Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-20
4 Boy And His Dog
Priscilla Leonard.


and Jim sold papers, and between the
two they managed to have a home
down on Carver street, and keep the
twins, Harvey and Harry, in school
1t was hard work sometimes, especi
ally once when Jim was run over by
an automobile and hurt in the leg. II
gave him limp, and put him behind
with the rent because he was week
in the hospital.
Just after that he found Tim. Tin
was limping, too-a footsore, starved
pitiful puppy, of indescribable mon
grel breed. One ear stood up, the
other Topped over grotesquely; one
eye was encircled by, dark blotch ;
his wobbly legs were knock-kneed, and
an enormous tail, entirely out of pro
portion, put the finishing touch on his
absurd make up. Tim was doomed
outcast until Jim looked on him.
Lame things have hard time,
Jim said. His own leg was aching as
he stood selling his papers. Here,
pup" and Tim came eagerly. Gee
whiz, but you're a skinny one! Looks
as if you hadn't had meal since you
were born
Tim wagged his tremendous tail in
full assent. He had forgotten what a
good meal looked like; but that night,
after he had finished the scraps, his
little body was as tight as drum, and
he was blissfully happy III he eats
that much every day." said Mrs. Tay-
lor, I'VE can't keep him, Jimmie
But he's lame, motherhood take
him except u.s." said Jim, in a tone
that touched his mothers heart; and
henceforth Tins footing was secure.
The twins took to Tim enthusiast
tically, and spent their leisure time
teaching him tricks. Tim could learn
anything and liked it. He was very
much in earnest, but the more earnest
he became. Sure, he's better than
the clown at the circus" said Mrs.
Moriarty. their next door neighbor in
the tenement.
Tim took deep interest in selling
papers and soon Jim discovered that
the dog could be Of great use. Sitting
on his launches. with paper in his
mouth, Tim made an instant appeal
to the passersby. Jim had good
corner near the station and his sales
began to mount from the day that he
first made Tim his assistant.
Nothing could make Tim drop pa
per-no, not even if another dog came
by. He was as loyal as he was clever
and ugly For there was no getting
around Tins looks. No matter how
well fed and happy he might be he
would always have the same gro
tesque body and ridiculous head
Though his footsore lameness SOON
ceased, his -four legs were worse
than any limp as Harvey admitted.
Harvey taught him till he could
jump through hoop, his tail making
an unforgettable curve; he could sit
up in chair, he could read the paper
in series of banks. he could play
dead, ne could shoulder gun or
smoke a pipe. he could march to a
tune, he would roll over and over at
the word of command, he could fetch
and carry, play hide and seek; but to
see, him sitting up at the corner with
the papers in his mouth, helping his
master was to see him at the climax of
accomplishment, for he rolled his eyes
inquiringly at the public in way that
no clown ever surpassed.
One hot summer day Tim made the
hit of his life. for he rolled his eyes
desperately at a touring car with a
tail man and pretty girl in it.
"Oh. stop. Paul. please!' cried the
girl. Just look at that dog!"
Hes the seventeenth, Dot-what's
the use?" said the tall man. But he
stopred and the girl flew over and
patted Tim, and bought paper. Tins
tail thumped on the pavement as II
he were Great Dane.
cob wat a tall" cried the girl"
''ard that hlotrh over the eye-and
the ears. Is he for sale?"
".,>o'm.' said Jim. Hes my dog"
ooh" said the GIRL hes just what
I've teen looking for You see. I'm
in the movies. and | have scenario
that calls for dog like yo"rs--o'ly
yours is really better than NV idea of
one. Couldn't you sell him--for a
high price? I'd give you fifty dollars
Nom said Jim. Tin isn't FIR
sale but his voice trembl>d II could
not be true that any one in Ter senses
would pay fifty dollars for him.
"Seventy-fve. them" said the girl.
tapping her foot. impatiently She was
not exactly pretty but she had big
brown eyes and dimples.
Nom. couldn't sell Tim-not for
any money"
Listen, son." said the tall man.
Don't you go to the movies?"
mo. sir" said Jim. THE twins do,
but ! haven't the time
well, If you did go, you'd know
this lady She plays in all the fine
films. It's an honor to have her ask
for your dog. He'd be taken care of
like king"
1--WE can take Just as good care of
Tim as anybody could" said Jim stout
ly. After she was done with him.
he'd be back on the stred'st"
Tim thumped his tail heavily.
He's bird, sure enough" said the
tall man. Say, son. will you rent
him to US for week? We have a
place near the city where the big film
companys' studios are. How would
twenty week strike you?"
Jim thought minute His life as
a newspaper boy had not given him
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