West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-02-20

to mediate on his miseries, and Stray
was asleep on the porch. Mrs. Stanton
was asleep too, on the sitting-room
lounge, and she had darkened the house
10 keep out heat and flies SO, when
shabby-loOking man came up the de-
serted road and saw the blinds all
drawn, he thought naturally enough.
that no ono was at home. Easy enough
for him to slip i'm. get the dinner be
wanted, put few things in his pocket
silver spoons, III nothing else-and
slip out and away. But he stopped at
sight ofsStray on the mat.
"These wretched little dogs" no
muttered; for he knew by experience
that active little feltoeS wore harder to
manage than slowsf6ovfhe large oaes.
He went round 10 the Kit b m aoor
where Jack should have been oIfguard;
and here, through an open window, be
swung himself into the kitchen. Ther,.
hanging under the clock. was a great
silver watch, dear Old-fashioned one
that had come down TO Mrs. Stanton
from her grandfather. and that she
priced almost at it's weight i'm gold. In
an instant Inc had slipped it and the
broad. curiouSlt-wrough chain at
! tached into his pocket. and then hc
I
on the bare floor here, duick-earcd
Stray was awake and scratching on the
blind. The fastening was loose. il gave
way. aud then his bark reused at once
Mrs. Stanton from her nap and the
tramp from his rummagng the cup
boards. As one came from the sitting
room the other stepped from the
pantry, and which was more startled
it was hard TO tell. But the tramp
n stout fellow with big stck-had
the advantage against this slender lit
Tie woman, and he knew it.
. come i'm fur some dinner, mum"
he said, an evil leer on his face rs he
saw how white she grew. AN.
seen we was asleep, | thought I'd jest
help myself. But rs ye're up, mcbbe
| you won mind gettin' me some butter.
| amt overload o dry bread. And il
We We bit o. change in the house, I'll
take keer of it for YOU
Mrs. Stanton felt her hclplcssness;
but she saw the end of the chain hang
ing from his pocket, and she was de
termined no tramp should take that be-
fore her eyes.
- Stray she said TO the dog. who
stood beside her, not knowing precisely
what to do and so waiting for orders,
go find Jack Stanton. He's at the
BARN and, as the dog dashed away.
You ii get no change from me-" she
said, shortly
Of course, the tramp thought Jack
! stanton was man, and for n minute
lost his confidence. Il amt a-goin' to
hurt We, mum. Ye needn't he afraid"
he said. I'm tired an hungry, an |
didn't mean no harm, jest give me
square meal an nickel an III 90.
Perhaps you II 20 without" Mrs.
stanton said; IAN leave behind that
watch you've put in your pocket, too.
IN not alone in the house"
But her voice shook despite her brave
words. The tramp thought her afraid,
and turned defiant again. He looked
at his stick. AMI pushed the end of the
cham down deeper. Il don't see no.
body, he said, insolcn0y. ITS all a
blind; but amt so easy taken in. Gil
me what want right straight, or I'll
He stepped nearer, his evil eyes
cleaning. just rs he lifted his club
there was rush behind him, and eat
him, Jack, Stray" she cried. Get out
what IN his pocket" In an instant
they were on him, Jack sprin0inp
~ '' iian Aill Oul' i)ul lilt Door
fellow had lost his early grip. and the
fight would have been too much for
him alone. But no tramp could man
age two at once big dog at his throat
and n little ones teeth deep i'm his leo.
Stray hadn't Jack strength or science:
but he was even harder to shake oil. He
/ throttlei the one; but Just Us his fin
! gers closed ON him the others teeth
| buried themselves in his hand, and.
with howl, he let Jack 90. And then
/ they were all on the floor together, and
Jack had dragged the watch out and
then Mrs. stanton called them OF. Jack
obeyed from habit; but Stray caalI not
leave the fight. The tramp BAked
himself up, still clnging to hiss coat.
and darted out the door. Jack at his
/ heels. Mrs. Stanton wanted TO call
/ them back: she was afraid he might
turn, once out of the house, aud kill one
/ OF them. She need not have been anX-
ious His one idea was TO get away
from those dogs. "One | could have
managed, he thought. as he ran.
But two, and one a pesky beast, with
the sharpest teeth ever seep
Half way down the road. IN their mad
I chase, the dog met the children. and
they all came back together; and then
what an excitement there was over the
two heroes. "And they both helped"
May cried. "Oh, Jack! Now. now.
! you won't mind about Stray, will YOU.
dear old fellow? II he hadn't rome 10
/ get you, you couldn't have been i'm the
| night, you know She kissed the white
star on his forehead, and Rugged his
black head, and then she called up
/ Stray. You helped each other doc
| gies, she said. 'and YOU must shake
/ hands over It. Give me your paw, Jack
stanton; hero Stray; and you're going
to be friends now, always" And they
/ were. Perhaps Jack only made the
/ best Of the situation: bat he had alwavl
been such a noble dog that think IL
\ was something more He had found
\ out that STRAY was good for something.
, But hc kept his rights as the elder
| brother. Stray could take his place at
ball but only he could go TO mail. on
escort The family 10 church Stray. in-
/ deed, showed no mind TO this last amuso-
ment And dare saw DO amt every
dog who could stand the music. Jack
/ would say. hcncvOleutly when stray
came 20 meet them on their return.
And IFS just as we'll YOU should STAY
and guard the house. EmihJ H..
Wheeler, iH ~ T. IudcDeudeHL
a Bad Year for Weddings.