Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-09-16
A Joint Partnership
In a Pup
BY MARTHA WILLIAMS

caught redhanded, dropped the poor
mutt into a dark areaway. There it
lay stunned for some time, but at last
struggled to its unsteady legs, whim-
pering family, and tried vainly to
climb the steps to the street. Morton
found it as he came out of the Italian
restaurant, where he had dined. He
had made rather a pretense of dining,
being nearly as miserable as the puppy
looked. Misery loves company, hence,
perhaps, his action. Into the light he
strobe, the dog cuddled in his palm,
sat down at the nearest vacant table
and demanded instantly milk and hot
soup. He had decided they would be
comforting to the shivery, small
beast, so small it did not know how
to eat when food was set before it.
Morton, bending In the effort to help,
was amazed to see a wOman's hand
stretched beside his own, while a
clear voice said: Let me have him,
also a spoon. We must manage a
supper some way"
Shortly he was watching a rather
i~nscrutable young person, whom he had
not noticed across the table when he
sat down to 1t, deftly feeding his pro-
tege, huddled in her lap.
There; that will do until next
time," she said at last, as the shrunk-
en- sides rounded almost dangerously.
keep him warm he will sleep. Such
q beauty Is worth a whole lot of
trouble"
He isn't mine-found him outside
couldn't leave him to freeze this
bitter night" Morton hazarded.
The girl smiled at him. I'm glad
you couldn't. A lost puppy is pite-
Gus. l know-Tm lost myself-until
10 o'clock"
why the time limit?" Morton asked,
almost forgetting his own troubles in
this new appeal to sympathy.
Again she smiled, saying: Polly
set it she will be home then. l came
q day ahead of my plans and was
discouraged from waiting on the stairs
outside her door. Dc you think" look
ing suddenly straight at Morton, 81
iOOA lllC lC0Gl OlL llhC d Jul SiO4 > pa
OR a confidence queen?"
"A movie queen would be nearer the
TRUTH" Morton laughed, suddenly
sensing the atmosphere of unostenta-
tious breeding his questioner exhale6.
eff you are waiting here-may l keep
you company? With Trove for chap
eron-that must be his name"
Treasure Trove," the girl repeated,
softly. If l thought you'd part
with him" pausing in embarrass-
ment which Morton ended by saying:
you can't have him for keeps, but
I'll lend him to you gladly-if you
think Polly would permit-until l can
find proper quarters for him."
"Polly loves the under dogs-and
the lost Ones" the girl smiled back at
him. AS to staying-that is as you
please. l shall be glad of company,
but would hate to detain you. I'm
not afraid in the daylight, much less
in the dark. It's hardly more than a
step, but 1 ordered my cab on the
way in"
You are a Wonder-with the CAPT.
tai letter." Morton returned. "As such
your name, please-that 1 may ap-
proach the presence properly. Here
I am" extending his own card" No
body in particular, but not, I hope,
wholly a bad sort"
I'm Ruth Desha-you v heard
Of me-but 1 knew you in spite of
your glum look. Betty Bruton gave
me one Of your pictures when she-she
decided togo abroad" the girl an
swered. Morton flung up his head,
smiling bitterly. 81 got her wedding
cards the night my last play was
damned" he said. "Still, that doesn't
excuse looking like a deaths head"
"Do you mind-muchY Ruth asked
almost under her breath. His mouth
set as he nodded, but almost instantly
softened. Treasure Trove had reused
and was blinking at him happily over
Ruth's hands. g" rechristen him
Luck" Morton all but whispered.
Ruth looked at him narrowly. Il
am glad" she said. II believe he will
bring 1t to-both Of us"
He took her home to be embraced
by a rapturous Polly, who, however,
deserted s~hamelessly at sight of Luck.
Luck, indeed, became privileged
when Morton called next afternoon
he found the puppy lying in state up
on puffy down cushions In the sun
NEST window nook, with Polly at hand
sketching his every pose. Don't mind
me, good people. I shan't hear a
word" she called over her shoulder.
Ruth, ~ensconced on a soft couch, mo-
toned Morton to a place beside her,
and after a little drew a hard breath,
saying: 81 wonder If I am going to
make you think me crazy?"
Impossible !" cried Morton.
Again she smiled: But wait till
you know all. 1 want a ~playfellow-
1t Is what 1 have come here for. You
see, down in the grass country I've
had years of reading and dreaming
Of life out In the world. I've had
y