Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-08-08
CHAPTER III,
TrlIcIlAnea

Y. sachet powder settled in the
lining Of his nose. But his con.
science compelled him to persist in his
attempt to solve the mystery. Hence
he sought to place his nose in contact
with Flopit's, for he had perceived on
the front of the mysterious stranger a
buttony something which might posi-.
bly, be nose.
Flopit evaded the contact. He felt
that he had endured about enough from,
this Apache and that it was nearly
time to destroy him. Having no ex-
perience of battle, save with bedroom
slippers and lace handkerchiefs, Flopit
had little doubt Of his powers as a
warrior. Betrayed by his majestic self
Importance. he had not the remotest
idea that he was small. Usually he
saw the world from q window or from
the seat of an automobile or over his
mistress arm.
From these various ignorances Of his
sprang his astonishing, his incredible,
valor. Clematis, with head lowered
close to Flopit's, perceived something
peering at him from beneath the tan
gled curtain Of cottony, violet scented
stuff which seemed to be the upper
part Of Flopits face. 1t was Flopit's
eye, red trimmed eye and sore, and so
Economically malignant that Clematis,
indescribably startled, would have
withdrawn his own countenance at
once, but it was too late. With fear
full oath Flopit sprang upward and an
nexed himself to the under lip Of the
Mortified Clematis.
Miss Parcher and her guest turned,
Ciematis' self command
went all to pieces. Mr.. Watson en-
deavOred to kick Clematis without
running Flopit-a difficult matter
Flopit was baresark from the first,
and the mystery is where he learned
the dog cursing that he did In spite
of the David and Goliath difference in
size, it would be less than justice to
deny that a very fair dog fight took
place. Genesis relieved himself of the
burden of the washtub upon his back
and watched the combat in simple
pleasure A furious young person
struck him frantic though harmless
blow with pink parasol.
"9ou stop them" she screamed, ''or
I'll have you arrestedv'
"You, Clemr' he shouted.
And instantly Clematis was but
whitish and brownish streak along the
hedge. He ran like dog in moving
picture when they speed the film, and
be shot from sight once more round
the corner, while Flopit, still cursing,
was seized and squeezed in his mis-.
tress' embrace.
But she was not satisfied. "Where's
that laundryman with the tin thing on
his headT" she demanded. "He ought
to be arrested for having such dog.
It's his dog, isn't It? Where is he?"
Genesis turned and looked round
about the horizon, mystified. William
Sylvanus Baxter and the clothes boiler
had disappeared from sight.
IF he owns that dog" asserted the
still furious owner of Flopit, IT will
have him arrested. Where Is he?
Where is that laundIymanT
"Why, be-" Genesis began slowly,
he ain no laundrym"- He came to
n uncertain pause. II she chose to
ssume, with quick feminine intuition,
hat the dog was Williams and that
William was a laundryman it was not
+enesis' place to enlighten her. ""Tic-
arly," he reflected, "since she talk 80
rec about gittin' people rested" He
ecame aware that William had
quirmed through the hedge and now