The Globe-republican., 1897-03-18

lhdrt, ~ he opened the door, ana sAs
crowd roared to . man.
'sr1l tell you what I'll do said
smother. I'm give half dollar for
his hide II anyone II shoot him"
A butchers boy lounging against the
counter bet he could hit him first
crack"
Just then the puppy settled slowly
pn his launches, looked up at the
Butchers boy and wagged his tail.
''Look out-don't ye come near me,
aid the butchers boy.
The next instant q well-directed
boot rolled the puppy into the road.
He staggered to his feet and stood gar
ing up ct the crowd on the porch. hi
limbs trembling. The storekeeper
eame out with box of cartridges and
. Winchester. Throwing a shell into
the magazine he handed the rifle to tho
butchers boy.
There was pause.
''Git that hind sight fine on him" h
was the man in the SLOUGH hat telling
the butchers boy.
"Hyax!" came stern voice out of tho
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 ye? SEQ
that there puppy when he came daown
10 the center. Thar ant nothfn' 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
brembled 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 80 the puppy lived with Israel.
and one August day the old hunter left
his cabin at daylight with his dog.
Hadn't ye better GIT a couple Of the
boys to help ye, Israel, if you're agoin'7
to git aout them hemlock?" said Jeru-
shy his wife, as he left.
II presume likely had" said Israel,
leaning ON his az at the gate. Crank
he's ought to went to the center to.
day to git them shingles, and Pete cal
calated he'd go fshin'. No." he con-
tinued. II guess I'll make aout well
enough alone, thar ant so much but
what kin handle it," and, shoulder
ing his Ak, he disappeared in the woods,
talking to the dog.
It was about noon when Jerushy fin
Dshed 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. II hain't
more'n had my hands out of the dish
water and it's plumb noon" 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, readtustlng her steel specta
cles. ''What ais ye-stop it, We fool!'
But the dog kept tugging at her
dress.
"Got mushrat, have ye?" said the
old lady, coaxingly. "Wall 1 presume
we'll have to 60 and see it fore yen
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
Israel's ''leetle piece" as the hunter
called his lumber cutting. When he
reached the brook the dog stopped,
snuffing to the right and left; suddenly
he stopped and began to howl, and
OcIUSuy, AOOhAAS o0 SAO S.N6S "a S>AAA>
alders, saw the print of IsraePs shoe If
the mud.
Then the truth seemed to flash acros.
her mind.
"Suthin's happened to Israel or thai
dog wouldn't perform like that, I'll
warrant ye," she said, hurrying on.
The dog barked sharply and plunged
on through the woods, the old lady
following as best she could, calling a
Intervals:
"Israel, Israel, wha- be ye? Be "
hurt?'
Suddenly the dog stopped and list
ened, and Jerushy heard far up thu
mountain a faint halloo.
Ten minutes later she found the OLE
man buried under hemlock, unhurt
but unable to move hand or foot.
As Jerushy stood by wringing hel
hands the dog tried to ferret himsel
beneath the pile of debris, Juggling .
Israel's coat.
''Oh. Israel, be you a dyin'?" noanet
Jerushy.
"Dyin'? No." Israel replied. IS