Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-01-03

"Won't you come in and do so7"
Nina invited. 1T is rather chilly In
this corridor" He needed no second in
vitation, and even after the pointers"
had been given he didn't hurry away
until he had told her his name was
Archie Kelland and had received an in
vitation to call again.
He called often-at first to see how
Pihles was getting on, but after a few
calls he didn't need any such excus
On the first spring day that arrived
he suggested a walk In the park TO give
the dog exercise. 1t was a beautiful
day, so they sat down on a bench to
talk over the weather and many other
beautiful things. SO intent were they
upon M another, they did not notice
that the dog had wandered away
When they did discover it, Nina was
frantic. She knew that Pifles had
been stolen or u over. Some big
brute of a dog had killed him OIL he
was being tortured somewhere by some
unfeeling foreigner. There wasn't a
dreadful thing that could have hap
pened to that dog that she didn't think
Of. Archie finally got her to listen to
reason and persuaded her that the dog
had gone home, but when they arrived
there he was not to be found. II won't
der If he went to Aunt Matilda's? 1t isl
three miles out of town." Nina ex-
claimed, struck with the thought sud
denly. ,
That's just where he has gone"
Archie assured her. "I1l get a car and
we'll drive right out there" {
Nina wasn't sure of the location, butt
after she gave Archie some idea of It'll
he seemed to know where to go. MY
aunt did not like my mother; that Isl
why / never visited her," she ex-
planned.
When the car drove up to the coun-
try home that had belonged to Aunt
Matilda they heard a familiar cry on
the front veranda.
"It's Pif1es!" Nina cried, joyfully,
as she jumped from the car and bound
ed toward the house. "The sweet
thingw
Archie followed closely at her heels.
They found the little dog huddled up
to the door. crying pitifully. {
Hes homesick," Nina said, with
tears in her eyes. "Pifles, come here
But Pif1es didn't want to leave the
door. He looked up into their faces
and pleaded with them to let him in.
"Oh, if only 1 had the key to this
house" Nina said. Poor little fellow
doesn't know that 1t is deserted"
Archie took a ring of keys from his
pocket and fitted one in the keyhole.
The lock responded and he pushed the
door open. Nina looked at him in won
der.
Wen get into trouble" she said. "a
hateful nephew of aunt's husband owns
this house nowT"
Archie could not keep back his
smile. One look at his face told Nina
the truth.
"You are the nephew" she gasped.
"You are the master of this house"
Eyes, dear, and I want you to nameI
the day hat you will become mistress
of it. 1t is your aunt's wish, Nina"
1ndI Is WHY SOu arc oSn-Ao ~
You do not love me-"
Don't II" The way he brought out
those words told her a lot. II took the
fat over yours to see If I could learn
to love you, and 1 learned to quicker
than anything in my life before"
81 hardly know what to say" she
hesitated.
"Surely you will not deny Pifaes the
privilege of living here. He loves the
old place. He is on his favorite chair
now"
That wo1 Nina. They were a happy
three that motored back to the city,
for Pifles had been persuaded to leave
with them. He seemed to know that it
was not for long.
you did get me my fortune, after
all. old Pif1es In Boots, and happiness
with it, too" Nina whispered in the
little fellows ear. as Archie and she
Rugged him between them.