The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-17

gathered around the log fro burning in
an old crate there
(which one o. yez fired shots at my
hull dorg. I'd like ter known he added,
glaring savegey at them
..It was IT, sternly replied Jim's father.
"and would have shot the cur dead
had he put his teeth in any one OF US
the ugly brutoSthat he isl
''Wa'al yez can't expect I'd keep an
angel Of a dog 20 perfect me out in these
woods. could yer?". surlily rejoined the
old tramp, as he opened rear door and
v histled after the bull dog, that soon
came runnirg ir. growing like young
lion ut the stra
Lie down there" yelled JIm's father,
giving the ugly brute a XIX and point
ire the revolver at him again. where
Upon he skunk away under an old bench
there like a big coward.
Now, be civil, old man." added Jim's
father, because We don't want to harm
either you or your dog. If you only be-
nave yourselves; all we came I'm here
for was to inquire If you saw stray
collie dog around during the past few
days?'
Nav. / didn't,-nuthin' ever comes up
around here only bears, who'd make
short work o. eatin' yer fancy ki-yi II
they cotched 'imw surlily replied the
tramp.
"It's a wonder they don't chaw your
dog up some timc?" bravely ventured
one of the boys 10 ask.
"Oh, no, they'll never tackle him. he
exuItantly replied gazing proudly at the
ugly looking brute, cause he's already
put the mark of his sharp teeth in many
OF their hides when he come upon 'em
a-prowlin around this yer hut nights"
why, | had no idea that the bears
ever ventured near this part Of the pine
woods" said Jlm's father, glancing UNI
easily out Of the window.
"Wa'al. Their don't very often, but one
never knows when not ter expect 'em,
ominously replied the tramp.
Let's go. pa" exclaimed jim In
frightened tone.
Eyes, do" pleaded the rest of The little
fell VS. as they gathered closer arous q
Jim's father, as If dreading 10 be i'm
mediately set upon ana deyoured by in
coming hears.
IAN right" said the father who, after
thanking the cranky old tramp for allow
ing them to remain awhile In his hut,
hastily uablanketed the mare, put the
boys in the sleigh again and drove off
as fast rs h, could cut OF the snowy pine
woods.
II was late in the day when they reach o
ed home, cold and hungry enough. too
but Jim's mamma had a rice warm
meal prepared for them all, 90 which
they soon sat down and ate heartily, al
though the possible sad fate of poor
Gypsy was generally deplored.
Suddenly the sounds Of approaching
sleigh-bells were heard nearing the farm
house side door, and the door bell soon
rang. and Jims mamma admitted a
couple Of strange men. One of the men
ind1ired II they might bring in poor
stray dog they had found with broken
leg. moaning i'm the snowdrifts on the
roadway near the village.
"O-ohl may DC it's our Gypsy cried
out jim, as all bands rushed out after the
men TO the sleigh, wherein, sure enough,
poor Gypsy lay bleeding and moaning
and nearly f,Jzen to death; so they lift
ed him tenderly in, and laying him oil a
nice warm rug before the blazing CRATE
Are bound up his wounds and gave MN
hot milk to drink until he fell asleep.
The poor collie must have followed
strange sleigh on the day he went astray,
and i'm trying to reach home again fell
and broke his leg and had to lie in the
snowdrifts until aid reached him. Indeed,
lin was a happy boy to have Gypsy re-
stored to him again, and he and his papa
and lgttle friends often recall the adven-
ture they had seeking for his lost dog in
the big pine woods.