The Globe-republican., 1895-06-14

crowd reared to man.
III tell you what I'll do" said
another. ''I'u give half a dollar for
his hide if anyone II shoot him"
A butchers boy lounging against the
counter bet he could hit him first
crack"
Just then the puppy settled slowly
ON his launches, looked up at the
butchers boy and wagged his tail.
Look out-don't We come near me"
said the butchers boy.
The next instant well-directed
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. The storekeeper
came out with box of cartridges and
a Winchester. Throwing shell into
the magazine he handed the rifle to the
butchers boy.
There was pause.
Cit that hind sight fine on him." 1t
was the man in the SLOUGH hat telling
the butchers boy.
''Hyar!" came a 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? 1 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 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 couple of the
boys to help ye, Israel, if you're agoin'
x
shy his wife, as he left.
II 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. Il guess I'll make aout we'll
enough alone, thar an. SO much but
what kin handle it," and. shoulder
ing his AK, he disappeared in the woods,
talking to the dog.
1t was about noon when Jerushy fin
ished her washing and sat Smelling
peas in the coolest corner of the sum-
mer kitchen. Outside in the tangled
garden the bees tumbled lazily over
the flowers and the yellow jackets
crawled in and out among the punches
of dried herbs hung under the caves of
the rickety porch. Below from the
valley, swimming in 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 blew. Il hain't
more'n had my hands out of the dish
water and it's plumb noon.'' She felt
Juggling at her skirts, and
looking around she saw the dog.
wall, if that don't beat ALL" said the
Did lady, readjustlng her steel specta
.les what ais ye-stop it, We fool!"
But the dog kept Juggling at her
lress.
''Got a mushrat, have ye?' said the
I'D lady, coaxingly. wall presume
we'll have to go and see it fore yell |
git 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
sraels ''leetle piece" as the hunter
'alled his lumber cutting. When he
cached the brook the dog stopped,
nuffing to the right and left; suddenly
lie stopped and began to howl, and
looking at the edge of some
Ilders, saw the print of Israel's shoe in
he mud.
Then the truth seemed to flash across
Ter mind.
''Suthin's happened to Israel or that
log 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
as best she could. calling at
intervals:
Israel. Israel, whar be We? Be ye
lurt?"
Suddenly the dog stopped and list
ned, and Jerushy heard far up the
mountain a faint halloo.
Ten minutes later she found the old
nan buried under hemlock, unhurt,
mt unable to move hand or foot.
A. Jerushy stood by wringing her
lands the dog tried to ferret himself
'eneath the pile of debris, tugging at
sraels coat.
''Oh. Israel, be you a dyin'?" moaned
erushy.
"Dyin'? No." Israel replied. Il