Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-04-05

I
! His feet began 10 bleed and he whincd
! piteouSly.
! When the cart reached the valley. six
miles distant, and stopped in front Of
the pOStOfice, the puppy lay uncon-
sclous against the hind wheel, his eyes
were closed and blood OOZed from his
nostrils. Some one unhitched the chain
and dragged him a few feet away on
! the grass under tree.
Two men passing stopped.
Guess he's dead" said one. Looks
like he'd been ugly, anyhow" said the
| other, and they passed on.
| The shadows heightened until only
the great slides far up on Giant Noun
tain" were high enough to catch the
rays of the red sun. A few lamps
beamed ut the windows down the sin
gle street. and 4 gentle breeze ruStlcd
/ the leaves overhead.
When the dew fell the puppy opened
/ his eyes.
1t seemed to him that he was back
once more in the crate 1T the store. He
could see the stars glitter and hear the
roar of the river.
AS the wind freshened and blew
down the valley he staggered on his
feet and tottered up the road, whining.
For moment he stopped In front Of
the store and stood in the glare of the
lamps. Some village ours snarled at
him. Limping up the wooden steps, he
waited until Il man opened the store
door. then he skunk in, bobbed his head
and wagged his bedraggled tail.
I'll bet We the cigars that dogs mad"
said rough lumberman in a SLOUGH
hat.
Il COLL. Bill, you're right" replied
his yartner. nodding approvingly.
! ''This dog your'n. Ed?" he shouted sar
castically TO a big FELLOW in a blue
shirt. as he opened the door, and the
crowd roared TO man.
I'll tell We what Ill do" said anoth-
er. Il give half dollar for his hide
if anyone1l shoot him."
\ butchers boy lounging against the
counter bet he could hit him First
crack"
/ Just then the puppy settled slowly on
his launches looked up at the butchers
boy and wagged his tail.
Look out-don't We come near me"
Faid the butchers boy.
| The next instant 4 well-directed boot
rolled the puppy into the road. He
staggered 10 his feet and stood gazing
up at the crowd on the porch, his limbs
trembling. The stOrekeeDer came out
with q box of cartridges and n Win
chester. Throwing n shell into the
magazine he handed the rifle to the
butchers boy.
There was Il pause.
Cit that hind sight fine on him" 1t
was the man in the SLOUGH hat telling
! the butchers boy.
"Hyarr came a stern voice ont of the
dusk. and the next instant the old hunt
or, Israel Lukens, had the butchers
! boy by the throat.
! You young skunk he Numbered
wrenching the rifle away from the
! butchers boy. Thought ye'd be paow-
erful cunnin', didn't we? see that there
puppy when he come daown to the
| Center. Thar amt nothin' the matter
with that dog; he's been used awfully.
| Henderson's folks had him and them
young ones liked to kill him."
The old man loOsened his vice like
grip, and the butchers boy skunk into
the store. One by one the crowd fol-
lowed sheepishly, while the puppy
trembled against the old mans boot
! leg. When the latch clicked on the
last men Israel took the puppy in his
arms.
Poor lectle cuss' he said rs he car
ried the puppy down the road to his
cabin.
And so the puppy lived with Israel,
and one August day the old hunter left
his cabin at daylight with the dog.
Hadn't we better git couple Of the
boys to help We, Israel, If you're agOin'
to git aOut them hcmlock?" said Je.
rushy, his wife, as he left
~ presume likely had" said Israel,
leaning on his Ak ut the gate. Frank
hes ought to went to the Center to-
day to get them shingles, and Pete cal
ated he'd 60 fishin'. No." he cOntin-
ued. IL guess I'll make aOut well
enough alone. thar amt so much but
what | kin handle it, And shoulder
ing his AK lie disappeared in the woods,
talking to the dog.
1t was noon when Jerushy finished
her washing and sat Smelling peas In
the coolest corner of the summer kitch-
en-. Outside I'm the tangled garden the
bees tumbled lazily over the flowers
and the yellow jackets crawled In and
out among the punches Of dried herbs
hung under the caves of the rickety
porch. Below from the valley, swim
ming i'm the August heat, came tho
harsh droning of the mill, broken at