Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-08-16

ways does But hc was terrible un-
easy, and came and scratched on our
door-and my wife got up and cuired
him for scratching the paint off. That
! hurt his feelings, and ne went and lay
down on his mat again, as If he didn't
care if the dogs killed all the sheep in
the county. Bat that pups got a con-
science. same as follzs-aud in a min
ute or two there he was whining at the
door again. So | got up; and there
were two dog, out here with the sheep.
They saw nae and put for the swamp,
hut one of them. from the way he hol-
Tered has gnt a CHARGE Of shot inside
OF him, anyhow. You didn't notice
any marks on Kctehum'a dog, sup
pose, Elias? And your dog was shut
up, You say?'
YES, hc was, But 'Tice amt that
kind of dog, anyhow" said Elias CAT
forty, very positively.
NO more amt Bruce" declared
Uncle Ben. And then, casting about
in their minds for one that was that
kind, they bethought them, alas! OF
Jacks dog.
They found Jacks father deep in
perplexity on his own account; for he
could not find his sheep at all, living
or dead.
where's your dog2" demanded
Elias. grimly.
Cant hnd him either" Jacks
father made answer, in great irrita-
ton. But III call the boy-he1l find
him quick enough"
11,l -1,n 1,,- H. h,,-
called the dog.
Since the arrival of Leonidas on the
farm. never had it happened that
Jacks lightcst whistle failed instantly
to disclose the wherea bouts of Jacks
dog. Now, much TO his dismay, he
whistled and called, and whistled and
called again, without producing any
apparent result
Suddenly he stopped. What melan-
choly, misunderstanding object was
it that came crawling slowly and pain
fully out from under the barn, soiled,
besmirched. abject, with head, tail and
legs all pointing one way? Jack knew,
and his heart rose into his throat as
he looked
For if Jacks dog had not been ont
making a night OF ii along with ketch-
um's Kaiser, then certainly appear
ances were very much against him.
Not that Jack himself believed in
those appearances for single instant
he knew better. Leonidas was al
ways morbidly sensitive 10 a harsh or
unkind tone. and here were strange
men talking angrily together and
looking fercely toward him. and, of
all things, nourishing a gun! As for
the plight he was in-wen, probably
he had been off hunting woodchucks-
or something; not sheep, anyhow.
Meantime Jack dog, seeming 10 pull
himself together, sat up stifily on his
launches, facing his enemies. One ear
hung down, the other was cooked with
an absurd or was II pathcuc?-air of
alert inquiry, and his one bright eye
turned quickly from face to face, as if
he would ask what they meant TO do
about it.
Il guess guess-he's-he's afraid
of your gum" Jack stammered, his
frightened eyes searching the grim
faces of the visitors
"Hm-like enough" responded Elias,
with a stern smile.
Flash Bang! Leonidas bounded
into the air, and fell back upon the
earth writhing in agony. Only for a
moment then, stretching himself along
on the ground, Jacks dog laid his head
on Jacks feet and was dead.
''If dogs kill sheep, they've got to be
shot," said Elias Cafferty, breaking the
awkward silence that followed.
No one answered. Jacks father a
kindly, easy-going man, looked melan-
choly and displeased. Jack tried to
say: "He never did IT," but his lips
quivered too fast. lie got down on the
ground beside his poor favorite, and
stroked the rough head with his trem-
bling hands. What! his dog-Leon-
idas?
The lump in his throat grew so big
that he was nearly suffocated, and the
trees blurred and swan before him.
But those men would think he was cry
ing! He scrambled up, tanning his
hat well on, and, with his hands showed
deep into his pockets, walked off down
the orchard by himself His dog-his
Leo, dead!
LL4dS Neht up 10 MS NlCLlln ana
poked him nervously with his foot;
then bent to examine him closely.
'Why, this dogs bit and tore in
dozen places" said he.
ANY shot holes?" demanded Uncle
Ben.
None but them gave him. He's
been fghting-see2 Well-he won't
fight again. It's queer what's come of
those sheep, amt it?'
'Baa-aa-a!' said a plaintive voice
over his shoulder. Elias jumped as if
he were shot himself.
There were the missing sheep, close
behind him. under the barn: a safe
enough retreat, apparently, for there
was not bite nor scratch on one Of
them.
But the ground before the narrow
entrance, torn, trampled and smeared
with blood, testified to furious con-
flict there. And the doughty cham
pion whose steadfast courage had re-
PEELED the assailants was the poor