Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1905-03-11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE MAN
NEXT :. DOOR.
BY r. A. H. GOODYEAR.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

~ Hel ntdu 10 tuc SolCo VI ucI
ToE pretty feet.
"Call away your dog, sir" she &C.
handed, with flaming cheeks. HE is
q terror to the neighborhood, and ought
never to leave his kennel. He snaps
and snarls at me fiercely every time i
pass the gate"
''You should not let him frighten
you,' the young man calmly returned.
Honesty, there isn't more affection
ate dog in the world. Speak to him
in coaXing manner rs you pass-his
name is Ludwig-and in n few weeks
he will be your devoted slave"
"Thank you," said Melinda. her red
lip curling disdainfully, ''but l shall
take no such pains to cultivate his
friendship. l think Il stout muzzle
would considerably improve his ap-
pearance. There is one at home which
we have no further use for. Will you
permit me to present it to you?"
Beneath the healthy tan of the young
mans boyish face q deeper color be-
gan to show.
you are very good" he said. "but
1t will be time enough to muzzle poor
Ludwig when the authorities compel
me. If my dog really annoys you, may
/ suggest that you make Il more fire.
quent use of the front street? This
back road is not, properly speaking. n
thoroughfare, and l fear You must
often find il unpleasantly muddy"
But, surely she protested, "you
will allow me to choose my own meth
oil of leaving the house. You can't
control the mornings and outgoingS Of
Ill the people on the terrace. l repeat,
sir. that your dog is becoming an in
toerable nuisance, and you must please
keep him on that side of the gate, or
take the consequences"
at is kind Of you to speak so frank
~" he said, with Il faint touch of
mockery in his tone; "but if am stu
pid enough to disregard your warning,
what do you suppose will happen?"
Il have heard of savage dogs being
shot before to-day" she limited trans
parently.
Il am happy to say have no neigh
bors who would be mean enough to
do that" he said. Besides. the term
savage dog does not fit old Ludwig.
See how fondly he ticks my handw
ooh, yes" she retorted, still in re-
bellion, 'it is n pretty enough picture
now; but if you had seen the reverse
side of it few minutes ago, you might
have been less inclined to pet and
fondle him. / tried to stroke him with
my umbrella, but he bit IT it furiously.
Here are the marks Of his teeth"
And with quick little fingers she
raised the umbrella for his inspec-
ton.
The young man was al regrets and
apologies in moment. and his concern
was so obviously real that the girls
conscience pricked her for distressing
him needlessly.
"Please don't give it second
thought" she said. "After all, the dog
probably believed that I meant to
strike him, and the umbrella is so old
fashioned and worthless that I only
bring it out on dry days. But all this
talk is quite beside the mark" she con-
tliihCu, hiphhblllS isl al lOl sc t-dli
with suddenness that was almost
comical. "To put it plainly, sir, you
must either chain up your dog or muz-
Zle him. You decline?"-as the yOung
man shook his head. every well. then:
/ shall invoke the aid OF the local mag
istrate."
"As you please about that, Miss Tenn
pleton," he said, "but fancy you will
meet with disappointment. The magis-
trate is an uncle Of mine, and he and
Ludwig arc fast friendsr'
Treating this inference wiki the con-
tempt it deserved, Miss Melinda gath
cred UP her Skirts With little hand
rs white rs milk, and tiptoed past the
gate in an adorably timid fashion.
while the young man pretended to put
out all his strength to keep back the
Savage Ludwig. But in his breast
there was an unholy feeling of salts
faction at the complete success of his
little scheme.
At last. lie told himself eXultantly
his proud, lovely little neighbor had
looked into his face with those heaven
blue eyes Of hers, had opened that rose
red mouth TO speak to him, had rejoiced
him with the soft, rare sound of her
beautiful voice.
Next day, however. lie waited and
watched for her in vain. She took the
advice he had given her and left the
house by the front door. hoping against
hope that Mr.. Paul Learey, the junior
partner ornamental rather than use
fuD of the city firm which employed
her, would not poster her with his I'M
welcome attentions. But she had bare
ly managed, by walking Mt top speed,
10 gain the end of the street before
footsteps battered behind her, and a
Whit of the last "smart" thing in per-
fumes heralded the approach OF the
dreaded beauty man,
"Ah! Miss Templeton, how are you?
feared my lucky star had set for