The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-23

good for much except to bark. but
each seemed TO feel that it was its spe
cial duty TO devour the boy before the
others got chance at him. On they
came. noisy procession, growing and
swapping
Bradley put down his bundle and
looked about for a stone. but the snow
covered the road. and there were nc
stones in sight. He poised himself on
one foot and held the other ready for
kick. The dogs formed a circle about
him and the racket was blood curdl;a 9
Out of the gate idrted a sir, girl IN
red dress. braEdishing a broom,
They won't hurt you" she scream
ri. running to the rescue. stop it, Pc
ter. Be quiet. Rags. Go home, Tues
day. Winfield, I'll give it to your
The dogs lodged the broom and re-
tired TO safe distance, wagging their
tails and doing their best to indicate
that they Were only making believe
anyhow. Winfield. the small dog that
had led the attack. was the most per-
sistent. and he snapped at the broom
In high glee, evidently considering that
IT was waved for his particular amuse-
ment.
''They got away before | could stop
EN-" painted the girl. .Grandma's
gone to the store, and l went out in the
woodshed to play with EN-. and they
bounced out of the door first thing
They don't mean anything; they're just
full of it, that's ALL
Il wasn't scared said Bradley II
didn't believe they'd bite. l like dogs"
DO you:' said the girl eagerly. $50
do l. Grandma says she does. too. in
moderation The old maids don't
though oh, forgot You're the old
maids boy, amt you? / saw you out
in their yard with Miss Prissy this
mornin'.''
Yes. l saw you too. You live in here,
don't you?"
I'm hum. oh. my goodness, |
haven't got any rubbers on. and grand
ma said if | got my feet wet today she
didn't know but she'd skin me- | must
go right back and dry 'em before she
comes I've had a cold: that's why l
amt to school. How'll 1 ever get these
dogs in?''
I'll help you if you want me to-
volunteered Bradley.
''WilI you? That's splendid Come
onm
Bradley carried his bundle to the
back steps of the little house and then
returned to assist at the dog catching
1t wasn't an easy operation, but a tin
dish scientifically ratified by his new
acquaintance tempted all but the wary
Winfield, and a bone finally decoyed
the latter inside the woodshed, and the
door was slammed and bolted upon the
humbugged pack.
There" exclaimed the girl, that's
all right! hope grandma won't notice
the tracks in the snow. If she's only
forgot her glasses it's all right Now
come into the kitchen till / put my
feet in the oven. What's your name?"
Bradley Nickerson. Most folks call
me Brad
That's good name. My last names
Baker. l hate my first one-it's Au-
gusta. Amt that the worst? Grandma
calls me 'Gusty.' Ugh! You can call |
me Gus if you want to. 1t sounds
more like boys name. I wish 1 was
a boy"
"Why:"
'Oh, because boy can do things and |
uOcSH nave W De Ike. IL L was !
a boy nobody would think it was funny |
for me to like dogs. and 1 could have
as many as l wanted"
Il should think you had a good many /
now. Where did you get 'em all?"
"Oh, just found 'em. Rags came I
here one day himself. l call him Rags t
because he looks as il he was all
ravelin's. And Peter, the blacksmith /
gave to me. Said l could have him if
I'd get him out of his sight. He sort
IF named himself. And Tuesday was
named that because l found him on
Tuesday when l was on a picnic over
10 East Harniss. And Winfield-he's
the newest one-came on Cap'n Bur-
CESS fishing schooner and nobody
wanted him, so they gave him to me.
named him Winfield because his face
ooks like our schoolteacher. Winfield
Scott Daniels; hateful old thing!
Wouldn't he be mad If he knew 1
named dog after him. You're goin'
10 school, amt your
Il s'pose so. They haven't said any
hing about it yet
Il hope you will. You'll be upstairs.
If course
Upstairs" means, in Orham, the
grammar and higher grades. Down
stairs is the primary department
Bradley answered that he Supposed he
should be upstairs" He was just be-
ginning to go upstairs" in Wellmouth.
How do you like the old maids
Mss Prissy and Tempy, l mean?
Amt they awful strict?''
Il don't know; l haven't been with
EN- long enough to find out. They're
mighty clean, amt they?"
''Oh, dreadful! And they don't like
noise, and they don't like dogs, and
hey don't like me. They call me the
dog girl; l heard 'em. One time 1
vent in there for grandma. and Tues
lay and Peter followed me, and, first
hing you know. they tracked mud all
'ver the dinin' room. My, but wasn't
Hiss Prissy mad. But you just ought
o have seen that floor" she chuckled.
Bradley thought Of the spotless oil
10th and appreciated the situation. In
he course of the conversation that fol
owed he learned that Gus was an or
han lilo hirnSotf and that cho livo1