Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-07
BY EDGAR wELroN COOLEY.
ocoD,rIsAt. IDsl by D.ny ssory Pub. Co.,


A tall. raw-boned man sat on the top
of a ''stake-and-rider' fence, in the shade
of butternut tree. whiting stick. Be-
meath him, curled up in the high, and
tangled swamp grass. squirrel dog dozed
lazily.
The fence was in the bottom lands in
the edge Of a village. A river flowed near
by and a road climbed hill and rolled
away towards a larger town-the county
seat.
sDanI." the man said, addressing the
dog pears like everything Is goin TO.
rack an ruin in Cloverdale. Times amt
what they were hereabouts twenty years
ago"
The dog raised his head and looked at
his master a moment; then lazily resum-
ed his nap. The man laughed-a low,
gutteral laugh.
DAM"
The, dog made vain attempt to raise
HE head. Then he tried to wag his tail,
but faxed. A king-bird darted from the
fierce near by, huttered moment in mid
air and then resumed its perch.
You're Just like the town, Dan1," re-
sumed the man, 'just like the town.
Don't do nothin', sir, but sleep In the
shade. Amt got no more energy nor
-.
| sir. don't know what's goin' to become
OF us all"
| fIIigh overhead a hawk circled slowly
| in the blue sky. From some where across
the roao came the song of meadow
lark and the plaintive whistle of a ground
squirrel.
Listen to that now-just listen to that
squirrel over there coaxin' you to come
an catch i'm, an you"
The man paused as he. caught the sound
of wagon wheels approaching. A sleepy
looking horse, hitched to a light wagon
and driven by a white haired man, came
stumbling along the road. When the
driver saw the man on the fence ne
drew rein.
.sHowd'y, Judge" he SAID. "Howd'y."
"Howd,y, major" replied the Judge.
throwing away his stick. Mighty me
day.
The major coughed.
"Clouds over in the southwest" he, said.
Looks like 1t might rain"
Both men lapsed into silence. The morse
stood with closed, eyes and nodded head.
The dog painted in his sleep. The hum
OF insects arose from the grass. The ma
| for struck an iron weed with his whip;
then he looked up suddenly.
Come here. judge" he said.
The other climbed slowly down from the
| fence and shuffled over to the wagon. The
/ dog raised MS uGdu a N--~-- ~
/ cred IT again. The major leaned far over
| the wheel, with the manner Of one VINO
has an important bit of Information to i'm
part.
and leaned back to note the effect OF the
announcement
"a. doctor? When did he come;
"He didn't come at all" replied the ma
| for, chuckling Its a woman"
Good LordT'. exclaimed the judge ex-
| citedly. Excuse me, Brother Thornton, II
/ 1 swear a little. but I'll be damned II l
know what the town is comm to, sir
/ A woman doctor! Well well, well! Nice
| business for a woman to follow. better
/ be in the kitchen, where she belongs.
.sThat's what / allow" replied Thorn
| ton. "Them's the very words said to
/ Sophie when hearn it. Better be In the
! Kitchen says I, where a woman belongs.
j lust think of the influence OF our daugh-
/ ters,' says 1. There's nary one OF en-
/ SAYS I, but what'll be gittin' the notion
in her head that she's too good Tor WASH,
/ in dishes and maxim beds, says l." And
| the major gave vent to his displeasure by
/ whipping the dust into clouds.
/ "As men of influence in Cloverdale,
Judge Whitmore," resumed the major,
j STRENGTHENING himself up with an air OF
great Importance, "as men OF influence an
| leadership, as you might say, allow It's
| our solemn duty, sir, to use every means
to discourage this woman from remaining
| In our midst sir. She's menace to the
| community" And he coughed as though
the responsibility sat heavily upon him.
whftmore nodded his head in approval
/ and climbed awkwardly into the wagon.
wen inform her that her presence
here is not needed he said, determin-
Thornton gave a pull on the reins The
horse. reluctantly. opened its eyes, slowly
| shook its tail at the flies and started de-
( Iiberately toward town. They rode a short
| suddenly said:
Hold on a minute, major. swan If we
amt left Dan'I behind. Wouldn't take
farm for that dog, sir. Smartest dog In the
country. Here, Dan'l; here, sir; here?
Thornton seemed annoyed at the de-
lay and retorted sharply:
''If your dogs so thunderin' smart. I'd
/ think he'd find his way home alone, sir.
The Judge gazed at him with look OF.
! whitening contempt. -
Its quite evident, sir he said. that
you don't know as much about a. dog as
gadfiy knows about heaven. No self
respectful dog, sir, would think of goin'
home without his master. Here, Dan1;
come here, SIR
but don't he know enough to follow
you ?'.s asked the major, contemptuously.
'Of course he does, sir; of course he
does. But how do you think a dog finds
his master? DO you think he runs around
with his head'up IN the air, like he'd freed
coon? No, sir. He trails him by the
scent OF his nostrils, SIR. Do you under
stand? BY the scent of his nostrils. And no
dog in this country has a ffiner set OF
nostrils than Dan'l has, sir. But even he
cannot. trail me in wagon. Here, Dan1i
Dan'l! All, here he comes. Yes, sir; fin
est dog in the country, sir" 80,
The major smiled and cracked his whip
over his horses back. The wagon rum