Evening star., 1925-07-19

! IT was not until the morning of the
last day that Mrs. Fogarty, sweep
ing her porch, spoke to Mrs. Burridge.
who was shaking out a dustcloth.
From the cellar came the irritating
barks of Rumpus.
"Oh, dear!" Mrs. Fogarty COM
planned to Mrs. Burridge. THE way
that dog keeps barkin' is drivin' me
crazy. but I don't dare let him loose.
| il somebody comes to buy him. Sell
the dog, Mary Tom says
Mrs. Burridge stopped in the middle
of flap of her dustcloth.
You say you want TO sell the dog?"
she asked.
"Oh, but I do thatr' cried Mrs.
Fogarty. 'If you know anybody that
wants to buy dog"
Mrs. Burridge crossed the yard.
Its a male, is it?" she asked. IT'S
a genuine wire-heared fox terrier?
How much do you want for him?'
Tom was after payin' fifty dollars
for him, with a pedigree as long as
your arm. But II I could get him in a
good home, with a boy like, I'd jump
at thirty-five for him, or even twenty
five" said Mrs. Fogarty.
Would you sell him to us for TWEEN
ty-five dollars?" asked Mrs. Burridge.
mot that ! want a dog myself she
added, but Mr.. Burridge was saying
that boy Ted's age ought TO have a
dog. And re did say a dog like yours
was the sort of dog he would like to
have. Twenty-Five dollars seems an
awful lot to pay for a dog, but Mr..
Burridge said to pay twenty-five dol
lars. Would you take that for the
dog?''
would fish swim?" asked Mrs.
Fogarty. '1ll get him from the eel
lar"
"I'll get the money" said Mrs. Bur
ridge, and the two women parted. A
minute later Mrs. Fogarty was waiting
with the dog, who was leaping wild
ly at the end of his chain.
Hold tight TO the chain. He's
strong dog If ever there was one"
said Mrs. Fogarty jerkily as Rumpus
yanked at her arm. twenty-five is
right" she said. He's your dog,
Mrs. Burridge."
Hes no dog OF mine" said Mrs.
Burridge. ~ don't want dog. He's
Mr.. Burridge's dog"
AS she took the chain a cat crossed
the far corner of the garden. In
stantly the steel chain was jerked
from her hand. The cat and Rumpus
disappeared.
He'll be coming back before eatin'
time, never fear" said Mrs. Fogarty
co--fortingly. only, when you let
him loose you want to put the muzzle
on him, nam; the cops are takin' no.
tice of the dogs that amt muZzled. =
y
THAT afternoon the Westcote Pal
i ace Theater was showing the
super film. "A Prince of the AZtecs, ="
and Mrs. Burridge had taken Ted and
Laura to see 1t. Mrs. Fogarty was
also seeing Douglas Fairfield in his
rendition of Montezuma, the Aztec
prince. and the two houses were
locked and deserted except for Rum
pus. who lay in the shade of
spiraea bush, in hole he had dug
in Mr. Burridge's tomato garden.
Rumpus was entirely happy He
had just decided to visit some of the
neighbors when he saw something
that made him show his teeth. This
thing was Mr.. Burridge, remembered
as the man who had thrown the
spade, who was approaching from the
North Westcote station, carrying an
umbrella and suit case.
From where he lay Rumpus could
not see Mr.. Fogarty approaching from
the opposite direction. carrying suit
case but no umbrella. Neither could
he see Mounted Officer Haggerty ap-
preaching at the end of the block.
Rumpus, getting to his feet, raised
his lips on both sides, showing both
of his handsome incisor teeth. and
growled. 1t was an unfortunate mo-
ment for Rumpus to choose for
ridges garden. for Mr.. Burridge was
just muttering. in a bitterly disguised
tone, "Out, They're out. I bet'
Mr.. Burridge said this as he loked
at the house with its closed doors
and windows.
He said it with especial bitterness
because he had not been able TO get
a lower berth on his train. and there
had been no taxi at the North West
cote station. Mr.. Burridge was in
exactly the right temper to be off
again.
Yah" he was saying "If 1 were
away for a thousand years. there
wouldn't be one chance in a million
that / could come back and find my
family anywhere but out!
And the door locked and nothing to
do but sit on the side porch like
mummy until the whole caboodle gets
ready TO leave some idiotic picture
show that"
Then he saw Rumpus. At the same
moment he saw Mr.. Fogarty. In
ridges ears and his eyes saw Grim
son. He dropped his suit case and
ran at Rumpus, swinging his UNI
brella over his head, shouting:
Out of there! Get out of there.
you-dirty-cur." he shouted, and
brought the umbrella down on Rum
pus' back. The dog backed against
the spiraea bush and barked and Mr..
Burridge drew back his right foot
and kicked at Rumpus. Instantly
the dog set his teeth in Mr.. Burridge's
trousers leg and there was rending
of cloth and again Mr.. Burridge
whacked the dog with the umbrella.
Here, you! Here, your yelled Mr..
Fogarty. Don't you hit that dog"
and he dropped his suit case and ran.
TN not have you hittin' my dog, you
big brute" and he struck Mr.. Bur
ridge in the chest with his fist. Mr.
Burridge droped the umbrella, grunt-
ing as the blow reached him. He
staggered but he did not fall, for he
threw his arms about Mr.. Fogarty's
neck.
TO Officer Haggerty it looked as if
= Mr.. Burirdge was holding Mr.. Fo.
garty suspended by the neck SO that
Mr.. Fogarty could rain short-arm
blows at Mr.. Burridges ribs. Coinci-