The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-11
CHAPTER HI

SIlC SIlOulu lldfC COAAACN c corner. She stopped to get her bearings and saw that she was lost. The street she was following was unbelievably narrow and was lined with mean little shops over which were shabby living quarters, It led, she saw, down toward the river and lost itself in the fog.
 Good! he'll not find me here!" She meant the young American into whose eyes she had just looked so deeply She was surprised that this probably caused her more regret than joy.
 Her brief contact with him had been as electric as lightning. Had he felt the same way? Polly sighed and shrugged and gave herself up to her surroundings, for she had a keen zest for any adventure at hand.
 Something of the wonder of old London gripped the American vil- lage girl then. Enclosed in this cloud of mist were the realities of the greatest city on earth - its spires, its majestic House of Par liaments, its Palace, it's Tower, its bridges, its Thames. Polly stood still and let the feel of it's history throb through her, accepting all that was bright and glowing, not rejecting the dark and the blood stained. She imagined she felt the heart-beats of it's people-some in velvet and jewels, some in the smart uniforms of His Majesty's Army and Navy, some in the rags of hopeless poverty where slum and debtors prison cradled them.
 "I can feel London" she thought msrveling, for she was an imagin- ative person.
 Buy a dog, lady! Buy dog!" The words came from a pinch-faced ur- chin who was tugging sharply at Polly's sleeve.
 "I don't want to buy dog" she satd. Let me bel"
 "Then I'll drown i'm" stated the boy indifferently, Hike the old man told me to- He moved to- ward the river.
 Polly looked after him in dismay and met the sad brown eyes of a little terrier, thrust under the boys arm like a sack of meal. She thought quickly, Its only a starved mongrel. It'll be better off dead any, way" Then, defensively, We've two good dogs at home"
 Vet something made her follow. She overlook them. The dirty gray hair of the little cur was almost in- visible, but his helpless eyes shone cut like two beacon lights and she imagined that he strained toward her. as toward a friend.
 "Wait!" she called to the boy and when he had stopped and looked back she said quietly, How much do you ask for the dog?'
 Four Shillin'."
 But you're going to drown him anyway. Why not give him tc me?"
 Buy i'm, or e splashes. It's rich uns like you is always tryin to git sumpin' for nuthin'."
 "Oh. dear" Polly argued. I'm not rich. I need every shilling I've got" But she saw the boy had started on again, moving with the apathy of the underfed and hope less. The street was dropping sharply downward and she coulc see the. gray-white sails of ships like limp clothes on line. The docks.
 I'll buy the dog" she called "I'll give you four shillings!"
 The boy turned and faced her so that now the dog was turned aft instead of fore and Polly saw that it had ridiculous tail that hung like a dirty little banner at hali mast. The urchin held out claw like hand. "Gimme!" he said.
 Polly counted out the money being careful to hold her purse well out of reach of that graspine claw. Give me the dog tirst!' she ordered cannily Now go and buy yourself some food"
 The boy slid away like dirty shadow. Polly Chelsey woulc have thought it an unpleasant dream except that the little dog was in her arms, pressing close tc her for warmth and comfort ano trying to lick her neck. She said I'll name you Nuisance, because that's all you are.'
 The fog was lifting and she re- traced her steps. Eventually she found her way to Oliver Darts house. "Ludw exclaimed Mrs Broggs, opening the door to heI knock, you gave me turn. thought you'd fell into the river gone so long-What be that?"
 "A dog. I bought him from a boy"
 You never did! Now the mas ter'll be wild for sure. He'll turn you out if you try to keep him He's got great fine cat that won't abide a dog on the place. Give the creature here while you go talk to MT. Dart. He's been calling for you in great rage"
 Polly abandoned Nuisance to Mrs. Broggs and went at once up to Oliver Darts study. The terri flying old man rasped out, Sit in that chair, my girl" Then, DO you know your miserable coun- try's declared itself at war with England?"
 "Yes. sir" replied Polly. T heard it on the street. I'm caught here, and it serves me right American ports were ordered closed in April, but my cousins ship ran the blockade. in New England many ships have been do- rNtt- T Isr.k.- fx,