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The Fight For Timothy
“Butsheknowsnothingabouttheman.”
“Youwouldnotsaythatifyouheardhertalkingofhim.Shesaysheisagentle,whimsical,lonelyoldbachelor.”
“Old?”Icried.
“Well,whatshesaysisthathewillsoonbeoldifhedoesn’ttakecare.Heisabacheloratallevents,andisveryfondofchildren,buthasneverhadonetoplaywith.”
“Couldnotplaywithachildthoughtherewasone,”Isaidbrusquely;“hasforgottentheway;couldstandandstareonly.”
“Yes,iftheparentswerepresent.Buthethinksthatifhewerealonewiththechildhecouldcomeoutstrong.”
“Howthedeuce—”Ibegan
“Thatiswhatshesays,”heexplained,apologetically.“Ithinkshewillprovetobetoocleverforhim.”
“Pooh,”Isaid,butundoubtedlyIfeltadizziness,andthenexttimeImethimhequitefrightenedme.“Doyouhappentoknowanyone,”hesaid,“whohasaSt.Bernarddog?”
“No,”saidI,pickingupmystick.
“HehasaSt.Bernarddog.”
“Howhaveyoufoundthatout?”
“Shehasfounditout.”
“Buthow?”
“Idon’tknow.”
Ilefthimatonce,forPorthoswasbutalittlewaybehindme.Themysteryofitscaredme,butIarmedpromptlyforbattle.IengagedaboytowalkPorthosinKensingtonGardens,andgavehimtheseinstructions:“Shouldyoufindyourselffollowedbyayoungwomanwheelingasecond-handperambulator,instantlyhandherovertothepoliceonthechargeofattemptingtostealthedog.”
Nowthen,Mary.
“Bytheway,”herhusbandsaidatournextmeeting,“thatrocking-horseItoldyouofcostthreeguineas.
