The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-06-21

and dogs had been relieved, sick birds
and forlorn kittens had been looked at
ter, and on one occasion, horse being
/ beaten by its brutal master found a
protection. All of the members but
Donna Maria had done something
worthy of the cause; singularly enough,
for two or three weeks she did not have
a single chance to help poor, helpless
or prosecuted animal But her oppor-
tunity came at last.
She was returning home from school
one afternoon when, as she went past
an alely that opened into her street,
! she heard a dog howl. Several small
lads of her own age were standing in
an animated group, talking and laugh
ing.
Lets tie a rock to him and sink him
in the river,"
NO, let's get cat to fight him, and
/ scratch out his eyes,
mo, let's fasten a bunch of fire
crackers to his tail, and see him rum
The childish voices rose shrill and
eager on the summer air, and the poor
puppy, lifted by brutal hands, by the
nape of the neck, emitted another howl
for chorus.
In a moment Donna was in their
DiluSl, nGT CIeehS lluSueu dn angry I6us
her blue eyes flashing.
You are mean, wicked boys. to treat
poor, innocent dog SOL she cried.
You shall not have him for any such
brutal sport
Donna Maria advanced determinedly,
and caught the little frightened animal
from the lad who held him.
You have no more right to the cur
! than we have!" cried one of the boys,
as he rudely attempted to gain posses
sion of the dog.
You have no right to abuse him, y
returned Donna, standing her ground,
and if you don't let me alone I will
call a policeman, and he will put you
all under arrest"
|. Her threat had its effect. The street
arabs scampered away as if for their
lives, and Donna Maria walked home
with her trembling prize as proudly as
though she bore a trophy from the
wars.
What in the name of wonder are you
going to do with that NANCY cur?'' in
quired her elder brother, Waldo, as she
entered the house.
"Oh, you won't talk So answered
Donna, when you see what a hand
some little fellow he is. l have just
rescued him from some cruel boys. and
mamma mayn't l keep him for my
own if no one claims him. Just look at
his pretty, melting eyes. All, Jack
aren't you glad to be in such safe
hands?"
Mrs. George intimated a willingness
to crafty her little daughter; and as,
after being duly advertised, no one APP
peared TO claim the dog, Donna began
to quite feel an ownership in the waif.
Jack" was a spaniel, and after. a
good bath and q weeks kind treatment
proved to be really handsome fellow
to look at. No one could have known
him as the same dog that had been res
cued in the street few days before
He was devoted to his little mistress,
constantly attending her, and her
brother jokingly called them Jack and
Jill"
"They may laugh at US all they
WISH said Donna, patting Jacks vel
vety head. but you have the real met
tie, and you are a dog worth having"
And she always insisted that Jack
would one day more than pay for his
keeping
One Saturday in the fall, Jack and
Donna were left alone in the house.
Even Kathleen, the cook, had gone out.
But the little girl was not at all afraid.
I'VE do not fear TO be alone, do we,
Jack?" and Donna coddled upon the
sofa. with "Grimm's Fairy Tales" in
her hands, while her pet nestled close
beside her. 1 suppose she must have
fallen asleep. for she was aroused by
hearing a noise in the dining room,
followed by Jacks sharp barking
Startled, she tried to call the dog to
her, but he would not be quoted. Co
ing to the door and listening. she could
plainly hear the sound Of stealthy foot
steps 1t must be a burglar, she felt
sure, and she began to tremble.
But Jack was brave enough; he did
not mean to be frightened by burglars
or ANYTHING else. He kept up fran
tic barking, jumping at the door as
though he would go through it. Final
" it opened to his repeated assaults,
and the dog rushed through with
savage yelp. There was hurried scram-
bling, emphatic CALCULATIONS, and then
silence.
When Donna Maria plucked up cour-
age to investigate she found the door
of the safe open. and mask upon the
floor. dropped by one of the would-be
robbers in his haste to get away. For
tunately. no treasure had been carried
away. and the family had no doubt
that a serious loss had been prevented
by Jacks timely attack.
Eyer after Jack held a warm place
in the hearts of the household, ana
they were quite content 10 let MN
STAY. And that was the way Donna
Maria frightened the burglars away
for il she had not found Jack ana res
cued him, the burglars certainly would
not have left as they did Dung
Churchman.