Evening star., 1922-10-22

venient lamppost. He seemed Of a
sudden overcome by some powerful
emotion.
What's the joke" asked Mr..
Pottle.
"Pershing" Mr.. Meacham was just
able to get out. "Oh, me, oh. my!
That's right. That's scream"
"Pershing." said Mr.. Pottle stoutly,
'Audacious Indomitable. You ought
to see his pedigree"
"Id Ike to-" said Mr. Meacham.
II certainly would like to-
He was studying the architecture
of Pershing with the cool. appraising
eye of the expert. His eye rested for
long time on the short legs and
long body.
"Pottle," he said thoughtfully.
haven't they got dachshund up at
those there kennels?"
IT was with distinct sense of es-
cape that Mr.. Pottle some weeks
later took train for Washington,
where he hoped to have patented and
trade marked his edible shaving cream.
a discovery he confidently expected to
make his fortune.
His trip was a success. The patent
was secured. the trade mark duly
registered. The patent lawyer. as he
pocketed his fee, perhaps to salve his
conscience for it's size. produced from
behind a law book bottle Of an an
cient and once honorable fluid and
pressed 1t on Mr.. Pottle.
II promised the wife I'd stay on the
sprinkling cart" demurred Mr.. Pottle.
"Oh. take it along" urged the pat
ent lawyer. You may need it for a
cold one of these days"
1t occurred to Mr.. Pottle that If
there Is one place in the world a man
may catch his death of cold 1t is on a
draughty railroad train. Besides, he
knew that Blossom would never per-
nit him to bring the bottle into their
home. He preserved it in the only
way possible under the circumstances.
When the train reached Granville just
after midnight Mr.. Pottle skipped
blithely from the car. made a sweep
ing bow to milk can, cooked hts
derby over his eye, which was un-
commonly bright and playful, and
started for home with the meticulous
but precarious step of the tight-rope
walker.
1t was his plan. carefully conceived.
to steal softly into his bungalow with
out waking the sleeping Blossom, to
spend the night on the guest cot. to
spring up, fresh as a dewy daisy in
the morning and wake his wife with
a smiling and coherent account of his
trip.
Very quietly he tiptoed along the
lawn leading to his front door. his
latch key out and ready. But as he
/ was about to place a noiseless foot
on his porch something vast, low and
dark barred his path and a bass and
hostile growl brought him to an
abrupt halt.
well, we'll, we'll, if it isn't Ill
Pershin'," said Mr.. Pottle pleasantly.
but remembering to pitch his voice in
a low key. Waiting on the porch to
welcome Papa Pottle home! Nice Ill
Pershin'."
"Grrrr. Grrrrr! Grrrrrr" replied
Pershing.
"Pershin',' said NJ. Pottle plain
lively, "can 1t be that you have for
gotten Papa Pottle? Nice liz Persh-
in,' nice lil'-"
Mr. Pottle reached down to pat the
shaggy head and drew back his hand
with something that would pass as a
curse in any language. Pershing had
given his finger whole hearted nip.
"You low-down. underslung brute!"
way or I'll kick the pedigree outa
you!" :.
"A white, shrouded figure appeared
at the window.
Burglar, go away!' it said shrilly,
"or I'll sic my savage st. Bernard on
you."
Hes already sicked. Blottom." said
a doleful voice. Its me, Blottom-
your Ambrose"
"Why. Ambrose! How queer your
voice sounds! Why don't you come
in?"
"Pershing won't let me-" cried Mr..
Pottle. Call him in.'' ..-
He won't come" she walled, "and
I'm afraid of him at night like this"
Coax him in." .... :.
HE won't coax"
"Bribe him with food"
You can't bribe a Thoroughbred"
Mr.. Pottle put his hands on his hips
and standing in the exact center of
his lawn raised high, sardonic voice.
'oh, yes" he said; "oh. dear me,
yes, I'll live to be proud of Pershing.
Oh, yel. indeed. I'll live to love the
noble creature. I'll be glad got up
on cold nights to pour warm milk
into his dear little stummick. Oh,
yes: oh. yes, he'll be worth thousands
to me. Here I go down to Washing
ton and work my head to the bone to
Keep a roof over us, and when I get