The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-30

b
his hide if anyone IL shoot him."
butchers boy lounginr against the
counter bet he could hit him first
| crack"
just then the puppy settled slowly
on ms Launches, looked up ut the
putchers boy and waggcd his tail
Look out-don't We como near me, :"
said the butchers boy.
The next instant q wcll-dirccted
boot rolled the puppy into the road.
He staggered TO his feet and stood paz.
ing up ut the crowd on tho porch, his
limbs trembling. Tho storekeeper
came out with n box of cartridges and
Winchester. Throwing she'll into
the magazine he handed the rifle to the
butchers boy.
There was u pause.
Git that hind sight fine on him" 1t
was the man in the SLOUGH hat telling
the butchers boy.
"1Iyar." came q stern voice out of the
dusk, and the next instant the old
hunter, Israel Lulens, had the butch
er's boy by the thront.
You young skunk" no Numbered,
wrenching the rifle away from the
butchers boy. Thought we'd be
powerful cunnin', didn't We? I 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 kill
him"
The old man loosened his vicc-lilze
grip, and the butchers boy skunk into
the store. One by one tho crowd fol-
lowed sheepishly, while the puppy
tremblcd against the old mans boot
leg. When the latch clicked on the last
men Israel took the puppy in his arms.
Poor lcetlc cuss," he said, rs he
carried the puppy down the road to
his cabin.
And SO the pappy lived with Israel,
and one August day the old hunter left
his cabin at daylight with his dog.
Hadn't yc better cat couple of the
boys to help yc, Israel, if you're agoin'
to git aout them hcmlock?" said Jcru-
shy his wife, as he left.
81 presume likely had" said Israel,
leaning on his tx at the gate. ''Franly
hes ought to went to the center to.
day to git them shingles, and Pete cal
calatcd he'd go iishin'. No" he con-
tinued. Il guess III make aout we'll
enough alone, thar ant so much but
what kin handle it," and, shoulder
ing his aS, he disappeared in the woods,
talking to the dog.
1t was about noon when Jcrushv fin
ishcd her washing and sat shclling
peas III the coolest corner OF the sum
mer kitchen. Outside in the Tangled
garden the bees turlbled lazily over
the flowers and the yellow Jackets
crawlcd in and ont among the lunches
of dried herbs hung under the caves of
the ricllety porch. Below from the
valley, swimming III 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 blow Il hain't
nore'n had my hands out of the dish
water and it's plumb nooa." 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, readjusting her steel spccta
cles. What ails yc-stop it, We fool"
But the dog kept Juggling ut her
dress.
Got n rlushrat, have YEP" said the
old lady, Goa Xingly. "Nall I presume
we'll. have to go and see it fore ven
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
lsrael's 'lectlc piece" as the hunter
called his lumber cutting When he
reached the brook the dog stoned.
snutiing 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 Isracrs 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 yc," She said, hurrying on.
The dog barllcd sharply and plunged
on through the woods, the old lady
following as best she could, calling at
intervals:
Israel, Israel, whar be We? &c We
hurt?"
Suddenly the dog stopped and list
ened, and Jerushy heard far up the
mountain n faint halloo.
Ten minutes later she found the old
man buried under hcmlock, rnhurt,
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 at
Israeps coat.
''Oh. Israel, be you dying" moaned
Jcrushy.
"Dyin'? No." Israel replied. ~
han't hurt Ione-yc see, mistrusted
this here tree want agoin' to fall