Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1895-03-27
shirt, as he opened the door, and the

"I'll tell you what I'll do" sal
another "I'll give half dollar 70
his hide if anyone II shoot him"
A butchers boy lounging against tn
counter bet he could hit him ''firs
crack"
4 just then the puppy settled slowl.
on his launches, looked up at tn,
butchers boy and wagged his tail.
| Look out-don't We come near me,
said the butchers boy.
The next instant well-directet
boot rolled the puppy into the road
He staggered to his feet and stood gaz
ing up at the crowd on the porch, his
limbs trembling. TIE storekeeper
came out with box of cartridges ano
Winchester. Throwing shell into
the magazine he handed the rifle to the
butchers boy.
| There was pause.
''Git that hind sight fine on nim." II
was the man in the SLOUGH hat telling
the butchers boy.
"Hyar!" came 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? see
that there puppy when he came daown
to the center. Thar ant nothin' the
matter with that dog; he's been used
awfully. Hendersons 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 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 git a 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.
81 presume likely had" said Israel,
leaning on his ak at the gate. Frank
he's ought to went to the center to-
day to git them shingles, and Pete cal
calated he'd go fishin'. No." he con-
tinued. II guess I'll make aout well
enough alone, thar ant so much but
what kin handle it." aud, shoulder
ing his ak, he 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-
ner kitchen. Outside in the tangled
garden the bees tumbled lazily over
The flowers and the yellow jackets
,rawled in and out among the punches
If dried herbs hung under the caves Of
,he rickety porch. Below from the
7alley, swimming in the August heat,
zane 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. II hain't
nore'n had my hands out of the dish
water and it's plumb noon" She felt
omething Juggling at her skirts, and
ooking around she saw the dog.
Wall, if that don't beat ALL" said the
I'D lady, readjust1ng her steel specta
les. What ails ye-stop it, We fool!'
But the dog kept Juggling at her
lress.
"Got mushrat, have YEP" said the
Id lady, coaxingly. "Wall presume
veil have to go and see it fore yell
lit your satisfy
At her willingness to follow the dog
oosened his hold and ran ahead, bark
ng necessarily.
The two crossed the road and fol-
owed the trail of the path leading to
srael's ''leetle piece" as the hunter
allied his lumber cutting When he
cached the brook the dog stopped,
nufing to the right and left; suddenly
e stopped and began to howl, and
erushy, looking at the edge of some
lders, saw the print of Israel's shoe in
he mud. ta
Then the truth seemed to flash across
er mind. tf
Suthlns happened to Israel or that
og wouldn't perform like that, I'll
ye," she said, hurrying on.
The dog barked sharply and plunged
n through the woods, the old lady
blowing as best she could, calling at
1tervals:
Israel, Israel, whar be yc? Be We
urt?''
Suddenly the dog stopped and list
ned, and Jerushy heard far up the
faint halloo.
Ten minutes later she found the old
ian buried under a hemlock, unhurt,
ut unable to move hand or foot.
AS Jerushy stood by wringing her
1nds the dog tried to ferret himself
eneath the pile of debris, Juggling at
srael's coat.
"oh. Israel, be you a dyin'?" moaned
erushy.
"Dyin'? No." Israel replied. 81
ant hurt none--ye see, mistrusted
mis- here tree want agoin' to fall
ght, but fore knowed it she come
own top of me. If it want for that
Dung spruce | presume likely it'd
killed me. And he came and told
e!', said the old man. '.Wall, /
van!"