Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-02-13

TT was very dusty, disreputable
pink nose that pushed open the
back gate Of No. II Templeton
4 flats, and it was followed by a
Ihabby canine body that had once been
white, but was at present a dingy
drab, the result OF infrequent bathing.
The apparition lodged, evidently eX-
pecting a brick or billet of wood for a
welcome, instead Of which soft jul
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 n
small boy seated on a 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.
"Lawa-massy, yo' drefful boy, wha'
20 mudder say an yo' fadder when
day see dat dog?"
She gathered her skirts about her
prepared to run, but Marks pleading
arms We're about her fat waist and she
inte the fold of her sheltering arms,
while the dog waited at respectful
distance snuffing the odor of a 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 a real live dog all my
life, Cindy."
"Bress de chile he talks es ef 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 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-
auainted with the canine type, was al
ways spotlessly dressed, and while
not especially disliking the animals,
wanted them to keep a respectful dis
tance. He had fears, too, of hydro
phobia, and like other ignorant per-
sons believed that the bite of 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 secreted on the premises until
he had been groomed into the sem
blance Of fine kennel-bred sport with
a milk-white coat and q sleek head,
showing off pink serrated ears, and
an expression of eountenance so en-
trancingly ferocious that milkmen and
grocers' boys delivered their goods to
Cindy at the gate. And just at this
time Cindy advised Mark to let his
father and mother see his treasure, for
she feared consequences If they found
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. 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 un
satisfactory lately at this post-pran
dial hour, sometimes unduly excited
md again unnaturally quiet. Cindy
had given him blue ribbon-it hat
been washed and homeland leading
his acquisition by this tether h,
marched into the parlor, and neither
of them saw the animal until it stood
before them regarding them with can
Inc curiosity. Mrs. Roberts climbed
on chair and screamed Mr.. Robert.
said sharply, "Talie that brute away,
and then Mark made his plea.
"He's Just lovely, papa; plays will
me all the time and doesn't never ge
cross. Cindy can tell you-Cindy
come herer'
81 declar ter goodness, Mis- Roberts
dat chile am so posest ter hev dawi
Use scared ter hear him go OH. An
dat ar Is nifty nice kind; he got mos
es much sense es l hes myself, an h
doan nevah bark, jest fit ter play wi
chilluns."
How long has been here" aske,
Mrs. Roberts as she stepped down t.
earth again.
Else oowH't exackly say, but he
done 'eustomed to de place, an