Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-03-10
BEAUTY AND BEAST
BY MILDRED WHITE.
~ Meslern Nsrspap,r unlon.l

81 western Newspaper Union.) a
DuIcle was the beauty, there could
be no doubt about that, but whether
Jim Hartford or his dog, best answer
ed to the latter description, Dulcie was
undecided. Certain 1t is, that when
she first heard OF Him Hartford, the
girl Indignantly exclaimed, The
Beast" {
And Aunt Dulcinia was shocked and
Mortified as usual.
Duicie as a child had brought into
the house various stray cats and shay
gy dogs which she called her friends.
Returning one day from an errand the
girl was accompanied BY a hulking
mastif which she pleasantly informed
her frowning relative, had Joined her
in a walk4
Il was going down Lynden avenue"
Dulcie said happily. when this big
fellow came running from the road
to walk at my SIDE" The mild and low
ing animal ending his scrutiny Of Miss
Dulcinla's face, gave a low and threat
ening growl, exhibiting fiercely his
sharp and shining teeth. The elder
woman paling suddenly, crept behind
the shelter Of the door, while Dulcie
dropped upon her knees her arm ca
resslng the dogs head.
Emperor" she adm0nished, don't
be unreasonable, this is aunt's house,
and she has a perfect right to be in
it."
Drive the brute away" snapped
Miss Dulcinia behind the door. why
do you call him that fool Manner
Its on his collar" Dulcie cheer
fully informed her.
Emperor, property Of Jim Hartford,
202 Bale street. Bale street is away
down in the lower part Of the town
and poor Emperor Is covered with
scars of battle. A nice kind Of owner
he MAST have to beat him 50 cruelty.
Jim Hartford"
Dulcie's blue eyes rested on a huge
welt on the dogs head.
1.-THE beast" she exclaimed, and 1t
was Jim Hartford she referred to and
not the dog. The animal, his grum-
blings ended in a loving whine, looked
up at her in alteration.
Hes afraid / will take him back
to that Hartford person to be beaten
again." she exclaimed Indignantly. He
might know that I would not-I am
his friend"
Friend" scoffed the e~xasperated
Miss Dulclnia. She went determined
ly to the telephone. II was a gruft
voice with a German accent which
answered.
"You'd better called up" the voice
threatened, before I gets the police
after you. That dog Is valuable. He
guards our storehouses.
THE girl coaxed him away. I heard
her. l vas on de wagon. She visited
and Emperor vent. Den l lost dem
I'll come after him. yes--but I'll give
!, that tog such a whipping
, "Oh, you must not whip him, really
Dulcle heard her ,aunt's frightenet
voice saying, and In a whirl the cir
7 had the telephone in her hand.
~ won't give up your dog" she sat
: defiantly, until l am sure he VII
: have decent treatment hereafter. Sc
= If you can make me-"
She did not await the expected an
CRY reply, but replaced the receiver
facing her aunt with rose-flushet
4, cheeks.
= II am going out" Dulcie announced
"to SIT on the front steps beside tina
4 dog until the man comes"
3 On the broad stone step sat he
a niece, the mastiff's head against he
a shoulder. After an interminable TINT
a car came swinging up the road ant
:. It's driver descended. He was q younl
man Of pleasing and correct. appear
ance, Miss Duicinia noted. And as tn
young mar stood hat In hand, Dulci'
gave him permission to be seated.
It was evident that IN earnest con
v~ersation followed. Emperor after
time of speculative interest, shifte'
his vast bulk so that 1t rested conf
IDENTIFY between the two. Dulcie raise'
5 her voice slightly at last, and the lis
< tening lady could hear, 'Then you viii
see your dog Is taken care Of. 1t is
: pity that you trusted him so long t
!; your warehouse manager"
She laughed. Evidently the ma
who beat your dog numerically wa
afraid to face one small woman, so h
i sent YOU"
x And many weeks after this occur
renee, Dulcie came, all rosy and shin
i ing eyed, to her aunt.
II am going to marry Jim Hartford,
. she announced. "You see I have be
n come very much attached to Emperor
and as Emperor is a valuable dog, an
as 1 really have no right as you sal
to harbor another mans property
why"
"Dulcie, Dulcie." murmured tn
. much-tried aunt, then tenderly sh
kissed her.