The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-29
.sro see If couldn't sell him. Ol

ITO see If 1 couldn't sell him. Ole
Dock, one Nv the mules; has plumb
give out, an"
"Sell himl' roared Scotty; ivy, a
blue dog like that hain't wuth two
whoopsl What's he good fer?"
"Mebby he hahn SO awful mighty
valuable" answered the boy, timidly,
''but he's mighty lovin', mister.
Please let Eli GO"
"Looky yere, Scotty," said old man
Rawsor, t1'Il be burned il"
"Shut up, old manl' was Scotty's
answer.
Rawson subsidized again, to growl
in an undertone to several of his
comrades, who nodded their shaggy
heads as if they agreed with him.
"What d we want to sell him fer, it
he's SO mighty lovin'?' Scotty de-
manded of the boy. ;.
"Oh, l wouldn't if l didn't hat to, !"
answered the lad; "but he's all I've
got to sell, an I thought mebby if |
was to tell how mighty gentle and
lovin' he was somebody'd buy him
fer sump'n' An, oh, mister,"' the
boy added, forgetting his fear in his
desire to vindicate Eli from the charge
of worthlessness. 'I've got to do
sump'n'. Ole Dock can't go no far
ther, an my mothers that sick she
can't talk scarcely, an we hain't got
nuthin' to eat an no money to get a
doctor with, an"
"Whur's yer wagon?" interrupted
Bits.
"Down by the olestunted pine tree,
an
Scotty placed the whimpering dog
in his masters arms.
"Gitp was all he said.
The lad Rugged the small slate-col-
ored form of his favorite to his breast
and fed from the room. A moment
later Scotty followed him. Then the
growls of old man Rawson became
audible and the assent of his COM
rades more emphatic.
"Throws that pore leetle feller's
pup up an shoots at him, blamed il
we don't"
Rawson paused, at loss for a
retaliatory measure to infict on Mr..
Bits.
"Throw Scotty up and shoot at
him'' suggested friend.
"You bet!" was the chorus of as
sents.
Soon they followed Scotty. Before
they reached the three pines that had
given Tres Pinos it's name, they
could see why the rcikety covered
wagon in their shade could not pro-
coed. Even at that distance, it was
evident to their practiced eyes that
"Old Dock" the mule, was almost
past locomotion. Scotty Bits was
standing on a forward hub of the
vehicle, and peering within. Near at
hand stood the boy, with the little
dog still clasped to his breast.
"Throws up that thar dog" NUT,
tered old man Rawson, "we'n throw
him!"
"You bet!" agreed his comrades.
As they neared the wagon, Scotty
descended from the hub, and they
could see something like a panto.
mine going on between him and the
boy.
A moment later Bits advanced
toward them with the small slate.
colored dog in his arms.
"Boys-," he began.
"Looky yere, Scotty," interrupted
old man Rawson, while the rest of the
party came closer around him. "Me
an the boys ben talkin' this yere
matter over, an we"
"Glad you have" broke in Scotty
half eagerly and half shamefacedly
''fer / lowed to asst you to go in
too. I've bought this yur leetle blue
pup, an'-wal, when I got to the
wagon, the boy was inside an
heered him talkin' to his sick NAV
"I'm most glad l couldn't sell Eli
he's SO lovin',' the boy said, an thu
woman's weak voice piped: The
Lord'n provide, Jefiie,' she says
am"
"You bet He willp' broke in ole
Rawson.
eyes, wal bought the dog, an
wal, he's most too valuable adog fel
one man to own, an I reckoned i
you wanted to form sort Nv a stool
company"
"The Blue Dog Stock Company,
cried old man Rawson. "We're in
hey, boys?"
For answer, the "boys" fished from
their pockets what they could spar
of their scanty stores of wealth, and
moment later, quite sum in silve
and bills were in the treasury of tn
Blue Dog Company-old man Raw
sons hat.
"We haint exactly got no place t.
keep such a mighty valuable animal,
began Scotty shamefacedly.
"Yere, jeff" cried old man Rawson
"Take off yer haiti"
The money was poured into Httl
Jef's old hat and Rawson said:
"That'l buy a cheap mule, an 81
a doctor fer yer NAV. An the Blu
Dog Stock Company don't reckon i
kin keer wits property, so-wal, tax
the dog an don't tell nobody whu
you're goin' an when the compan.
wants its property it'll come afte
it'll"
As they faced about they heard lit
tie jeff crying for very joy as he hug
ged to his heart the small blue dog
| And they strobe along, the member
of the Blue Dog Stock Company wer
not half as discouraged as that nun
Der of Trees Pinos' citizens had bee
but two hours before.-Chicago Int
Ocean.