Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 303, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1920 — The SANDMAN STORY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The SANDMAN STORY

FLUFFY AND THE FIRE IT WAS raining hard. Ada stood by the window with Fluffy in her arms, the dog’s wet nose pressed against the pane, while the child’s tears flowed silently down her cheeks and on to Fluffy’s curly head. For Fluffy was to be sent away Into the country.* Ada, who was motherless, had been sent to live with her Aunt* Pauline, but tile aunt did not like dogs and decided to send the pet oqt to her farm. The news broke Ada’s heart “I think I will take a nap, Ada,” said Aunt Pauline, as she went to her room. “Run to the store for me and get, this list but leave the dog here, as It might give you trouble on the street” So Ada went out and Fluffy lay down on a rug In the hall, curling up her pink nose In her shaggy hair. Aunt Pauline lay down In her room and left an alcohol stove burning by

the open window to make hot water for tea. Soon all was quiet. Aunt Pauline was sleeping soundly and did not know that the curtains were caught by the breeze and blown direct into the flame of the lamp. They caught fire and soon flame and smoke began to fill the flat. Fluffy woke up. Quick as a wink she tore down the hall and into Ailnt Pauline’s room, where the sleeper still lay,'unconscious of hanfi. Jumping on the bed, Fluffy began to bark and scratch at the covers in the wildest fashion. Then she pushed

her shaggy bead into Aunt Pauline’s face. With a start the sleeper sprang to her feet and tumbled out on the floor. The room was filled with smoke that poured into the hall, and the blazing 1 curtains had caught the flames so fiercely that several pictures were afire. A moment later and the fire would have gotten over the whole flat and both Fluffy and iMint Pauline would have been burned. But seeing a moment’s lift in the smoke, Apnt Pauline dashed to the bathroom and, getting a pail of water, managed, by making several trips, to put out the flames. Then, tired and exhausted with the excitement, she sat down in the front room with little Fluffy cured in her lap. Presently the door opened and in came Ada. The smoky room, the wet floor, a weeping Woman with the dog in her lap, astonished the child. “Why, what on earth has happened?” exclaimed Ada. “And why is Fluffy scorched and lying in your lap?” \ . Aunt Pauline burst into a new flood of tears and hugged Fluffy closer. “What has happened I” she exclaimed. “Whj, everything. When I was asleep the curtains caught Are from the stove and set the room afire —I would have burned to death had not Fluffy Jumped on the bed and awakened me.” “Oh. 1 am so proud of darling. Fluffy,” exclaimed Ada. "Wasn’t that smart and good of her to do that?” “She is the best doggie in the world,” cried Aunt Pauline as she went to the cupboard and got out a bit of chicken and some milk. “We will never speak again of her going away. Fluffy must stay right here, and she shall have milk and chicken for dinner every day. Then that pretty rug in my room will be hgjr bed every night.” A very happy party there was that night after the gas was lighted, and. the dinner had been cleared away. Fluffy sat on the sofa while Ada and Aunt Pauline made pretty bows for her neck and ©raised her up as the best little dog In the world. (Copyright.)