The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-09-08

Not doubt of it, and the fact that he
stopped or went on just when she did
hardly seemed to help the matter. It
was getting darker and more shadowy
every moment, and Percie would have
been almost willing to run, if she had
had not feared that if she did the dog
would run too. He appeared larger
and larger, every time she glanced be-
nlnd her, until she was afraid to look
again, and her breathing grew a little
hurried.
Nobody's any business to have such |
cog she gasped in whisper. cts !
awful"
thing, thought Tsar. "Girls are apt !
to be tlmld. All, l see It's those rag
ged rascals coming down the road. Vii |
lalnous-looking vagabonds. If there is
anything IN this world that l hate, it is
tramp"
That IS a universal sentiment among
dogs of Tsar's social standing: but the |
three rutfians who were now approach
ing were either ignorant of that fact, or
did not know that such q dog was SO
very near.
Dreadful men " had been the un-
spoken thought in the mind of Percie
Lee, and it was followed by doubt as
to whether she should ever again dare to
come down to the cove.
g must sketch the island" she said,
"but | will come in the forenoon"
The three men were walking abreast
now, and they were plainly determined
not to turn to the right hand or the left
for Percie Lee. She had just time to
grasp that terrible idea and to feel her
! heart jump, when one of them actually
spoke to her.
| She never knew what he said and her
only reply, as she retreated few steps
was an altogether unattended little
scream. 1t was not loud one, and was
followed by remarkable consequences.
Tsar had quickened his lordly pace,
| full twenty seconds earlier, and for some
reason of his own he bad advanced lit.
| tie under the shadow of the fence; but
his eyes had not wandered from the hu-
man beings in the road before him.
His head and tail were raised trife,
and there was very peculiar expression
on his broad, hairy face. There was no
| love of tramps in 1t at all.
"Oh, now, we hain't hurt you. You
needn't squall."
That was what the second of those
three ruff ans began to say when an aw-
| full, wrathful, roaring growl, as of waru-
ing, sounded from some deep -iawed cav
ern among the shadows at the right of
Percie Lee. 1t was followed by one
long, elastic, power. expressing bound,
by huge dark for N that in one second
more was crouching in front of her.
The first and second tramp upset the
| third, and tumbled over him, SO sudden
was the retreat they made, while Tsar,
for their special benefit AID more at
length, repeated his growl, with sup
| Elementary snarl that sounded fearfully
| like the announcement of another spring
| forward.
The remarks made by all of those vag-
abonds, as they scrambled to their feet,
were IN manner complimentary to
Tsar, although not intended to be so.
Percie Lee stood behind her protec-
tor, aud she could not see, as they did,
the white rows of cleaning teeth, and
the fierce green light in the threatening
eyes. She could perfectly understand,
| however, that there was an enormous
amount of good dog between her and any
| further approach of ruffianly insolence.
| She was almost astonished at the sudden
feeling of security which came upon her,
and at the entire ease with which she
began to breathe again.
Tsar did not spring. He did butcrouch
in that picturesque attitude until the
nearest tramp was fifty yards away, on a
steady run; and then he stood erect,
sending after his enemies one deep, SON
orOus " Woof-oof to keep them COM
pany.
"Good dog good fellow"
"Ur-r-r-r," was the gentle response
of Tsar, and he even waPged his tail,
moderately, but he did not consent to
look around. He walked slowly on up
the road, and it was now Percie's turn
% follow him.
q do not think l had better leave
er," said Tssr to himself; "not even
hen we get to our house"
1t was not until they reached the turn
If the road, away beyond DIR. Gorham's,
that he at last stood still. Percie wish
ed very much 10 pat him, but she could
hardly muster courage, and while she
was hesl.ating there came a sound of
wheels, and light buggy pulled up in
the middle OF the road.
"Dr. Gorham %
"Percie Leel Is that you? 1 de-
clare Miss Leland that great brute
its all my fault. Did he scare you
much, Pe1cie-Miss Lee ?"
els it your dog, Heber-dootor %
"Tsar come here. sir -
ooh, doctor, don't seold him. He
has been taking care. of me. There
were three of them"
"Dogs, Miss Lee"
"No. sir; tramps. Dreadful looking
they spoke-he is splendid dog
beautiful"
"He? Ah-well-it's a good thirg
ne didn't take hold of one of them.
There'd have been a fine surgical case
} prepared for me, in no time. But how
did he happen to be out? Unmuzzled,
too. / remember, now. All my fault.
81 guess he must have been left out
to take care of me, doctor"
"Ain't glad of it, though Now,
Miss Lee, you must step right into my
buggy, and let me carry you home.
Tsar, go home, sir %
, He turned to obey, but a small, white
, hand was on his head as he did so.
/ GOOD dog, Tsar; thank you, sir.
1t was odd, indeed, but something in
that remark seemed aimed at the dog;
, and it must have hit him, too, by the
proud way of his walking off; but some
: of it went further. The young physician
, assisted Percie into the buggy, and
drove away; and it was quite distance
. around the corner of the main road that
! they passed a dimly observable and
quite breathless group that leaned
, against fence. Nobody going by in a
t buggy could have heard them mutter:
, "Tell We what boys, that was the
awfullest dog [ ever seen"
[ "Guess we won't try that there road
| agin tonight. He's loose.
"All them sort O. dogs has got to be
t killed off, or the roads won't be SAFE"
Perhaps, but at that moment Tsar was
| reentering his own yard, for he went
straight back to his quarters. He stood