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acate the premises for nonpayment
of rent
- "One moment, sir," he called -out'
after his visitor. "I've changed my
mind."
He had picked up a strap as he pro
ceeded to the front of the yard. He
whistled to Laddie. The animal camo
forward, tail drooping, eyes seeming
to betoken an intelligent idea of what
was going on. Mr. Graham attached
the hooked end of the strap to Lad
die's collar. He handed the other end
to the chauffeur. Downcast, slink
ing .trembling, the poor animal got
into the machine. With. tears In his
eyes, his back turned, Mr. Graham
accepted the money counted out to
him.
A cry of rare childish delight came
from Elsa's lips, a low howl of de
spair unutterable from the throat of
Laddie as the auto sped forward.
"I can't takev.lt, John, I couldn't
use it It's 'like blood money!"
gasped Mrs. Graham, when her hus
band same In with the $50 and his
tale.
"We must live, Mary,"'he said husk-'
fly.
"But Rose It will break her heart"
There was pressing need for imme
diate cash for urgent household ne
cessities, but John Graham could not
muster the courage to go down town
and spend any of the money. He hung
I uneasily about the place until Rose
came tripping home, a patient, brave
spirited child, the light and life of the
little home through allthe dark days
they had known.
Mr. Graham slunk into the shed as
Rose ran into the house to her moth
er. In a few moments he heard a
low, "heart-searing waiL He knew
that his wife had told Rose of the sale
pf Laddie. When he came in, how
ever, she greeted him with her usual
lovng kiss and sunny smile, but he
noted her deep pallor, her mental
-anguish. Brave little spirit! All
through the evening she never al
lowed a look or word to betoken her
sufferings.
- John Graham could not sleep that
(night He wandered, about the housa
listlessly He crept close to th& dooB
of Rose's room. He could hear her
low sobbings. Then, as he sat.ln the
'darkness in the front room of thg
i house, there was a patter of two Ht
tle bare feet A bar of moonlig'hj;
fell upon a piece of carpet in the
kitchen that was Laddie's bed. And,,
kneeling upon it, as though it were
some sacred prayer rug, was Rose! 2
She was too ill to arise in the morn
mg. mere were tokens or lever, ear.
Graham attended to his round" of d
putting off going down town. Then;
ties about house and yard. He kep
as he caught the echo of a muffled
cry from .Rose, his lips grew crueller
stern and decided.
"Laddie must come back!" he mufc?
tered. "Hunger, homelessness, rags
we can bear them all better tha
our poor darling's suffering."
He clutched the little roll of bank,
bills in his pocket with forecful de
termination. He knew where" the
Doanes' home was located and Iha
started in its direction. Hall the disj:
tance accomnlished. he was met .hv
Mr. Doane and his chauflfeur hi the
automobile. He hailed Tiim to stop
Then he noticed Laddie in the' nta
chine. n .
'I've come to give you back that
money," said Mr. Graham at once
"My little one is heart-broken, over
him." " U
"Why, I was just bringing the dog
back to you," replied Mr. Doane. '5
declare; we're in a terrible mess, hoth.
of us. I left my child fairly hyster
ical over my taking the dog away.
No, no, my friend," continued Mr.
Doane, pushing back the proffered
$50. "It was a fair sale and I return
the dog to you." r
"Why I don't understand," stam
mered Mr. Graham.
"He's lovable as a lamb to Elsa,"
replied Mr. Doane, "but a wild terror
to everybody else. He chased a neigh
bor's chickens till they nearly had
fits. He howled all night long. H$
