Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-08

TT was a very dusty, disreputable
pink nose that pushed open the
back gate of No. IL Templeton
flats, and it was followed by a
Ihabby canine body that had once been
white, but was at present dingy
arab, the result of infrequent bathing.
The apparition lodged, evidently ex-
pecting a brick or billet of wood for
welcome, instead of which 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.a
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 a 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 1t 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 down-at-the-heel bull
dog that was from all appearances at
outs with the world
"Law-a-massy, yo' drefful boy, wha'
70 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
inte the fold of her sheltering arms,
while the dog waited at respectful
distance snuffing the odor of roast
cooking in the oven.
Hes awful hungry, Cindy, and l
think he's lost. Maybe If you wash
him mamma will let me keep him.
I've wanted real live dog all my
life, Cindy."
"Bress de chile, he talks es eff he was
es ole es Methuselem," Cindy cried,
and straightway she began rum
mage for bones and odds and ends left
from the table, and these were carried
outside and made fine feast for the
starved stranger. But what to do
with him next? If only Cindy We're 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 dislking the animals,
wanted them to keep n respectful dis
tanCe. 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 keep
the dog seereted on the premises until
be had been groomed into the SEM
blance of fine kennel-bred sport with
q milk-white coat and sleek head
showing off pink serrated ears, and
IN expression of countenance so en-
trancingly ferocious that milkmen and
grocers' boys delivered their goods to
Cindy at the gate. And just at this
time Clndy advised Mark to let his
father and mother see his treasure, for
she feared consequences If they found
out that she was harborng the in
truder and was as deep in the con-
spiracy as the boy himself.
So this was what Mr.. and Mrs. Rob-
erts saw when they had dined one
evening and expected to spend an hour
listening to Marks account of the days
doings. He had been vague and I'M
satisfactory lately at this post-pran-
dial hour, sometimes unduly excited.
and again unnaturally quiet. Cindy
had given him a blue ribbon-it had
been washed and ironed-and leading
his acquisition by this tether he
marched into the parlor, and neither
of them saw the animal until 1t stood
before them regarding them with can
Inc curiosity. Mrs. Roberts climbed
on a chair and screamed. Mr.. Roberts
said sharply, "Take that brute away
and then Mark made his plea.
Hes just lovely, papa plays Will
me all the time and doesn't never gel
cross. Cindy can tell you-Cindy
come heren
81 declar ter goodness, Mis- Roberts
dat chile am so posest ter hev DAVIS
Use scared ter hear him 80 on An
dat ar is nifty nice kind; he got mos
es much sense es l hes myself, an ht
d9an nevah bark, jest fit ter play Wi
chilluns."
How long has been here?" asked
Mrs. Roberts as she stepped down tc
earth again.
Else cawH't exackly say. but he's
done 'customed to de place. an