The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-19
EVENING STORY
Pifflea in Boots.
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

| D F14NOE4N4 G1N1N
Nina Bolton looked at the check in
| her hand and groaned. Three hun
dred dollars-and she had expected at
| least three thousand. To think that
her hopes had been dashed to the
ground in such a way. 1t was unkind
of her Aunt Matilda to leave her for
| tune to her husbands nephew and
leave such a paltry sum to her, he:
own niece. When she had been noti-
| fled that she was one of the benefit
Charles of the will she had packed her
things for vacation. Her days of
hard work were over for time, she
decided. but now she could see moth
| ing before her but long tedious days
in the office. Seven years was too
| long to be a stenographer, and she was
! heartily sick of it. The very thought
of a typewriter made her head ache.
If the check had been for three thoL-
sand she would have been able % take
a long vacation-a year at the very
least. Her aunt could just as well
have left her three thousand as three
hundred from her estate of over three
hundred thousand dollars.
Nina had been SO eager to see the
check she hadn't read all the accom-
panying letter. When she started to
read where she had left off. she cried
out in dismay: Your aunt has be-
queathed her pet dog. Piffles. to you.
and asks in her will that you be kind
to him." Nina's voice pitched higher
at each word.
The very ideal" Nina exclaimed
aghast. "A dogI What shall 1 do
with it'
swer TO this question a loud rap SQUAD
ed on her door. and she heard a bark
| from the outside. Piffles had arrived.
Nina signed for the box before she
knew what she was doing and the ex-
| pressman left her alone with the craft
| ed dog. One look at the little fellow.
biting eagerly at the stats on top, ban
| ished all Nina's fears
| RIFLES, you rogue!" she cried, as
she hastened to get hammer to set
| him free. He was the most delighted
| dog in the world when given his free
| dom. He danced around his new mis-
tress in glee.
You are the cutest dog I ever saw"
she said, picking him up and hugging
MIN. L always did love Boston ter
| riers.".
Piffles was given his supper and
Nina had her own. She sat him I'D in
a chair to view his good points. ITS
| just like the fairy tale, 'Puss in
Boots" she tole him. laughingly
| I'm just like the miller's son, whose
inheritance was nothing but cat and
pair of boots, only I haven't got a
pair of boots to spare. You'll just
have to make a. fortune for me, old
| Piffles In Boots, to live up to the
reputation of the original 'Puss.'" The
| dog wagged his stub of tail to show
| his willingness.
You'll have to find a rich husband
! for me-that is my only hope for a
fortune now"
No sooner said than the little dog
ran to the door and whined to be let
| out.
| Nina co,I5 .o,roa1,, Lo,;.. -
eyes. He seems to be ready to start
| out on his mission right away" More
| in spirit of fun than anything else,
| she opened the door and Riffles raced
thru the corridor, shifted around the
| bottom CT the stairs that led to the
flat above and then bounded up. Nina
whistled and whistled. but he did not
| come down. She was just about to
start up after him, when she heard
someone coming down. 1t was a man
the new tenant of one of the upper
| apartments, and he was carrying Pif-
| files. The dog was attempting to lick
his face and make himself generally
| agreeable
rs this your dog?" the man
smiled, as he placed Piffles on the
floor. He seems to have taken a
fancy to me-"
81 just got him. Isn't he a dear?''
Nina said, with enthusiasm.
HE is a valuable specimen, too. Do
you take any interest in dogs?"
This is the first one I ever owned.
| I dot know much about them"
You must learn the proper meth
cd of feeding Kim. These little dogs
| require a special diet. I can give you
some pointers" he offered.
Wont you come in and do so?''
Nina invited at is rather chilly in
this corridor" He needed no second
invitation. and even after the point
ers" had been given he didn't hurry
away until he had told her his name
was Archie POLAND and had received
an invitation to call again.
He called often-at first to see how
Piffles was getting on, but after few
calls he didn't need any such excuse.
On the first spring day that arrived
he suggested a walk in the park to
give the dog exercise. 1t was a beau
tiful day, so they sat down on bench
to talk over the weather and many
other beautiful things. So intent
were they upon one another. they did
not notice that the dog had wandered
away. When they did discover It
Nina was frantic. She knew that Pif-
fles had been stolen or run over
Some big brute of a dog had killed
him or he was being tortured some
where by some unfeeling foreigner
There wasn't a dreadful thing thai
could have happened to that dog that
|; she didn't think of. Archie finally
i. | SOI ner 10 ISlen TO reason ana per
suaded her that the dog had gone
home, but when they arrived there he
WIS not to be found st wonder il
he went to Aunt Matilda's. 1t is three
miles out of town." Nina exclaimed
struck with the thought suddenly.
That's just where he has gone.
: Archie assured her. I'LL get a cal
and we'll drive right out there"
Nina wasn't sure of the location
but after she gave Archie some ides
of 1t he seemed to know where to go
my aunt did not like my mother. thai
is why I never visited her." she ex
> planned.
s When the car drove up to the coun
I try home that had belonged to Aup
Matilda. they heard a familiar cry o!
the front veranda.
E Its Piffles!' Nina cried. joyfully
= as she jumped from the car anC
, | bounded tow;.rd the hOuse 9TH