The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-12-12

IT was n very dusty, disreputable
pink nose that pushed open the
back gate of No. IL Templeton
= flats, and It was followed by a
shabby canine body that had once been
white, but was at present a dingy
drab, the result of infrequent bathing.
The apparition lodged evidently ex-
pectlng a brick or billet of wood for
welcome, instead of which a soft ju-
venile voice said encouragingly:
"COme in, old fellow; don't be afraid,
there isn't anybody here but me-"
And "Old fellow" wiggled along,
showing gladness and gratitude in
every motion, and made his way to
small boy seated on box in one corner
of the yard, engaged in fixing some
sort of a mechanical toy The dog
wagged his abbreviated tail in an at
tempt to be fond, and at the same
time exhibited row Of dazzling white
teeth in an undershot jaw, and he
looked very tough, but little Mark
Roberts was not the least bit afraid.
He patted the stray dogs head, called
him "old fellow" and then bethought
him that it would only be kind to give
him something to eat. So the next
thing the cook in the Roberts family
saw was Master Mark in white blouse
and lace collar, entering her spotless
kitchen with a down-at-the-heel bull
dog that was from all appearances at
outs with the world.
"Law-a-massy, yO' drefful boy, wha'
yo' mudder say an yo' fadder when
day see dat dOg?"
She gathered her skirts about her
prepared to run, but Marks pleading
arms were about her fat waist and she
dropped in a heap and gathered him
into the fold Of her sheltering arms,
while the dog waited at a respectful
distance shutting the odor of a roast
cooking in the oven.
He's awful hungry, Cindy, and l
think he's lost Maybe if you wash
him mamma will let me keep him.
I've wanted a real live dog all my
life, Cindy."
Dress de chile, he talks es eff he was
es ole es Methuselem," Cindy cried
and straightway she began a rum
mage for bones and odds and ends left
from the table, and these were carried
outside and made a fine feast for the
starved stranger. But what to do
with him next? If only Cindy were to
be prOpitiated that were an easy vic
tory, but Marks mother hated dogs.
She often said So and believed it her.
self Mr.. Roberts was totally unac-
quainted with the canine type, was al
ways spotlessly dressed, and while
not especially disliking the animals,
wanted them to keep a respectful dis
lance. He had fears, too, OF hydro.
phObia, and like other ignorant per-
sons believed that the bite of a dog
was fatal whether the animal had
rabies or not.
Against these objections what could
Mark do? What he did was to keeI
the dog secreted on the premises until
he had been groomed into the sem
blance of a fine kennel-bred sport will
a milk-white coat and a sleek head
showing off pink serrated ears, an(
an expression Of countenance so en-
trancingly ferocious that milkmen ant
grocers' boys delivered their goods t,
Cindy at the gate. And just at thi
time Cindy advised Mark to let hi
father and mother see his treasure, 70
she feared consequences if they fount
out that she was harboring the in
truder and was as deep in the con
spiracy as the boy himself.
So this was what Mr.. and Mrs. Rot
erts saw when they had dined on
evening and expected to spend an hou
listening to Marks account of the day
doings. He had been vague and ur
satisfactory lately at this post-prar
dial hour, sometimes unduly excited
and again unnaturally quiet. Cind
had given him a blue ribbon-it la
been washed and ironed-and leadin
his acquisition by this tether l.
marched into the pa-lor, and nelthe
Of them saw the animal until it stoo
before them regarding them with cal
inc curiosity. Mrs Roberts clinbe
on a chair and screamed. Mr.. Robert
said sharply, Take that brute away
and then Mark made his plea
"He's just lovely, papa; plays wit
me al the time and doesn't never q