“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

When Mrs. Steiner and the boys returned they found the door locked.

“Run down, Franz, and get the key.  I told Fritz to leave it there if he went out for a walk and the boy took my advice.”

Franz soon returned, the door was opened and they entered, Mrs. Steiner sinking down upon the sofa with the sigh, “Oh, those steps, those steps!”

“Aunt Fanny, here is a letter upon the table.  It is for you, and written by Fritz,” said Paul.

“By Fritz!” laughed Aunt Fanny, “gone out for a walk and left a letter for me!  Read it, Paul.”

The boy opened the missive and read, each sentence meeting with comments from his interested listeners.

“Dear Aunt Fanny:  Pixy was not to blame for the dog fight; and the time he ran into the Council House he was not to blame, because I called ‘Pixy!  Pixy!’ I should have kept my mouth shut.”