Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-12-07
he other ono was your Bruce, Uncle

Weli, iva MT" urawled Uncle Ben.
''rhe dog slept IN the house, as he al
ways does But he was terrible un-
easy, and came and scratched on our
door-and my wife got up and cuffed
him for scratching the paint off. That
hurt his feelings, aud he went and Law
down on his mat again, as If he didn't
care IL the dogs killed all the sheep in
the county. But that pups got con-
science, same as folks-and in a min
ute or two there he was whining at the
door again. So l got up; and there
were two dogs out here with the sheep.
They saw me and put for the swamp,
but one of them, from the way he hol-
Tered, has got a charge of shot inside
of him, anyhow. You didn't notice
any marks on Ketchum's dog, i sup
pose, Elias? And your dog was shut
up, you say?"
"Yes, he was. But Tige amt that
kind of dog, anyhow" said Elias Caf-
ferty, very positively.
mo 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
perple kitty on his own account; for he
could not find his sheep at all, living
or dead.
where's your dog?" demanded
Elias, grimly
Cant find him either!" Jacks
father made answer, in great irrita-
tion. but III call the boy-hell find
him quick enough"
So he called the boy, and the boy
called the dog.
Since the arrival of Leonidas on the
farm, never had it happened that
Jacks lightest whistle failed instantly
to disclose the whereabouts 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 out
making night of it 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 to harsh or
unkind tone, and here were strange
men talking angrily together and
looking fiercely toward him, and, of
all things, fourishing gun! AS for
the plight he was in-well, probably
he had been off hunting woodchucks-
or something; not sheep, anyhow.
Meantime Jacks dog, seeming to pull
himself together, sat up stifly on his
launches, facing his enemies. One ear
hung down, the other was cooked with
an absurd--or was it pathetlc?-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.
81 guess-I guess-he's-he's afraid
of your gun!" Jack stammered, his
frightened eyes searching the grim
faces of the visitors.
"H'm-like enough!" responded Elias,
with stern smile.
Flash! Bang! Leonidas bounded
into the air, and fell back upon the
earth writhing in agony. Only for n
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
quivcred too fast. He got down on the
ground beside his poor favorite, and
stroltcd the rough head with his trezn,
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, jamming his
hat well on, and, with his hands showed
deep into his pockets, walked off dowr
the orchard by himself. His dog-hi.
Leo, dead!
Elias went up to his victim ant
polscd him nervously with his foot
then bent to examine him closely.
"Why, this dogs bit and tore in 1
dozen places" said he.
"Any shot holes?" demanded Uncle
Ben.
None but them gave him. He'
bccn fght.ng-scc? Well-he won
fight again. It's queer what's come o
those sheep. amt it?"
"Daa-aa-a!" said plaintive voic'
over his shoulder. Elias jumped as i
he were shot himself.
There were the missing sheep, clos
behind him, under the barn; SAT
enough retreat, apparently, for ther
was not bite nor scratch on one O
them.
But the ground before the marrow
entrance, tom, trampled and smeare
with hloo1 tauf' ffa6 to a furin,,c oor