St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-08-24

| damages. 10 him came Mr.. Elias (af
ferty, with wrath in his eyes and a war
like pucker between them.
Your dogs been killing MY sheep
Uncle Ben," quoth he.
Guess not" said Uncle Ben. "Youl
dogs been killing mine"
my dog was shut up; locked hin
into the barn myself. I've tracked
yours all the way up the hill." Ella.
declared. He had his gun in his hand
and looked very fierce.
"Some other fellows tracks, likely
We've shot Ketchum's KAISER
tracked him home, too. We reckoned
the other one was your Brrce, Uncle
Ben"
"Well, twa'n't," drawled Uncle Ben
The dog slept in the house, as he al
ways does. But he was terrible un
easy, and came and scratched on ou,
door-and my wife got up and cuffed
him for scratching the paint OF. Tha,
hurt his feelings, and he went and lay
down on his mat again, as il he didn't
care if the dogs killed all the sheep in
the county. But that pups got q con.
science, same rs folks-and in a min.
ute or two there he was whining at the
door again. So | 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 be hol
lered. has got a charge Of shot tnsids
of him, anyhow. You didn't EoSic<
any marks on Ketchum's dog. I sup
pose, Elias? And your dog was shut
up, you say"
"Yes, he was But TiGe sin't 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 ia
perplexity on his own account; for hs
could not find his sheep 1T all, living
or dead.
where's your dog?" demanded
Elias, grimly.
Cant find him either." Jacks
father made answer, in great irrita-
tion. But I'll call the boy-heIl find
him quick enough"
So he called the boy, and the boy
called the dog.
Since the arrival of Leonidas on tho
farm, never had it happened that
Jacks ighte5t 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 ont
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 a 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 a gun! AS for
the plight he was in-well. probably
he had been OF hunting woodchucks-
or something; not sheep. anyhow.
Meantime Jack s dog, seeming to pull
himself together, sat up stifay on his
launches, facing his enemies One ear
hung down, the other was cooked with
IN 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.
II Ruess-I guess -ho'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 .
moment; then, stretching himself along
ON the ground, Jacks dog laid his head
on Jacks foet-and was dead
IF dogs kill sheep. they've got to be
shot, said Elias Cafferty. breaking the
awkward silence chat followed.
No one answered. Jacks father, .
kindly, easy-goinS man, looked melan.
choly and displeased. Jack tried to
say: He never did it," but his lips
quivered too fast. He 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. jamming his
hat we'll on, and. with his hands showed
deep into his pockets, walked of down
the orchard by himself. His dog--his
Leo, dead!
Elias went up to his victim and
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-see? Well-he won't
fight again. It's queer what's come Of
those sheep, amt it,"
"Baa-aa-a.' said = plaintive voice |
over his shoulder. Elias jumped as il |
he were shot himself
There were the missing sheep, close |
behind him, under the barn: . safe |
enough retreat, apparently, for there |
was not = bite nor scratch on one Of |
them.
But the ground before the narsow
entrance, torn. trampled and smeared |
with blood, testified to q furious con-
nict there And the doughty cham
Pion whose steadfast courage had re-
PEELED the assailants was the Door |
shabby tramp. Jacks dog-no other.
For there was no other
Elias Cafferty, however, still doubt
Cd II Jacks dog did not assist Ketcs-
um's Kaiser to slaughter his sheep,
who did? That was the question.
1t was answered when he rot home.
vet still not tn hia Anr,-> >.A2~sx.