United States or Egypt ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
What was his surprise to be confronted by the big officer and the black-eyed Italian. "Drop that dog!" ordered the officer gruffly. "Not till I get a string around his neck," objected the organ-grinder, and produced a cord which he knotted about Topaz's fluffy throat. Then he pulled the dog away roughly. "Is he yours?" cried Gabriel, eyes and mouth open in astonishment. "No, it cannot be.
Now the two entered the town; but from the moment their feet struck the pavements, Topaz's manner changed. He kept so close to Gabriel that the boy often came near to stepping on him. "What ails you, little one?" asked Gabriel, perplexed by his companion's strange actions. "Don't you know that you are going home?" But Topaz did not bark a reply. His feathery tail hung down.
"No," said his daughter, "I think Jewel's plan is the best. You begin, father." She did not in the least expect that he would consent, but Jewel, her hands resting on Topaz's collar, was looking at the broker lovingly. "Grandpa can do just anything," she declared. Mr. Evringham regarded her musingly. "I know only one story," he said at last, "and not very far into that one."
His big gamble would puff out in a blast of fire to light up Topaz's sky, with nothing left nothing. On the armrest of his sling-seat his nails scratched deep. The four men in the control cabin could only sit and watch, waiting for the rendezvous which would blot them out. Ruthven's flaming anger was a futile blaze.
Now Gabriel was not so stupid as his brothers believed, and, as he said over to himself the verse he had read that morning in the barn, and looked at Topaz, so winsomely shining after his bath, he began to see how unwise it would be to tell every one he met that he was searching for Topaz's owner.
The princess answered but did not remove her gaze from the boy's flushed face, while Topaz's cold little nose nestled in his down-dropped hand. "Gabriel is my friend, be he prince or peasant," she said slowly, "and it will go hard with those who love him not." The young girl's eyes met Gabriel's and then she smiled as light-heartedly as on this morning when she wore the woolen gown.
Topaz licked his face, and the dog's fear fled forever. He followed Gabriel back to the place where the bundle was dropped, and the boy patted him while he took up the stick and set it across his shoulder. Topaz's ears flapped with joy as they started on their tramp.
At last his quick eyes caught the gleam of golden color behind a bush. Even Topaz's fright could not take him far while a doubt remained; but he was crouching to the ground, and his eyes were appealing. Gabriel threw himself down beside the little fellow, and for a minute his wet eyes were pressed to the silky fur, while he stroked his playmate.
Word Of The Day