The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-05-23
CHAPTER !.
A Doq and a Damsel.


AS I sat on bench in Madison
square after half past eleven in the
evening dog came trotting up to me,
stopped at my feet and whined.
There is nothing remarkable in hav-
ing a strange dog run to one. nor in
seeing the creature rise on its hind
legs and paw at you for notice and n
caress. Only. this happened to be an
Eskimo dog.
l stroked the beast, which lay down
at my feet, raising its head sometimes
to whine and sometimes darting off n
little way and coming back to tug at
the lower edge of my overcoat. But
my mind was too much occupied for
me to take any but a perfunctory in
terest in It's maneuvers. My eight
years of thankless drudgery as a
clerk. following on brief adventur-
Gus period after | ran away to sea
from my English home. had terminal
ed three days before upon receipt of a
legacy, and ! had at once left Tom
Carson's employment.
Six thousand guineas--thlrty thou
sand dollars-the will said.
l had seen for some time that Car
son meant to get rid of me. II had
been satisfaction to me to get rid
Of him instead.
He had been alternately a prospec-
tor and company promoter all the
working years Of his shabby life. Tom
was as secrefive ms clam, except
with Simon Leroux.
Leroux was parish politician from
some place near Quebec. and his
clean-shaven. wrinkled face was as
hard and mean as any city boss in the
United States. He and old Tom used
to be closeted together for hours at
a time.
never liked the man and never
cared for Carson's business ways |
was glad to leave him the day after
my legacy arrived.
My plans were vague. l had been
occupying, MT low rental tiny
apartment consisting of two rooms. a
bath and what is called Kitchen
ette." at the top of an old building
in Tenth street which was about to be
pulled down. | had half planned to
take boat for jamaica wanted to
think and plan.
The Eskimo dog was growing un-
easy. 1t would run from me, looking
round and utterng a succession of
shori hanks. then run back and tug at
my cvercoat again.
Evidently II wished me to accom-
pany it, and | wondered who its mas
ter was and how it came to be there
/ rose and followed the beast. which
showed its eager delight by running
ahead Of me, turning round at times
to bark, and then continuing on its
way with precision which showed
me that II was certain of its destina.
ton.
The dog turned down a street in the
Twenties, ran on few yards. bound
ed up a flight of stone steps and be
gan scratching at the door of house
that was apparently empty.
This place | knew by reputation. II
was Jim Days notorious but decently
conducted gambling establishment
which was running full blast at a time
when every other institution of this
character had found it convenient 20
shut down.
SO the creatures master was inside
Days and il wished me to get him
out. looked in some disappointment
at the closed doors and turned away.
meant 10 go home. and ! had pro-
eeeded about three PAGES when the
lock clicked. | stopped. The front
door opened cautiously and the gray
head Of inns -egro butler appeared
Then emergec one of the most beau
tiful women that | have ever seen.
She could not have been more than
twenty years of age. Her hair was
of fair brown. the features modelled
splendidly. III. head poised upon a
Hawless throat that cleaned white be-
aeath q neckplece of magnificent
xahi~