THE PRIZE PUPPY

Evening Star, Issue 21724, 19 May 1934, Page 5

THE PRIZE PUPPY

, .It was rather a responsibility being left with Leader, the prize puppy. It was so very valuable and so well bred, with its very, very straight legs. Michael felt a little nervous when Cousin Sandy said he was going into Guildford to see a friend and would leave Leader with him. “He’s worth a lot of money, so don’t let him run off,” was Sandy’s last remark.

Michael'stood on the top of the steps holding fast to Leader’s collar. This dog ivas different from any kind he had ever known.

Do you know' how awkward it is when two important things happen at once? As if it weren’t enough to have Leader for two hours all to himself! Yet those Shutler boys would call just then; three of them—Timmy, Bob, and Stanley. They had come to beg Michael to show them the place in the loft where he had parallel bars to swing over.

Of course Leader came rushing up the attic stair's as well, to see the little gymnasium Michael’s Daddy had made Of course Mike never took his eyes off him till that stupid Timmy got stuck on the bars and it was necessary to heave his fat little body down. Then after they had all laughed breathlessly Michael turned to see that Loader was all right. He had gone! Everything else was forgotten as Michael rushed down the stairs. Supposing the front door had been left open, as so often it was, and Leader had trotted out into the road ! Yes, the door was open. It was just possible that the prize puppy had strayed off to find his master. Oh, it really was too bad! When Cousin Sandy had trusted him, too! Frantically Michael called and whistled and hurried in and out of every room. ■ “Mummy, he’s disappeared, he cried as his mother came out to know what was wrong. “ He’s probably stolen by a tramp by now or enticed away by a gipsy. 1 shall have to save up and pay Cousin Sandy the money to get another. And he’ll‘never love t so much as Leader. Oh, dear, I’ll go to the police now, shall I?” “ Have you tried the kitchen . J ’ asked mother, hurrying down the passd,=Miciiael followed, very hopelessly. But there he saw a tunny sight, tor cook was making scones, and there was a rascal who did not mind very much what he ate standing by her side, snapping up all the little bits of dough she would give him. Leader, sale and sound! . The prize puppy was not so different from the other puppies after all!