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Show Good Excuse for Delay. A story Is told of the experiences of the late Sir Edwin Landseer with a London dog fancier. Sir Edwin was painting the portrait of a valuable dog, which, before he had finished, was stolen from its owner. The painter undertook to find the animal, ani-mal, offering a reward of $50. He summoned sum-moned to his aid one Jem Smith, who, he thought, might put him on the right track. He showed the man the picture and the banknote, and promised that if the dog were restored no questions should be asked. "Jem" Smith said he would do his best, and went his way. Six weeks later "Jem" Smith arrived at the studio, leading the missing dog by a piece of string. "Is this the dorg. Sir Edwin T' There was no need to ask the question ques-tion for the animal was the very picture pic-ture of his portrait. "Here is your ten pounds," said the artist, "and I suppose I must ask no questions. But now that the affair is done with, you may Just as well tell me about It." After a moment of hesitation the man confessed that he himself was the thief. "You! you thundering rascal!" exclaimed ex-claimed Sir Edwin. "Then why on earth have you, kept us in suspense all this time?" "Well, yer see. Guvnor,; was the answer, an-swer, "I stole the dorg, but the genie-man genie-man I sold him to kep' 'lm so jolly close that I hadn't a chance of nicking him again till yesterday, and that's the truth, sfelp me." |