with firm of
architects in the city. AS a boy 1 lived
a few of the animals. That burrow up
there is the home of a woodchuck."
How very interesting" was the sar-
castle reply.
The woodchuck does not prey on
man."
That news should be in the papers,"
He makes his burrow in a bank"
He ought to make it in a bed Of
roses"
And the bank is too steep for young
lady to climb
"I declare! Having met a young man
who has given me a carload OF thrilling
information about the woodchuck. and
not wishing my aunt to think 1 may
have been eaten alive by one, will
thank you again and be going"
The cook was at the gate. and she could
hardly wait to ask:
Did you see the razzle-dazzle?"
No"
but YOU saw something? You look