t he will get."

It would have been hard for Paul to have told what the man would get,
but his determined manner had its effect and the man ran down the steps,
instantly followed by Turk.

Mrs. Steiner sank upon the sofa, pale and nervous; Fritz sat by her
shedding tears of regret that he had brought his dog to Frankfort; and
Pixy crept out from his covert and tried to comfort them.

"I feel nervous and exhausted over the dog fight, and the rudeness of
that man," said Mrs. Steiner, "and will lie down upon the sofa and rest
awhile. Franz, you and Paul can take the dishes and other things to the
kitchen and Fritz can put water on the gas stove to heat."

"Oh, Aunt Fanny, let us wash the dishes," said Paul.

"Certainly you may," and in great glee the two boys did the work
nicely, while Fritz fed Pixy and gave him fresh water.

"Now I feel rested," said Mrs. Steiner, rising, "and you boys have been
such a help that I have time to go out on business in the city. Who will
go with me?"

"I will go!" said Franz, "and I!" exclaimed Paul.

"Aunt Fanny, if you will excuse me, I will stay at home and write a
letter. Besides, I can rest," said Fritz.

"Certainly I will excuse you, dear child; and if you get tired of
staying alone and wish to take a walk, leave the key on the first floor
with the Steerers," and the three went cheerily down the steps and Fritz
was alone with his black friend.

"Pixy," he said as he commenced to write, "whom do you suppose my letter
is to? It is to Aunt Fanny for we are going home, Pixy; yes, going home.
We will surprise them. I will tell you how we will do, Pixy. When we are
near our house I will take off your cord, and you can run in the open
door of the store and see papa. Then you can run in the open door of the
house and see mamma and sister. Mamma will say, 'Why, here's Pixy!
Fritz cannot be far away.'"

This plan seemed to suit Pixy admirably, and Fritz continued with his
letter. When it was finished he folded and addressed it to "Dear Aunt
Fanny," and laid it upon the table. He hurried into the bedroom, put
such things in his knapsack as he would need before Paul and Franz came
home, strapped it over his shoulder, put his rain-coat over his left
arm, took the end of Pixy's cord in his right, and descended the steps
after carefully locking the door, and putting the key into the hands of
the Steerer servant, he set out for home.

CHAPTER IX

THEY VISIT THE CLOTHING HOUSE