Evening star., 1922-10-22

back I can't get under it. II you ask
me, Mrs. Bottom Pottle, nee Gallup,
if you ask me. that precious animal
of yours, that noble creature is the
muttiest mutt that ever"
Ambrose Her edged voice clipped
hM Grafton short. You've been
drinking"
Well" said Mr.. Pottle in a below
ing voice. II guess a hound like that
G'night, Bottom. I'm going to sleep
in the flower bed. Frozen petunias
will be my pillow. When I'm dead
and gone be kind to little Pershing
for my sake"
Ambrose, stop. Think of the
neighbors. Think of your health.
Come into the house this minute"
He tried to obey her frantic COM
mand. but the low-lying. far-fiung
bulk of Pershing blocked the way. a
growing. fanged, hairy wall. Mr..
Pottle retreated to the flower bed.
What was it the Belgians said?''
he remarked. They shall not pash.' "
"Oh. whatll l do? WhatIl I do?'
came from the window.
Send for the militia" suggested
Mr.. Pottle with savage facetiousness.
II know" cried his wife, inspired.
I'll send for a veterinarian. He'll
know what to do"
"a veterinarian" he protested
loudly. Five bones a visit. and US
the joke of Granville"
Rrlf ha co,i1d pntbjpc hat
ter, and presently an automobile dis
charged a sleepy and disgusted dog
doctor at the Pottle homestead. 1t
took the combined efforts of the two
men and the woman to entice Persh-
ing away from the door long enough
for Mr.. Bottle to slip into his house.
During the course of Mrs. Pottle's
subsequent remarks Mr.. Pottle said a
number of times that he was sorry he
hadn't stayed out among the petunias.
IN the morning Pershing greeted
1 him with an innocent expression.
Il hope, Mr.. Pottle," said his wife,
as he slipped black coffee. that you
are now convinced what a splendid
watch dog Pershing is."
Il wish l had that fifty back
again." he answered. THE bank
won't give me another extension on
that note, Blossom"
He despondently slipped his black
coffee.
Blossom" he said, I'm going to
Chicago tonight. Got to have q con-
ference with the men who are dicker-
ing with me about manufacturing my
shaving cream. I'll be gone three
days, and I'll be busy every second"
"Yes, Ambrose. Pershing will pro-
tect me-"
"And when I come back" he went
on sternly. II want to be able to get
into my own house. do you under
stand?">
Il warned you Pershing was a one
man dog" she replied. You'd better
come back at noon while he's at
lunch"
Mr.. Pottle had not overstated how
busy he would be in. Chicago. His
second day was crowded. After q
trip to the factory, be was closeted
at his hotel in solemn conference in
the evening with the president, q
vice president or two. a, couple Of as
sistant vice presidents and their as
sistants, and a collection Of sales
engineers, publicity engineers, pro-
duction engineers, : personnel engi-
neers employment engineers, and
just plain engineers; for certain
large corporation scented profit in
his shaving cream. Mr.. Pottle, was
expatiatins on the merits Of his cream.
cream. .. ----' -
Gentlemen" he said, There are
some forty million boards every
morning in these United States, and
forty million breakfasts, to be eaten
by men in hurry Now, my shaving
cream being: edible. combines-"
Telegram for Mr.. Puddle, Mr.. Pud-
die. Mr.. Puddle" droned bellhop.
poking in q head.
Excuse me. gentlemen" said Mr..
Pottle. AS he read the message his
face grew whites: Alarming words
leaped from the yellow paper.
Come homo. Very. serious acci-
dent Blossom" -,.
Mr. Pottle, crumpled tho message
with quivering nngers -.
Sorry, gentlemen" he said, trying
to smile bravely. bad news from,
homo. Well have to continue this
discussion later"
you can Just make the 1910
train" said one of the engineers,
sympathetically. lizard lines, old
man." ..-. ...
Granville's lone. asthmatic taxi
coughed up Mr.. Pottle at tho door Of
his house; it was dark: he did not
dare look at the doorknoh His
trembling hand twisted the key In
tho lock.