Page 90 (1/1)

Nohen Kitty Silver had first set eyes on this poodle, an hour earlier, she looked, and plainly was, dumfounded Never in her life had she seen a creature so black, so incredibly black, or with hair so kinky, so incredibly kinky Julia had not observed Mrs Silver closely nor paused to wonder what thoughts were rousing in her mind, but bade her take the poodle forth for exercise outdoors and keep hi a unique expression, Kitty obeyed; she walked round the block with thisthe promenade had taken place the episode that so upset her nerves

She had given a little jerk to the leash, speaking sharply to the poodle in reproach for so near a wonderful sidewalk smell, imperceptible to any one except himself Instantly the creature rose and walked beside her on his hind legs He continued to parade in this manner, rapidly, but nevertheless as if casually, without any apparent inconvenience; and Mrs Silver, never having seen a dog do such a thing before, for more than a yard or so, and then only under the pressure of many inducements, was unfavourably impressed In fact, she had definitely a sy when he found hi horses: "With _who!" she said breathlessly "Who you tryin' to skeer? You ain't no person!"

And then a blow fell It canified woman of her own race, who paused, across the street, and stood teetering froitation, as she watched the approach of Mrs Silver with her woolly little companion beside her When this sht, the observer's ht remain so, in silence, especially as several other pedestrians had stopped to watch the poodle's uncalled-for exhibition But all at once the elderly rowdy saw fit to become uproarious

"Hoopsee!" she shouted "Oooh, Gran'ma!"

And so, when the poodle "sat up," unbid, to pray, while Kitty Silver rested upon the back steps, on her return from the excursion, she fiercely inforrandchild and that she would not adopt a stranger in place of one; her iested for the position and considered hi a hair

"Listen to ? Whut is you, anyway?"