Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-09

OnA6I0H Nv.
YVAYIE listened awhile then, but
lin" heard no sound in the thicket,
IEXsZs, although Fred was growing
la1J omlnously, his hair on end.
As for myself, never had more fear
full hour than that we suffered before
the light Of morning came
I made no outcry, but chung to my old
companion, trembling. He did not stir
for few minutes, and then we crept
cautiously into the small hemlocks on
one side of the opening.
Keep STILL" he whispered. Don't
move er speak,"
Presently we heard move In the
brush, and then quick as fash Uncle
Eb lifted his rife and fred in the direc-
ton of tt Before the loud echo had
gone or in the woods we heard some
thing break through the brush at run.
"S man, said Uncle Eb as he lis
tened He amt a.losin' no time
nuther"
We sat listening o. the sound grew
fainter, and when 1t ceased entirely Un-
Gle Eb said hs must have got to the
road. After little the light Of the
morning began sitting down through
the tree tops and was greeted with In
Vulnerable songs.
HE done noble" said Uncle Eb, pat
ting the old dog a. he rose to poke the
FIRE. "Purty good chap I call I'm! he
can hev half o my dinner any time he
wants It"
"Who do you suppose It was7' I In.
quired.
Robbers, guess" hs answered, "an'
they'll be layfn' fer US when we 20 out
mebbe; but, II they are, Fred II find
EN-, an I've got or Trusty here, an /
guess thet'll take care Nv u.s."
His ride was always nattered with
that name Of or Trusty when it had
done him good turn.
Soon as the light had come clear he
went out In the near woods with dog
and ride and beat around in the brush.
He returned shortly and said he had
seen where they came and went.
ia a-killed 'sm deader n a door.
nall" said he. laying down the old ride,
" they'd a.come any nearsr."
Then We brought water from the
river and had eur breakfast. Fred
went on ahead Of us when we started
for the road, scarrytng through the
brush on both sidss Of the trail as II
he knew what was expected OF him,
Hs flushed q number Of partridges,
and Uncle Eb killed one Of them on
our way to the road. We resumed our
Journey without any further adven-
ture. It was 30 smooth and level under
foot that Uncle Nb 1T me get In the
wagon after Fred was hitched to It.
The old dog went along .soberly and
without much effort. save when We
came to hills or sandy places, when I
always got out and ran on behind.
Uncle BIB showed me how to brake
the wheels with long stick goins
downhill. remember bow It hit the
dogs heels at the arst down grade and
how he ran to hssp out OF the way
Of 1t. We weso gotns like mad In half
. minute, Uncle Hb coming after us
calling to the dog. Fred only looked
over his shoulder with wild eye at
the rafting wagon and ran the harder.
| He leaped aside at the bottom, and
then we went all In heap. For
tunately no harm was done.
II declared" said Uncle Eb as he
came up to US, pufnng like spent
horse, and picked me up unhurt and
began to untangle the harness Of old
Fred. Il guess he must a thought the
devil was after him."
The dog growlsd little for mo-
ment and bit at the harness, but coax.
ing treasured him, and he went along
oil right again on the level. At small
settlement the children came out ask
ing me questions. Some Of them tried
to pet the dog, but old Fred kept to
his labor at the heels Of Uncle Eb and
looked neithsr to right nor left. We
stopped under q tree By the side Of q
narrow brook for our dinner, and one
incident Of that dinner I think of al
ways when / think Of Uncle Eb. II
shows the manner Of man he was and
with what understanding and sym
patty he regarded every living thing.
In rinsing his teapot he accidentally
poured q bit Of water on big humble
| OSOs AAc pOOE CIeutuCS struggled IC
lift himself, and then another down.
pour caught him and still another until
his wings fell drenched. Then his
breast began heaving violently, his
legs stiffened behind him, and he sank
head downward in the grass. Uncle
Eb saw the death throes Of the bee
and knelt down and lifted the dead
body by one of its wings.
"Jes' look at his velvet coat" he said
IAN his wings all wet an stiff They'll
never carry him another journey. It's
too bad man has + kill every step he
| takes"
The bees tail was moving family, ant
Uncle Eb laid him out in the warn
sunlight and famed him awhile will
his hat trying to bring back the breath
Of life.
Guilty" he said presently, coming
back with sober face. "Thets dead
bee. No tellin' how many was de
pendent on him er what plans he he'd
M1Ist IN, pi'n him a lot ~ nloneuro - f1y