Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-03

tortions that brought his launches almost
to his shin. When he felt the ground after
the first flight he had made two yards and
his hair swept the wind as he rushed on.
Here, IN his dogs comprehension, was
something tangible. something not only to
bark at, but to bite. The venerable gentle.
man dropped the flowers he had gathered
and turned unsteadily to the fence, but
made such poor progress that Nicodemus.
with terribly cleaning teeth and a bounce
like a kangaroo, ran into his legs. There
was then q fall Of dog and man. with q
~singularly active display Of man. consider
Ing age and lack of recent athletic train
ing. and as the venerable gentleman came
upright he did the only thing that seemed
to his bewildered mind OF rational purpose.
The fence was still a great way of, and
the speed Of the dog had impelled that
animal on a few feet, but be was even now
reversing himself. Nearer than the fence
branched a tree. Two comforting knobs,
within easy reach, projected from the
trunk, And before he quite knew how he
dbl It, the venerable gentleman, with
amazing agility, was seating himself on a
lower branch Of the tree, while the doR
was making earnest and savage Efforts TO
reach his dangling legs.
The man bTeathed heavily. and. in a
spirit of Cancellation. snapped his fingers
childishly, smacked his lips and assured
Nicodemus that he was a good and a
sweet and an altogether estimable doggie,
in none OF which compliments did the ven
cradle gentleman actually believe; nor did
the dog accept them. Contrarily, and
knowing that the pantomime and express
sions Of this stranger were intended. in
aTaft 10 ha fFianAlu Tho unfuaRahla apHpnGI
pleased hat he had freed the victim who.
for all the dog knew. was the very person
who had formerly thrown coal at him. took
these manifestations as signs OF rage, and
when the prisoner dropped a handkerchief
he seized and shook II VIGOROUSLY.
The interest naturally served to interest
the men at the car wheels. They came TO
the fence In = body, calling out to the dog
TO desist, and one. braver than his fellows,
mounted the rails IN an effort to Distract
Nieodemus from his prey. He put one foot
down on the opposite side as II he would
come into the pasture. II was withdrawn
almost on the instant. for the dog, now
animated by a desire to engage all Corners,
sprang at the would-be intruder and his
white teeth closed on a boot heel. The man
OF courage, giving way to reasonable pro-
family, fell back into the arms Of his com
pAnions. The raree stood in doubt and con-
ference, but made no new move, while
Nieodemus returned to guard the tree with,
now and then. sudden spCrtive excursions
in their direction. Thus. with tall wag-
sing, he kept alert, while suggestions
passed from the Venerable Gentleman 10 HE
distant companions. something was said
OF firearms, but none appeared. and after
the engineer had for some minutes poked
a long iron rod through the fence 10 be
growled at by the beast, pacific oyertures
were renewed and there was more snap
ping OF fingers. calls and whistles. The
porter on the car came forth to view the
proceedings, but was equally vague in sug-
g%estions, although he referred TO hot water.
Into this excitement, after some minutes
came Mrs. o'Hearn. her arms barred to the
elbows, and a rolling pin IN one hand. She
waddled down, red and GREATNESS. her -four
smeared apron telling Of baking day. Der
bearing that Of pondeTOVs surprise. she