The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-06-16

AO AA0nusj anu people were content
that cid Pedro should remain mys-
terry.
Thus it happened that when the old
man came and went on market days,
there were no kind words for him, no
handshakes, no cheerful salutations.
He came and went like a shadow, and
the school children hurried past him as
if his very silence frightened them.
Now, between the market and Pedro's
home, and so situated therefore that
Pedro passed in going and coming was
Major Deals home-a beautiful old
fashioned homestead with long shaded
walk that led down to the gate
And the major had killed Pedro's
dog.
OF course the major never did admit
that he had done wrong.
The little terrier had barked at hi
heels and he had struck at it with his
cane. He never intended to kill the
dog, but it was only a dog-and only
Pedro's dog at that. OF course Pedro
viewed matters a little differently, and
as a natural result of the difference, the
major forget all about it while Pedo
remembered it very distinctly. In fact
there can be no doubt that the majors
baby saved a great deal of trouble about
that dog. When the weather was fair
the baby would be at the gate as Pedro
passed on Saturday afternoon, and
she had learned to recognize Pedro,
while on the other hand the lonely old
man had learned to love and yearn for
that baby welcome. He always paused
a moment in passing to raise his latter
ed old hat and smile at baby Maud. So
while Pedro remem bered very distiact-
ly that the major had killed his dog, his
thoughts of revenge had given place to
other and better thoughts for all of
which the majors baby was entirely re-
sponsibe.
One beautiful Saturday afternoon in
the autumn of'79, group of school
girls were gathered at the majors gate
and in their midst was the majors baby.
Right royalty the little queen was hold
Ing her court Pedro saw all that as he
came on with his basket.
Suddenly shout of warning was
heard, and pistol shots were fired at
Mayor Weeds house, just two doors
above the majors.
'Mad dog Mad dogp shouted half
a dozen voices.
The frightened girls turned to see
the vicious brute only few steps from
them, and ran screaming towards the
majors house.
The majors wife met them at the
door,
ooh, Mrs. Deal-a mad dogw
The young mothers face was deathly
pale, and without word she ran toward
the gate.
Before reaching the gate, however,
she saw that her baby was safe, and she
recognized Pedro. He had placed the
child carefully upon the grass just in
side the gate, and thea closed the gate.
Then the dog had attacked Pedro.
The huge maddened brute was biting
savagely. The blood was flowing free
ly from the old mans arms and hands,
and from an ugly wound in the cheek.
Pedro was nearly exhausted, and his
feeble blows with knife availed but
little. The mother had picked up her
baby and was watching the contest in
an agony Of suspense. Throwing all his
strength with his blow, the old man
drove his knife to the hilt in the dogs
throat, and as the brute lay foaming and
writhing at his feet, the old man
dropped his knife and leaned YEARLY
against the gate. A group of people
soon gathered about him, and the
majors wife called his name, but the
old man paid no attention. As he rested
the baby's hands were upon his bowed
head.
"Pedro," again said the majors wife.
Slowly the old man raised his head.
He didn't see the young mother, or tho
people arouad him; Ae saw only the
baby. lie took the child's hands 10 his
own a moment aud then turned away.
Picking up his empty basket, tho old
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