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

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reckon feels at home, an dat chile jes
too happy for ennyting waltzin' roun'
wifi him foh company all day"
Mark had his arm around the brute's
neck and was rubbing his own smooth
cheek against the blunt head, the dog
accepting his caresses with such evil
dent appreciation that Mr. Roberts,
after watching them a moment, said:
II haven't any use for dog, but If
the boy wants this one to play with
l have no objection. But keep him
away from me-"
He's to stay in the yard, remember
that, Cindy," said Mrs. Roberts, sharp
ly. II suppose Mark could be fur
nished with a better companion, but
he'll get tired Of him, or the dog will
run away. 1 wish his owner would
find him."
If they had read the lost and found
notices in the papers they would have
seen startling advertisement anent
this same dog with a reward of three
figures offered for his safe return. But
they did not, and Mark and Cindy
could not read, and they might have
Kept it to themselves in any event,
as they did tine dog.
Time passed and the father and
mother did not get over their objection
to Marks playmate, which indeed they
seldom saw, being, much out in So
ciety, at which time the child was
supposed to be sleeping in his little
bed. So in truth he was, and often
"old fellow" the only name he had,
was curled up on the foot of the bed
after a romp through every room up
stairs with Cindy in attendance. And
he was there one night when the
family came home late from the the
atre, but with a cunning discrimination
he had jumped down and hidden, and
they did not see him when they looked
in on the sleeping boy.
In the early morning hours Mr.. and
Mrs. Roberts We're awakened from
sound slumber by fearful crash, and
simultaneously with the sound the
white bulldog hurled itself through
the transom of their door, carrying
the frame with it, as it landed in the
middle of the room. They had only
time for one horrible thought, that the
animal had gone mad-when they saw
flame and smoke rushing in and knew
they were saved from death. The fiat
was on fire-there was time for the
Family to be saved, all the rest was
lost. And it was found later from
light scratches on Marks face that the
dog had tried to awaken him, but
failed, and then performed n feat that
was almost superhuman and denoted
an intelligence of the keenest fibre.
When they were settled in new
home 'old fellow" was the hero of the
hour. A silver collar graced his ath-
letic neck and his story was told in
print. Mrs. Roberts gave him the
privilege of the drawing-room, but
Mark and Cindy We're reserved for his
special friends, and sometimes he
seemed little tired of them. He
dropped and they sent for veterinary
surgeon, who could find nothing def
mite the matter, but concluded he had
thc lliSuJ Ol HIS llIe-
saving feat. But the hurt was deeper
than that, as they soon learned.
They We're walking in the park and
sat down to rest, Mark and "old fell
low making a striking picture and at.
tracing attention as usual. Then oc.
| CURED tableau more striking. The
dog saw man at little distance, ran
toward him, leaped on his shoulders
and almost bore him to the ground by
the violence of his caresses. He had
| found his own.
why, he's the boss trickster of the
Albion Clubs Kennels" said the man
Hi; Oldfellow, jump for the gentle
man.
And obedient to orders the dog per.
formed the trick which had made him
a life-saver and proved the mans
ownership. And now he had less use
for the Roberts family than they had
for him. He turned tail on the whole
bunch and went off with his trainer
with acute satisfaction, leaving Mark
gazing after him wistfully and say
ing:
And just to think 1 called him old
| fellow and it was his very own