Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-18
DIKK0N's DOG.

1.-The scene Of This story, originally contrib
uted to a prize contest in McClure's Mag
azine is laid in a camp of United States troops on
the plains Of the Southwest. Dikkon is q veteran
and one Of the best soldiers Of the regiment His
friend and constant companion is his dog, Grub
bins, gaunt yellow cur, with bristling hair, an
eye which nothing escapes, and a temper always
ready for any act, offensive or defensive. His
distinguishing trait is his "unexpectedness. D."
The dog is scarcely In favor with the men, but is
tolerated by them because Of their regard for
Dikkon. new colonel has recently come to the
regiment who has not yet acquired the traditional
regard for Grubbins, and he has already threaten
ed "a bullet an a ditch" for the animal at the
next complaint which comes to him. In one re-
spect Dikkon and the Colonel are alike. The dog
is the soldiers one pet and solace, while 1.-THE
apple o. the Colonel eye" is his winsome three
year-old motherless daughter Marion. After
a recent escapade Of Grubbins, Dikkon is tell
ing his sympathetic friend, Mooney, how he first
''met up with the dog, prefacing the story with
the pathetic observation. that "Ol' Grubbns
is about as much to me, reckon, as little Miss
Marion yon is to the Oh Colonel Fer tn same rea-
son. All thet's left to me O. somethin' loved ~
"I reckon never told We how 1 met up
with Grubbinsl 1 was in the Tennessee
mountings, when we wor down there with
Grant. That was in '64, years back, when
l wor volunteer. Nigh where we wor
camped there wor cabin. girl lived
thar, all alone Her dad an five brothers
had gone into the Union army, and they
never come back. Her name wor Mar
celia. She had right pretty blue eyes, an
cough punched a man oncet for tryin'
to make free with her, an Grubbins chawed
him ND afterwards. Grubbins wor her dog;
a five-year-old, then, an s ornery s he is
now. We got to be right good friends,
she'n 1; afterwards, more. l hadn't nary
"A red but my pay; no more she. But
promised ter KEN back an marry her oncet
the fightin' wor over"
FothsShen smoked for time in silence.
"'Twas in May, '65, got back there. II
was noughty purity day, with clouds like
gold. The cabin do was tight shet. An
the ". ldows. Ez KEN up heerd Grub
bins bowl. Reckon ye never heerd WALLER
dog via
iT,,e neighbors he'd jest took care O. hel
antieft her, an gone back ter get the coffin
She had changed considerable-th as @
ira5sr. She he'd wound grass round my
ring ~ keep it on her fnger-it wor 6
hoss-hair ring. braided it from my hoss'
tail
II stayed for the fun'ral. Grubbins an
not by her all day an all night Wher
+ ths grave wor filed in, Grubbins he turned
an reached up his big yaller paw ter me
an, bis eyes said, Reckon it's we two now
ol' manY An shuk his paw, an says
yea. Grubbins, 3 long as we both live
An whom 1 listed ez a regular, Grubbin
listed long O. me-"
An wild ahl his ecsyncrasities, Grubbin
is credit to the ould rigimintl"
was sympathetic choke in Mooney voice
~ Il. 10 f1o hat
IL was q wild commotion on the parade
ground. There were growls and snarl
ana d0ieful squeals: rushing footsteps
fhwacking blows, child's sobs, stern AM
Ane4g roice. "Take that dog away, ant
IN ehort, enraged howl in Grubbins'
unf'isIakable accents.
Q|tkon and Mooney were in the middl
the parade. In little Maid Marion
fsAa. pressed close to her tear STAINED
ttaee. as q 5quealing huddle of very mud
d h|ae aket, with pathetic pink stall
do.i here and there. Grubbins, hi
re es afre, a stout cord round hi
was in the grasp of soldier VIII
4ainly trying to combine holding tn
dog With a respectful salute to his colonel
The Colonels face was gray with rage
hIa eyes blazed under their shaggy brows
IhIongh the sudden silence, Marion's sob
sa.a@ piteously clear.
tIake away that nasty beast-do 20
htUlp Thus the Colonel, tensely, between
tI eth. ''I've overlooked his trick
1iIherlo, because his master is an old sol
der and good one. But when it come
10 hiIling my granddaughter pet on tn
open phrade-"
hnre the little haste isn't dead at ah
II Mooney had gently taken tn
small blue bundle, separated chewed-u
blanket from chewed-up dog, and held tn
.1netfng terrier out with one hand, tn
other " salute; his eyes clouded and ana
'on0 Hes just dis-disfracshured bi
~ tpots, sorr, but shtrip or two o'plasl
III D make him as good as liver he wa
soIr an that's no good at ahll" jerke
Mooney. confdentially, back from his teet
N's throat. "An' Grubbins mint 4
harm. orr. He'd niver sane the loike b,
ioH1' ~ was jst investigator, an whe
n. |0Und it wad bite"
H6'd your tongue, Mooney" thundere
Ih. 0|1nel, recovering the breath that I'll
I..1n's unparalleled audacity had take
M stake charge of that dog
U.0.4 mechanically took from the SC
d. at leash at whose other end Cru
h0 4hs wildly straining to reach h
..r "He has done his last mischie
~, WI have him hanged within an hou
hot Hord, tell youp as MONEYS Iii
o0 u 10 gasp. "Come, sweetheart
1rD and angry voice fell to a cares
i0 I|sper; the Colonel lifted Marion, d.
AI. . and set her on his stalwart arr
g0.1' hush, dearl The bad dog shar
10I| I|lle Fido any more. Come HON