The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-04-05

the magazine he handed the rifle to the
butchers boy.
There was pause.
'Git that hind sight fine on him" II
was the man in the SLOUGH hat telling
the butchers boy.
"Hyarw came a stern voice out of the
dusk, and the next instant the old
hunter, Israel Lukens, had the butch
er's boy by the throat.
"You young skunk" he Numbered,
wrenching the rifle away from the
butchers boy. Thought ye'd be
powerful cunnin', didn't We? l see
that there puppy when he came daown
to the center. Thar ant nothin' the
matter with that dog; he's been used
awfully. HendersOn's folks had him.
and them young ones liked to xiii
him
The old MAJ loosened his v:ce-lil1e
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 leetle cuss," he said. as he
carried 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 his dog.
Hadn't We better glt couple of the
boys to help We, Israel, if you're agoin'
to git aOut them hemlock?" said Jeru-
shy his wife, as he left.
Il presume likely l had," said Israel,
leaning on his ak at the gate. Frank
hes ought to went to the center to-
day to git them shingles, and Pete cal
calated he'd go fshin'. No." he con-
tinued. II guess I'll make aout we'll
what | kin handle it," and, shoulder
ing his AK, lie disappeared in the woods,
talking to the dog.
It was about noon when Jerushy fin
ished her washing and sat Smelling
peas in the coolest corner of the sum-
mer kitchen. Outside in 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 ricl1ety porch. Below from the
valley, swimming in the August heat,
came the harsh droning of the mill,
broken at intervals by the delicate
ping, as the log left the saw.
Thar" she said TO herself, starting
up as the mill whistle blew. Il hain't
more'n had my hands out of the dish
water and it's plumb noon.' She felt
something Juggling at her skirts, and
looking around she saw the dog
wall, if that don't beat ALL said the
old lady, readjustlng her steel specta-
cles. What ails ye-stop it, ye fool!''
But the dog kept Juggling at her
dress
Got mushrat, have YEP" said the
old lady, coaxingly. wall l presume
we'll have to go and see it fore yell
git your satisfy
At her willingness to follow the dog
loosened his hold and ran ahead, bark
ing necessarily.
The two crossed the road and fol-
lowed the trail of the path leading to
Israei's ''leetle piece" as the hunter
called his lumber cutting. When he
reached the broOl. the dog stopped,
snuffilg to the right and left; suddenly
he stopped and began to howl, and
Jerushy, looking at the edge of some
alders, saw the print of Israels shoe in
the mud.
Then the truth seemed to flash across
her mind.
''Suthin's happened to Israel or that
dog wouldn't perform like that, I'll
warrant ye,' she said, hurrying on.
The dog barked sharply and plunged
on through the woods, the old lady
following as best she could, calling at
intervals:
Israel, Israel, whar be We? Be We
hurt?"
Suddenly the dog stopped and list
| ened. and Jerushy heard far up the
mountain a faint halloo.
Ten minutes later she found the old
man buried under a hemlock. unhurt.
but unable to move hand or foot.
AS Jerushy stood by wringing her
hands the dog tried to ferret himself
beneath the pile of debris, Juggling al
Israels coat.
ooh, Israel, be you dyin'?" moaned
Jerushy.
"Dyin'? No." Israel replied. 81
han't hurt none-ye see, mistrusted
this here tree want agoin' to fall
right, but fore l knowed it she come
down top of me. If it want for that
! young spruce l presume likely it'd
a killed me. And he came and told
YET said the old man. ''Wall. ]
swami
When the neighbors came and hauled
the old man out the dogs JOY knew nc
| bounds.
Thought he wasn't no good, did We
friends?" said the old hunter, turning
to the bystanders.
"Ye han't no bines broke, have We
Israeli" asked a mild old man, once
sheriff of the county.
''It's a good thing the dog come
daown and told your woman, Israel
wasn't it?" drawled tall, lanky fel
low.
I'm tickled to see We want hurt
said another, as the procession filed
down the mountain.
But Israel did not answer; he was
talking to the dog. Detroit Free
Press.
THE DUKE AND THE TOAD.
A New and Interesting Story Of the Fla.
| nous Wellington.
Napoleon was worshiped and feared
| hnf 1Arya1