Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-06

Il wonder who Z u now3" though
Grandma Waite. ~ she went 10 admi
the visitor. II was . man In Q grea
fur coat, with . big cap pulled wei
down over his ears.
How are ye?" he said. as he stampe
the snow from his feet. Don't kno,
me. do We? Wall. ! don't wonder. IN
bundled up so. l sh'd think you coul
tell my voice. tho"
1T amt Job Green. Is it," aske'
Grandma Waite.
You've hit It," was the reply. g
s'pose you want lookin' for me til
to-morrer. But wanted to see a maj
over to Greensboro bout some COW
he's got to sell, an / thought I'd g
over there to-day an stop an git y
when go back in the mornin'. Gi
your traps packed an be ready 'bou
ten o'clock. / s'pose We haint go
much to bother WITH" with lool
about the poor little room.
There amt much 'cepting me an
Rover" said Grandma Waite.
Il hope you don't reckon on takin
that dog along?" said Job Green IL
surprise. II don't want him around
wouldn't have him on the premises To-
anything. You'll hev to get red o
him, some way"
"Oh, / can't let Rover go!" criet
Grandma Waite. turning pale anc
shaking all over. II can't! HI
b'longed to Sarah's boy, that died, an
/ set by him s much I would by per
son. I can't go unless he does.
WON'T" she cried with sudden energy
called out by the fear of losing her ole
friend.
But you'll have to-" said Job Greer
in tone that meant his will was tt
be her law. "If you don't want to
leave him to take care Of himself, you
can have him shot,"
"Shot!"
Grandma Waite sank down on the
floor by her old friend. and put heI
arms around his neck and hid her face
In his shaggy coat, while sobs shook
her from head to feet.
II don't see the sense o. yer takin
on So" said Job Green harshly. Hes
nothin' but dog, an can't be both
cred with him.
''Nothin' but dog, mebbe," sobbed
the poor old creature, "but sometimes
dogs air better friends to us than folks
be. can't part with him."
wall, l amt a-goin' to argy the
matter with ye," said the man, unfeel-
ingly. But the dog can't go to my
place, an that settles it. I'll take you,
jest as I've said l would, but l won't
take him. I'm a-goin' now, an you
can think it over 'twixt now an the
time come back. / hope you'll look
at it sensible, an make up yer mind to
get red of him. Shootin's good way,
fer it's quick an easy, an I've got
in my pocket to do 1t with.
Be reddy by ten," and Job Green was
gone.
Grandma Waite sat down by the
stove again with strange, tense look
IN her face. Rover came and laid down
1T her feet. The two old friends were
very quiet for long time.
"Oh, to think they want to have you
shot!" she cried out at last, getting
down on her knees and putting her
arms around the dogs neck again.
I'll die first! They sha'n't part us,
Rover"
Rover whined and put his nose
against her face.
II know what I'm goin' to do"
Grandma Waite cried with a sudden
energy that seemed to make younger
woman of her. I'm goin' to the
/ used to think I'd ruther
lie than go there, but one can't die
because they want to. ] don't b'leeve
hey'll refuse to let me keep you there,
Rover. 1t don't seem s eff they could,
when / tell them what friend you've
been to me, an how you blonged to
Sarah's boy, that died. ] can work
enough to pay for your keepin', /
lnow."
The night was beginning to close in.
rhe snow was no longer falling. In
he west long streak of yellow
showed where the sun was setting as
Grandma Waite went to the window
md looked out.
We'll wait till 1t gets so late we
won't be likely to meet anybody, an
hen we'll start" she said to the dog.
L don't want to meet anybody If / can
lelp it, fer mebbe they'd make us come
Jack IL they found out where we was
,oin.'"
She got out the old black-and-white
,laid shawl that had done duty for a
core of years, and her brown wooden
lood, and the leggins Mrs. Peasly had
,iven her year ago last Christmas,
md laid them all on the table. Well
,e ready to start as soon IS it's SAFE"
he said. Then she filled the stove
With wood and put the tea-kettle on.
Wen eat somethin', for we've got
/ good long ways to co." she said to
he dog, IAN 'twouldn't do to start out
With an empty stummick."
She made her cup of tea and ate
ome bread, while Rover munched at
he crusts she gave him with evident
elish.
'I'll share my last mossel with you,
Id friend" she said, STOPPING down to
,at his head. and he thumped the floor
With his tail, as IL in that way he
.ouh express his appreciation of her
better than in any other.
Once in a while she heard the sound
II bells. BY and bye, these sounds
at mus be gettin' nigh on to ten,"
he said. II guess it's time to start"
She put on her things In nervous
'agerness that told how excited she
vas over her undertaking.