10
THE
D. M. fL. C. M.ESSBNGER
Mrs. .Iones was very excited. Mary heard the noise and came to her mistress. "See if you can find Reginald anywhere around. I looked everywhere in the room and he's not there. He couldn't have gotten out of it without my seeing him because I was sitting right in the door all the time while he was sleeping. Look in the yard, down cellar and everywhere you can think of." During the next few seconds everyone was 'running from place to place, looking for the lost "pet." Next Mrs. Jones was at the phone calling the police department. The neighbors were coming out from every direction. Some were looking for a child and some for a .poodle, Those who knew it wa-s a dog would take special pains to see that he was not on their premises, and then they would discontinue the search. Just as the pour bereaved mistress was almost giving up hope of seeing her dear Reginald again, a knock came at the door. She eagerly" 'Opened the door because she thought, "Rurely they have found him." It was only the washer woman returning the wash, Bridget did not notice the pale color in Mrs. .Iones' face because she was herself too angry to notice things. She rushed into the room and set the basket. on the floor, exclaiming, "Ma'm, 1's sorry but I 'ull haf to quit washin' fer ya'. I can't stan' no .sich foolish stuff." Mrs. Jones wondered what had happened to Bridget. She had been washing for 'her for eight years, and there had never been any disagreement like this before. "Why, Bridget,' why do you talk like that? What's the matter?" Bridget was plainly very angry. "Don't yo come with any 0' yo niey, nicy talk to me now. Yo all know what's de matta. I's willin' to wash clothes fer ye but not any four-feeted critters like 'what yo' tried to fool unto me." "Now, Bridget, don't get unreasonable with your talk. I don't understand you. As far as I know, 1 never have asked you to wash anything like 'critters', whatever that may be." "Huh, so yo' hasn't, has ye? What yo' done call that, huh?" Bridget reached under the clothes in the basket and held before Mrs. Jones a very terrified little white something. Mrs. Jones clasped it to her heart. "Oh, m:)' own dear Reginald!" Although many people were around her, Mrs. Jones was unheedf'ul 'Ofthem all. "1 see it all, you poor little pet. You fell out of the bed into the basket, and they carried you off." 'I'he rest that Mrs. .Iones said could not be understood by the people, but undoubtedly Reginald understood. We can imagine the surprise and consternation of those who were looking for a lost child and now were finally brought to understand that the poodle was the lost article. O. O. '28