Andy’s Adventures in a Toy Shop.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXIV, 15 June 1901, Page 1146

Andy’s Adventures in a Toy Shop.

(Conclusion.) HOW THE TIN MOI SE WON THE HUNDRED YARD CRAWL. (Bv Douglas Z. Doty.) The tin mouse, you remember, who had been sentenced to two days’ imprisonment in a mouse trap by Judge Owl ami whom Andy had hidden in .lack’s box. kept very still while the brownie policeman looked everywhere for him. \fter a while the owl became disgusted with the proceedings and with a great flapping of wings he flew away. That, of course, signified that the court had adjourned for the day. Miss Wax Doll and her friend, little Miss China Doll, put on their wraps and hurried away, escorted by the gallant e< lonol of a troop of wooden soldiers. The three of them paused for a minute near where \ndv stood and the boy overheard Miss Wax Doll ask the brave soldier how he came to lose his sword arm. Andv hail often wondered about it himself, but it had never occurred to him to ask the fellow, so now he wait-

ed with interest to hear what the stiff little commander would say. “Why. it was this way.” be?an the Colonel. “One dark night about the hour of twelve (here the dolls shuddered with delight and Miss Waxie murmured ‘How romantic!’) I. with a company of as sturdy soldiers as were ever turned out of a German toy factory. started out to capture a strange animal which had been seen prowling about in the outskirts of Nurseryville. We were in Bed Clothes Valley when we caught sight of the monster rushing about on the top of Bolster Mountain. Then we lost sight of the foe. but later came upon his tracks by Bathtub Lake. Now. it happened the water in the lake was very warm, as Master Andy’s papa was about to take a bath. Now, all wooden soldiers with any glue in their composition should avoid warm water as you would the plague. But three of my men —foolhardy fellows—ventured too near and toppled in.” “Mercy!" screamed Miss China Doll, “how exciting! Did the poor dears drown ?” “No." rejoined the Colonel, “you couldn’t drown a wooden soldier if you were to try ever so hard. Poor fellows! A fearful feet — I mean a fearful fate —overtook them, however. The warm water melted the glue that fastened their feet to the little round dises on which they stand, and when we fished the fellows out they couldn’t stand up: and I am afraid they never will be able to walk again, unless our commander in chief. Andy—you know we’re called the Andy Light Infantry—should take enough interest in their case to have ’em repaired.” “Dear me.” thought Andy, with a pang of remorse. “I’ll mend the poor fellows the very first chance I get. I never thought that wooden soldiers might have feelings." “But you haven't told us how you lost your arm!” cried Miss China Doll. “Oh. yes." replied the Colonel, with that easy, indifferent manner all great heroes assume. “It was really a very trifling matter. We had just reached the top of the Doorsill range of mountains when we were surprised by a sudden attack on the part of the wild animal. Before I had a chance to order a charge the beast seized me in his short teeth and began tossing me in the air and then catching me." “How horrible!" cried Miss Waxie. “Of course, my men did what they could to effect a rescue." went on the Colonel. “But with one blow of his paw the beast had knocked my entire company flat on their backs and senseless. In the course of his savage onslaught the animal bit off my right arm. After a while he got tired of tossing me about and ran away." “What kind of an animal was it?" asked Miss China Doll. “It was one of the canine species.” replied the Colonel, “ami one of the most ferocious s|M*cinien I have ever “Why. that must have been my foxterrier. Tags!" broke in Andy, with a The Colonel looked up and turned very pale under his red painted cheeks. “Bless me!" he muttered, nervously. “My dear General!" he began, bowing jerkily to Andy. “I hope Your Excellency has taken no offence at what I have I wen saying?” “Not the least. Colonel.” cried Andy, with a grin. “On the contrary. I have heard for the first time of how you lost your arm. and as a reward I will bestow the order of the Eagle upon yon. I'll paint it on your coat to-morrow, if I can find my box of paints, and I

now appoint you a brigadier general.” The poor little Colonel began to bow more than ever and to mumble his thanks till Andy thought he would never get through. Finally, with a last grand bow. he turned and offered his one arm to Miss China Doll, while Miss Wax Doll walked at his right. Andy watched them till they disappeared; then the boy turned, to find a great crowd gathered along a road which was being kept clear by a company of Andy’s light infantry. "What’s up?” asked Andy of the camel. "Why. there’s going to be a hundred yard crawl between the tin mouse and the giraffe," replied the camel. "Bet on the mouse, my boy." whispered the elephant in Andy's ear. ”1 never bet — it’s wrong,’’ said A ndy. The elephant winked one of his wicked little eyes at him and remarked. "It's very wrong if you lose, but it's all right if you win.” "Shut up. Ella!" said the camel, with a grin. "Master Andy is quite right; betting is a very wrong thing. Jes’ the same. I don’t mind betting you a pound of fresh dates that the mouse wallops old Gee.” "I can't take that up.” replied the elephant, ‘•because I’m going to bet on the mouse myself." “So am I." drawled a familiar voice, and Andy turned, to see his old friend the lion. “It's this way." explained the camel, when the two had shaken hands, or paws. “The tin mouse was in our class at the Zoological College. That old Lummox of a giraffe was a freshman when the rest of us were sophomores. So of course we’re bound to see mouse wins for the sake of class spirit.” "Of course." cried Andy, growing interested. Just then a shot was heard, and Andy, with the others, rushed to the track, for the race was on. "It certainly was a “crawl." they came along so slowly. The giraffe was slightly in the lead when they came near to where Andy stood. Suddenly the lion stepperl to the edge of the track and began dropping little white squares along the way. Then he went hack, and took his place again behind Andy. "What were those things you just put on the track?" asked Andy. "Ham sandwiches." replied the lion, with a grin. "Just you wait till the racers get up to them and see what happens.” They had not long to wait, for even a hundred yards crawl does not last for ever. The tin mouse, decidedly in the rear, plodded along bravely, while the clumsy giraffe, with his stupid, smilinsr face, kept gaining with every inch. When the first sandwich was reached. however, his eyes lit up with gentle jov. and he stopped to eat. Immediately all his friends yelled at him to go on, hut he only went on eating the faster. Then someone called out. ‘’Foul! a foul!” The giraffe raised his head for a moment. “Fowl? No. only ham." he murmered. and then went on eating. As th* tin mouse crossed the line a winner, a terrific hubhub arose the like of which was never heard outside of a menagerie. The noise seemed to blend into one piercinsr. increasing screatn. and—Andy* suddenly awoke and sat n>» in bed, to hear the seven o'clock whistle at a neighbouring factory still blowing. [THE END.]