Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-06-27

cry, an he just bends down an kisses
her hand, an then he says, kind of low
an choked like, more like groan thar
words, 'Oh, motherp
"An the way the little kid took to him
was caution. A mite like he was-ne
sense at all; only puckered up his facs
and cried when went near him. He'd
smile up in Roberts face (that was what
he told us to call him) an hold on to his
finger like he was his nurse.
"Now, to be sure, sir, three days don't
seem much In life, an you'll maybe
think it foolish the store we set by both
man an dog before that time was passed.
Ralph would lay down beside the baby's
cradle, an nothin would move him till
his master left the room; then he'd get
up an shake himself, as If it was time
to go, an he was goin.
"Mollie said he was human, an if ever
q soul gets into an animals body-I hear
there's folks as thinks so-there was a
good soul inside Of Ralph.
"Yes, we all liked Ralph, an Robert
even more. The fact is he was real
gentleman, that was plain enough,
brought down as low as he was by Lord
only knows what. But true gentle
man, an | know the right kind when
see them. He never let on for one mo-
nent, though, single word about him
self but once an that was the last even
in he was here.
"The dog was sittin beside him, with
his head restin on Roberts knee, when |
says, kind of suddenlike:
"1 bet Ralph's very vallyble dog
Robert. q.
"'Yes, yes,' he says, sort of slow.
Too vallyble, stroking Ralph's head
with a lovin hand, while the dog looked
at him with just as much love. Twas
the humanest eyes you would ever. see,,
| sir.
"'He's worth great deal Of money,
he said again, after moments thinkin.
i am very sorry for it sometimes. I've
I've been afraid-aye, afraid Of myself
that I'd be tempted to sell him.. Not
while was myself, old fellow, you un-
derstand, but when was the brute |
sometimes am
'By George, sir! you wouldn't believe
1t, dare say, but I'd take my affydavy
that dog looked up. sort of sadlike. and
shook his head.
"To make the story short-though, all
told, it was not SO very long-when we
came down stairs the next morning
Ralph lay on the floor guardin his mas
ter's stick, but his master wasn't no
where round.
''Tell me the dog didn't knowl He
knew as we'll as we did why II was done;
that the master he loved an who loved
him had left him, but he had been told
to watch the stick, an with the saddest
eyes an droopin he lay there all day
long. An truly believe if we hadn't
got the stick away from him and burned
it he'd "a been watchin it yet,
"An his master? Yes, sir; gone
clean gone. An we've never heard a
word of him since. -Ungrateful1 No,
sir; l don't take it so. Think he couldn't
trust himself with the dog he loved,
when he was himself, you see, an SO he
left him where he knew he'd be well
taken care of. Yes, that's the way see
it anyhow. An then he got SO far away
before the dog would quit watching that
the scent was lost for poor Ralph. But
he amt never give up. Not day, sir
"Do? Well, there's not tramp
comes past here-an the worse looking
they are the wilder he is to get after
| them, sniffin at their tracks, and then
his tail will drop SO disappointedlike,
yet he'll keep on an follow 'em for day,
or maybe three days, till he gets sure he
amt comm to his master, when he'll
come back. Seems to me as if he kind
of thought they might know him. How
does he find out they don't? Bless you,
sir, don't ask me, but dogs know heap
more than people think.
"He ought a. been named Rover, for
he's been in more different places round
here than have an always turns up all
right when he's settled the matter.
"Whyl amt that him now, a-sniffin
along the other road? OF course it is.
Well, now, how'd he got over there,
wonder; seems as if he was scentin
somethin, don't itp
"Hi, Ralphl Ralph Ahl there he
comes, a-boundin along towards us just
as he used to go for his master. Looks
as if he thought he could find him. sure
See, nowl Amt he a beauty?
"Here, Ralphl Good old fellow! Come
here, sirl Ehl What! Straight for you,
sir, he's gone, without look for me-!
All over you in a minutel A'fine gen.
tleman like you! Whatl you, you, sirl
Robert! Great Scottl An Ralph knew
you'll Well, well; l give in. Dogs is
humanp-M. Warren Hale in Pittsburg
Bulletin.
| To Epioy n Celebration.