The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-07-01
FID0
Ry JOSEPHINE MURPHY.
SdS6Sde

1t was Betty who logged him home,
to the intense disgust and, indeed,
against the express command of ma
demoiselle.
What a brute" shuddered the gov
erness. Betty, do not touch him."
Poor little puppy; was he dirty
and hungry and wet, and had they
been throwing stones at him.! cooed
Betty, lifting the draggled, yellow cur
from the sidewalk and holding him
against her warm little heart.
Mademoiselle reported Bettys dis
obedience to Ruth, who ruled the big
house and the little sister with the
grave severity of twenty-five. But for
once Ruth did not decree stringent
punishment.
"Oh, let her keep it," she said. zone
dog more or less-what does 1t mat
teri"
"Mees Ruth grow gentle all of
sudden contided mademoselie to Mr..
Stanley's secretary, when next she met
that young man. AN l know de rea-
son. She would like to ave 'er own
way, yes; an so she give 'er little sis
ter 'er own way. Miss Ruth want to
marry dat-vat is 'ees name?-dat
Jimmy Woodford, AN 'er papa. e say
nevaire. For dat Jimmy Woodford's
fader made 'ees money-'ow AIstaire
Black?'
Ran lottery" replied Mr.. Black
tersey. Mr.. Stanley is quite right.
For his daughter to allow herself with
a family of that kind would be a So
cial crime"
"Oh" said mademoiselle, narrowing
her eyes and surveying young Mr..
Black quiZZically. "An' Mistaire Stan
ley never was dishonest in 'es family?"
Never" declared young Mr. Black,
Loyalty.
Mademoiselle turned to the window
to conceal Il skepticism and an amuse-
ment which were, perhaps, merely
radical. Through the glass the little
new dog was visible, gamboling about
the stable The older dogs were look
ing gravely on.
Before the end of the week he had
won his place among them. Daily
washings did wonders for his personal
appearance; daily food filled out the
hollows between his ribs He learned
eventually to respond to the name Bet
ty gave him-Fido.
When Fido had been an inmate of
the Stanley household for two weeks,
he came Juggling at Betty's skirts one
morning. She followed where he led,
of fine, juicy chop. He wagged his
tail and awaited her word Of com
mendation. He seemed astonished
and dOwncast when she gave him
scOlding instead.
He was an incorriHble thief Food
the whole neighbOrhood was safe from
him after he learned the way to and
from his own home. But of all the
provisions in the region, he preferred
the Woodfords'.
One weekend as they were walking
along toward the farm they were ac-
costed by a blind man.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he said. "but
you are talking of dogs. I have lost
my dog"
"When did you lose him." asked
mademoiselle.
"About two months ago"
1--WE found dog about that time"
said mademOiselle again.
eff you will come this evening" said
mademoiselle, "Mistaire Stanley he
will see YOU about de dog Then she
and Betty moved on, leaving the old
man mutterng to himself.
Il +" =
The conference on FidO was almost
over Betty swollen-eyed and resent
full, and Ruth, dignified and regretful,
sat together on the library lounge.
Their father and the old man confront
ed each other across the table TIE
old man had confessed being arrested
for vagrancy ON the day Betty found
Fido, and that he had spent two
months in Jail.
"Really," began Mr.. Stanley, leaping
upon the opportunity for preaching Il
scarcely know how to say it, hut theft
is theft, whether one commits it with
ones hands or with ones dog"
"Theft is theft, is it?' retorted the
old man. "Oh, l guess you don't al
ways call it that. It's thieving all right
! when blind mans dog snatches him
chop; but what about a big railroad
robber who forces down the price of
| stock until he ruins the small holders
so that he may buy it again? Your
father. Mr.. Stanley. was a financier.
IF it wasn't for him I'd be well off
today. Read the old papers and see
what they said of your father 80 years
ago"
"If you can prove that" said Mr.
Stanley, "Tll do something for YOU"
81 cam" responded the blind man. 81
have the documents and shall furnish
them tomorrow"
The door had closed upon the ole