Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-28
Following Bigger's
Example.
BY JAMES REILLY.
Copyrighted. 1907. by Mary McKeon.

.
Temple slipped off his coat and threw
h beside the camera case. with a
watch II" to the white bulldog that
sat gravely at the foot OF the tree.
Bigger exhibited his teeth I'm smile
Intended to be pleasant and stretched
mat of pine needles. The walk TO the
falls had not tired him, but he was
well content TO lie on the fragrant car
pet and doze and dream of eats on
fences that were always low enoug.
to bring the feline prey within his
reach and of succession Of canire
battles IN which he was always the vie
tor. At heart Bigger was a child of
peace. II was only In his dreams that
bis visions were tinged with blood.
Here and there through the woods a
locust shrilled and the air was vibrant
with the song OF birds and the soft
picked out . clump OF pines In which
y make his camp, and through the
ieafy alsles Bigger could command a
view of the deeper woods beyond and
the little river that wound its way
through the forest, marking with tint
Of more vivid green the underground
along It's banks.
Down the wind came the faint roar
of falling waters where the stream
plunged forty feet over the black
stones to dance In very JOY at the foot
of the falls before taking up its course
30 the river beyond.
Temple had long ago exhausted the
Photographic possibilities of the falls
- departed In the si<zs~--S of down
ream, but the footfa16 Aat reused
Bigger from a dream Of conquest came
from the other way, and Bigger looked
up just as the sunlight glnted upon the
golden hair and the scarlet coat Of a
slender girl who under other circum-
stances would have excited Bigger's
entire approval
From the crown OF the golden head
10 the tip OF the dainty russell shoe
she was a patrician, one Of Blgger's
very own sort. II there were bench
shows for humans, surely she must be
possessed of as many blue ribbons as
there were in his own particular cab
met at home
This being the case, ii seemed strange
to Bigger that she should share in
common with the trampish characters a
nesire for his masters property, and
he emitted low growl OF polite warn
ing.
The girl came steadily forward until
che was almost within reach Of those
powerful jaws; then she paused.
"You are very bad dog" she scold-
ed gently. 1T is very dear of you to
keep guard over those things, but don t
you know they are not yours to
guardr
Bigger made vigorous dissent to this
sentiment, but the girl went on.
you see," she explained, "Reggy
wants those extra plates before the
light gets away. l am afraid you are
not going to let me have them"
She moved easily toward the case,
talking in the same steady voice, and
her hand was already upon the holders
when Bigger's teeth set firmly in her
skirt.
Had it been tramp Bigger would
have sprung at his throat, but he knew
that there was some mistake, and he
sought only to hold the girl until his
master should have come up to accept
her explanations. The girl regarded
him hopelessly.
You're q bad, wicked dog she
scolded, ''to make so much trouble.
When Reg comes shall have him
whip you, and he will come. He Is too
anxious to wait long for me. Please
let me co.
She made movement TO disengage
herself, but Bigger growled again, and
this time there was a deeper note that
warned her that resistance would be
met with greater force. She sank help
lessly back upon the springy. odorous
carpet of nature and settled herself
moro comfortably.
II shall have to wait for Reggie,
she said, land he'll be really angry at
you If you spoil his chance OF getting
that view. He's going back to town
tomorrow, and he will not have another
opportunity"
Bigger preserved a discreet silence
He was too gallant TO argue a point
with a woman. AS long as she remain
ed quiet he had nothing to say. For
half an hour she sat there in silence
broken only by the chatter Of the SOUR
rels and the hum of the summer noises
then there was a crashing sound in the
underbrush, and Bigger pricked up bis
listen.
Here l am. Reggew she called
Under the pines by your camera
There's n horrid dog here, and be won't
let me GO"
A loud clear whistle sounded, but
Bigger only growled a protest against
obedience and chung to his captive.
moment later Temple burst through
the alders that fringed the stream
The girls face turned crimson.
"If this IS your dog" she said, with
dignity, "will you kindly call him OF
He has kept me prisoner here for al
most an hour. and my brother Is wait
ing for these plates"
Possibly the dog appreciates the fact
that ! should need them myself" he
said. with a laugh and sign to Big
ger. who released his prisoner and
stalked with dignity across 20 Tenn
pie You sec" be went on, "they hap
pen to be my plates"
Tie knelf on the ground 10 shift IN,
used holders 10 a compartment Of thf
case and change the new ones to Q