Thriller

In her little room in Queens, New York, 12-year-old Jane Ruby lay ill of pneumonia. Near her bed four newborn spitz puppies squirmed in a box. Outside, several laborers were repairing the street, among them a tall, dignified old man of 75 named Lawrence Smith, whose white mane and long white mustache seemed to betoken a distinguished past. In & out of the Ruby abode pranced a black spitz bitch named Fluffy, raising her family, amusing the sick girl, bringing companionship into the life of old Laborer Smith. Then one day last week Covetousness reared its ugly head.

Fluffy disappeared. Jane Ruby tossed, her fever rose. Four spitz puppies whined with hunger. To the Jamaica police station went frantic Mrs. Ruby. There she found a kind-hearted detective named Horace Holden. Off went Horace Holden on a dog hunt. A day's sleuthing brought him to the room where Lawrence Smith lived. There was Fluffy. Horace Holden bundled Lawrence Smith and Fluffy in the back seat of his automobile, set out for the Ruby house.

Startled by a squeal, Horace Holden turned his head, saw a sight that throttled him. He stamped on his brakes and lunged toward the back seat. Old Laborer Smith was pressing a knife blade against the throat of Spitz Fluffy!

"Stop, fiend!" cried the good detective.

"Curse you, Horace Holden!" snarled the old man. "If I can't have her, nobody else shall!"

Ensued a terrific struggle. Finally Detective Holden wrested the knife from the old man's hand, threw him panting into the front seat. Tenderly he bound the spitz's neck with his own bandana. Then off he raced again. . . .

Higher went Jane Ruby's fever. Weaker grew the puppies' whines. Mrs. Ruby was desperate, the doctor at the end of his resources. Suddenly the door flew open. In walked Horace Holden with Fluffy. "Yelp!" yelped Fluffy, bounding to the bed. Jane Ruby stretched out her arms, her fever subsided, she slept. Four spitz puppies had a hearty meal. Embarrassed at the praise showered upon him, the golden-hearted detective backed out, took lonesome old Lawrence Smith to jail.

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