Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-01-14
Black Pons
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS


John Blackmore was bored to suf-
location in the big city called New
York. CHANGING out of his boarding
house window to the sunny street it
seemed TO him that every man pass
Ing was jaunty and happy and had an
unmistakaDle air Of being on his way
to get the Only Girl and take her out
for the afternoon.
John had no Only Girl nor even a
halfway girl to go to see on Sunday.
And Sunday without a girl was worse
than an egg without salt. John
hated his own company. He liked
having good friends, but had been
forced 10 leave them all when the
hrm he worked for sent him East
to fill most flattering position.
John fell to bordering darkly on
what he would be doing were he
still out in the homelike small town
where everyone knew everyone else.
Lily, Elsy, Mary or Caroline would
be going out on the river with him.
Lily. Elsy, Mary or Caroline would
have on freshly ironed white dress
with spOtless white shoes and a great
Topping hat to shield an adorable face
from sunburn.
And John would be gazing happily
from time to time under that hat
There would be neat box Of lunch
with Iced tea in a thermos and plenty
OF homemade chocolate cake. Later
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later more glorious moonrlse. and
still later under that wonderful
moon. he, John Blackmore and Lily,
Elsy, Mary or Caroline would per-
chance steal moment or two from
lovers hours before taking the weary
but happy trip home.
John had read his Sunday paper
from cover to cover, all but the adver-
tfsements. but so homesick did he be-
come that he picked up the sheet
again In sheer desperation and be-
gan careful review Of the Lost
and Found" column. There might
possibly be some drawing string in
those personal notes.
One did attract John. 1t was an
advertisement for the return Of q
black Pomeranian answering to the
name Of Pet. The girl who had lost
Pet was apparently dying slowly but
surely over the loss. John grieved
with her. Her name was Jane Mont
gomery and she lived up In what
John had always termed the End of
the World, being One Hundred and
Eighty-frst street.
Now Johns ideas of Pomeranians
was bit vague, but he determined
to find something In the way of
dog and take 1t to Jane. There was
always faint chance that Jane
would be attractive, worth while and
all that sort of thing. John was a
very hopeful type Of man and he
very much wanted a girl with a fresh
ly starched white dress to take out on
Sundays.
The married couple in the room
behind him had an animal that close
ly resembled dog. 1t had short
black hair, a tail that waved in
the air ut most any angle and long
spindly legs. Mike was, however,
the most beloved pet of the couple.
Perhaps Mike had played an Inn
portant part In the couples wooing.
John hoped Mike was mascot. He
decided to borrow Mike.
He knocked gently at the rear door
and told his scheme. The couple be-
ing newly married and full Of romance
agreed willingly. John grItted his
teeth when he saw Mrs. Woodruff. Her
gown was pink and fluffy and her
hat wide and white. She had a pink
parasol and she and Henry were about
to start for Sunday afternoon boat
trip. Henry went SO far as to scratch
the name pet" on a bit Of leather he
had used for a wrist watch and en-
circle Mikes lean neck with 1t.
The Woodruffs laughingly wished
John the very best of luck but firmly
insisted on the safe return Of their be-
loved Mike.
"She must not be SO attractive as
to wheedle our Mike away from
you," Mrs. Woodruff admonished.
John grinned. III Jane Montgom.
cry is as attractive as that" he stated,
II will buy Mike an ermine cloak for
next winter"
And feeling In his bones that he and
Mike would be promptly put OF either
subway or elevated. John jumped into
6 taxi with the animal and gave the
chauffeur an address at the end Of the
world. John cared not In what man.
ner he spent some Of his excellent
salary 80 long as 1t was In quest Of
the right girl.
Mike had never had so long a ride
In taxi. but he seemed to enjoy II,
since his great Happy black ears
pricked up from time to time, and
when John addressed him the stray
ely tail wagged happily.
John pulled himself well In hand
when they drew up at the curb and
tried fO nof into fho afmOSDh0rn NJ n