-chewing and

THE TALE OF A THIEF. 31

 

One of Raggles’s accomplishments was the ability to stand on his hind legs like a poodle.
He was very proud of this feat, and so at Dolly’s bidding he at once stood up. Dolly
clapped her hands and laughed.

“Oh!” she said,“ let us dance, Ragegles,” and she took another necklace of leaves and
put it round her own neck.

“ Now then, set to partners, Raggles.”

Gravely Raggles turned towards her, his paws ae oline in the air, and the garland

swinging about his neck. Dolly took hold of the corners of her frock and courtesyd

politely. The pair looked so very funny that it ought not to have surprised Dolly to find

some one laughing at them ; but it did. A low chuckle came from some where in the bushes.
Dolly stopped suddenly. Raggles came down upon his forelegs, and cocked up his ears,
The chuckle was repeated. Raggles growled.

“Good gracious! What's that, Raggles?” asked Dolly in a whisper. Then came a
hoarse sound of coughing and more he chuckling, and Dolly
began to feel frightened, Raggles tore ie fg away from her
grasp, and rushed into the bushes barking furiously ; and then
suddenly Dolly saw his stiff back relax, and his tail
begin to wag. She followed him cautiously, and
pushing some branches aside saw to her
amazement a monkey seated in the
middle of a large juniper bush, looking
lazily down at Raggles, who was re-
garding him with the friendliest of
wags. The monkey had a huge
white roll of - paper in -his
hands, the end ~ of which he was
spitting out.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

“Why, it’s Beppo!” cried
Dolly aloud. “Won't Dick be
glad? Beppo! Beppo!” -she
called coming close to the
bush. But Beppo only

chuckled and
clutching his
ther into the bush.

“Whatever has he got?” thought Dolly.
“He’s stolen something. Oh!” Ina second it occurred to her what it was. “Oh, you
horrid little thief! It’s the lawyer's papers!” she cried indignantly. “Give it to me, you—
you—robber,” with which she made a jump to reach him, but Beppo merely chuckled again,
and skipped higher up the’ bush. ©

Now Dolly was determined to get this paper which she had been told was so important,
though she didn’t understand how it could be. She couldn’t go back and tell Dick or Mr,
Ashurst, for fear that Beppo should take it into his head to go away meanwhile. All that
could. be done was to try and get it from him herself. But Beppo was not in the least
disposed to let her have it. On the contrary, he grinned and retreated further into the bush
whenever she came near him,

spluttered, and
paper retreated fur-