Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1906 — HER KING CHARLES SPANIEL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

By ABBIE F. RANSOM

Rodney Jackson was at his desk I# the office of the Hustler 1h that envla,ble state of mind which usually follows a good dinner and makes a fine cigar a railroad on which to travel far into the castles of Spain. Two months before he had been broken hearted because he and Della Baesden had quarreled. She had given him back his ring. It wasn't a dia- • mond. He couldn’t afford one. Instead he had bought her an opal—“to commemorate the month of our engagement,’* he said, “and no bad luck can follow so happy a courtship as ours." But it was over. The bad duck their friends bad prophesied came. Her heart had been broken, his life ruined, and he ended it all by accepting a position on the staff of the Hustler, one of the “yellows,” at nearly double the salary the staid, conservative Daily Chronicle had been paying him. s s A lady’s voice on the other side of the partition which separted his desk from that of the city editor’s reached his ears. It wasn’t an ordinary lady’s voice—at least not to him—for it caused him to Jerk his feet off his desk, sit upright and peer furtively around the corner to obtain a mere glimpse of a blue tailor made suit, the pink rim of an ear and some locks of brown hair under a brown veil. Now, tailor made suits, pink ears and brown hair and veils are more common every day than sunshine, but these particular ones made his heart beat to the tune of "Come Back, Sweetheart, to Me,” while he strained his own ears in most unmanly fashion to catch every word the voice was saying. “I Inserted the ad. day before yesterday,”, was what he heard, “and as yet have received no answer whatever. If you will put a little notice among your news items that my dog has been lost, perhaps the finder may see It there.

The dog is a King Charles spaniel, and his collar is marked ‘R. J. to D. B.’ He was a present from a friend, a very dear friend, and I prize him more than ever now because I have lost my friend.” “I understand.” The editor’s tone was kind—so kind, Jackson thought, listening behind his desk. ”I’ll make a note of it and mention it in tomorrow's paper.” The blue suit turned to go; then the voice spoke again. “Please don’t mention what 1 said of why I value the dear little dog,” she said. “I’d much prefer you would not” “I understand,” came the suave reply. “I’ll see that it is written to a way to please you, Miss”— “Baesden. Good morning, Mr. Editor.” “Arthur Edson, at your service. Miss Baesden. And ’ I hope our ad. will bring your dog. Good morning.” The blue suit left the office, and scarcely had it disappeared when Jackson was all action. Seizing a pencil, he scribbled a few lines and then dashed like a cyclone upon an Innocent boy guarding the entrance of his stand of genius. “Here, you rascal, get this ad. up, and get it quick! Tell ’em to hold back the earth if necessary to get it in today. Sklte! Hurry up, double quick, or I’ll order your coffin! D'ye hear?" “Don’t see what there is in that to make a fuss over,” the boy muttered .to himself. ‘Found—A King Charles spaniel with initial collar. Owner can have same by calling at the editorial rooms of the Hustler and proving property. lM< u,re for Mr. Jacks.’ Nothing in that ’8 I can see—nothing but a dog.” “All right,” Jackson commented ten minutes later. “If any one inquires for Mr. Jacks send ’em to me and keep your mouth shut. Here’s a half dollar. Go buy yourself a necktie. ThAt one you’re wearing reminds me of the time a rattlesnake bit me.” The boy looked up, his face full of solicitude. “Did the snake die?” he asked seriously. - “You will, you young Imp. You’ll die of brains in the head if you’re not careful. I’ll be back at 6.” And, shouldering his photographic kit, he was off after an Illustrated story. I The next morning, back to the door

and his head bent over his writing, a gloved band laid a newspaper clipping beside him and a voice said: “I called in answer He raised his head. Miss Baesdeu stopped, straightened up and said with a dignity sadly tinctured with embarrassment: r “Excuse me, Mr. Jackson, I called to answer an advertisement about a dog, and the office boy showed me here. I wish to see Mr. Jacks." He rose. “Please be seated, Miss Baesden. What is it—trouble about a dog? Perhaps I can help you.” The girl’s cheeks burned redder. Something in Mr. Jackson’s manner held so much power, knowledge, possession, that she was mastered in spite of herself. ’Tve lost my dog,” she said, “the onu you gave me. I was shopping with Aunt Esther and left the dear little fellow in the carriage.* When we camo out of Black’s he was gone. I advertised him, and then I found this in the found column, and I came here.” “I see,” Mr. Jackson responded. “Well, I found a dog—a King Charles spaniel, near Black’s. Two other dogs were Worrying him, and I picked him up. I thought perhaps he’d been turned down because his owner was tired of him. I’ve been turned down myself that way, and I know how It feels, so I took pity on the little cuss.” The eyes opposite him filled slowly. “Was It Teddy?” she asked. “Oh, I didn’t tire of him; I liked him better than ever after—it was all that opal ring,” she added Irrelevantly. He studied her narrowly. “I gave the opal to another girl,” he aald, “and we haven’t quarreled yet.” She rose. “Goodby, Mr. Jackson. Perhaps she will appreciate my dog too.’’ "Perhaps she might,” he said, standing before her. “But, you see, you don’t know yet that it is your dog. You haven’t proved property.” “I leave it for you to do. Goodby.” “Don’t hurry. I forgot to tell you that the other girl was my sister.” "Oh!” “I’ve saved enougliMki the last two months in ice cream, candy and such to buy a ring.” Another “Oh!” “Is it my dog, Mr. Jackson?” “Shall I buy the ring?” “You bring Teddy up tonight If you like.” “Not unless I buy the ring.” A few minutes later the office boy remarked to himself: "By gee, she looks as if Jack had been kissing her.”

“I CALLED TO ANSWER AN ADVERTISEMENT ABOUT A DOG.”