The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-03-28

and that when he had served his time
he went far away. resolving never
again to shame his family by his pres
ence. He had kept his VOW all through
the many years, but his one misstep
had killed the ambition within him,
and he never rose in life.
pitied him; between us there grew
a strong bond Of sympathy. Young
though / was, saw in this man one
that might have been noble and hon
ored but for that false step, and my
heart was full of sincerest charity.
Several times I urged him to let me
tell my father Of his plight, for was
sure that when father knew the whole
truth and understood that Jim had
saved my life, he would give the man
| work and a chance to make an honor
aDle place for himself in the world.
But all I said had little, if any, effect
on the man; he would not consent to
anything of the sort =,
And then it came about that one day
my father chanced upon us as we were
talking together. I may never forget
the look of astonishment, dismay and
anger that rested on his stern face as
he saw us sitting side by side in the
shelter of the shrubs that hung over
the shore rocks, both munching cookies,
for had been bringing lunches to Jim
for a long time.
MY father was furious; he seemed
tempted to spring upon my strange
companion. Jim said not word in de-
tense of himself, but pulled his hat low
over his eyes and skulked away like a
whipped dog.
Father demanded to know about the
man, and his questioning made me tell
many things that did not want to tell.
These things did not tend to soften my
fathers temper in the least.
1t was the very next Gay that my ia
ther bought big yellow dog-a fierce
| looking creature with reddish eyes and
cleaning teeth. He declared he would
soon teach ramps that they could not
Hnger about his grounds. -:
| From the first was afraid of the dog,
for the animal growled and licked it's
chops whenever was near, looking at
me as If it longed to fly at my throat.
Indeed, the creature was so fierce that
it was necessary that it should be
chained for time till it came to know
who was its master. :
! For some days was kept close to the
| house, and I know I was watched a
great deal. but saw nothing of Jim,
and a lonely feeling came over me, for
felt that 1 might never see him again,
and a strange attachment for the tramp
had grown within my breast.
On the fourth day after the purchase
of the dog my father became worried
/ about the creature for it5lay growing
and whining at the end of it's chain,
its eyes glowing like Goals, while a
fringe of froth clung around it's muz-
| zle. -. .r. -
'sThe beast is sick,' my father de-
clared. II don't like his actions. He
may be going mad.' r..
| I had heard of mad dogs, and when I
| went to look at the animal and it
strained at its chain, with its red eyes
fixed on my face, while sharp yelps
| broke from its throat, ran away, filled
| with terror. ~
It must be that my show Of fear added
to the ferceness of the animal, for, of
sudden, heard deep-throated howl
| behind me, and one look over my shoul-
der showed me the dog in hot pursuit,
a bit of the broken chain dangling from
! its iron collar. - E r.
The terror of that moment nearly
overcame me, but I managed to keep
to my feet, running forward blindly,
and shrieking at the top of my voice.
| A horrid choking came into my throat,
and l staggered as ran, expecting at
any moment to feel the poisonous teeth
of the mad dog tearing at my quivering
flesh. =1s> *
I heard the dog close behind me-I
seemed to feel its fetid breath on the
back of my neck-I stumbled and fell!
Just as went down I saw a aaman
/ leap out of the bushes and go past me
to meet my canine pursuer. 1t was but
a glimpse, but that glimpse was enough,
for in the man I recognized Jim the
tramp. In his hand something bright
! flashed. ~ % .@
| Scrambling to a sitting posture I saw
man and dog meet in mortal combat.
| The mad animal leaped straight at
Jim's throat, but the mans arm pro-
tected that point, and the cleaning
teeth closed on that. Then began such
a. terrible struggle as I hope never
again to witness.
4 The tramp struck the dog with the
knife in his hand, and blood flowed
upon the grass. But the creature was
not to be beaten off, and it again leaped
at Jim's throat. The sharp yelping Of
the dog mingled with the hoarse breath
1 of the man, and I heard the crunching
Of the beasts teeth tearing through
flesh to the bone.
Again and again the animal leaped,
The man grew weaker, and both man
and dog were bespattered with blood.
At last the persistent beast overthrew
my heroic defender, and saw them bat
Ting madly on the grass, the dripping
knife being plunged again and again to
4 the hilt. Then I covered my eyes with