The Washington herald., 1907-02-27

out with dismay at the extent Of the in
jury, and then heartily and gracefully
offered to Mrs. Carey a new and beau
tiful white gown which she had never
worn.
But Mrs. Carey's temper had received
the last straw. She turned to her hus-
band without seeming 10 hear Mrs
Leighton. You must go alone" she
said, and explain to our hostess that ]
am the uulucky victim of jealousy" And
then she went into the house and closed
the door.
Mrs. Leighton and Mr.. Carey parted
miserably-the man making what excuse
he could, and the woman protesting. after
the manner OF women, that she should
have been more tactfU IN her desire to
| help
This was apparently the end Of all
communication between the neighbors.
/ but Peter grew into beautiful specimen
Of ugliness. He had his uses. too. which
none could deny. The cherry trees and
currant bushes We're no longer stripped
by urchins in the dead of noon when
Nora and her mistress rested from their
labors and lunched. Nor were the Careys'
hens disturbed by midnight marauders
Mr.. Carey knew and appreciated this,
petted Pete on the sly. and wished that
women would be sensible.
There were many robberies that sum
mer. Night after night two or three homes
would be entered and the work was so
skilifuliy done that so far the thief had
not been caught. And at last there came
dark windy night while Mr.. Carey was
away on a trip for his firm. Mrs. Carey.
not naturally timid and nafraid Of the
mutterings of an approaching storm, went
10 bed as usual and to sleep Her maid
of-all-work followed the example of her
mistress.
Some time after midnight Peter. who
had been lying mouonless in the deep
shadow of the front porch. lifted his
head and blinked his red eyes. For a mo-
ment he heard nothing but the wind, and
/ then a window creaked as IL was slid
cautiously up.
Peter slun& across the grass and sat
down on his launches, silently expectant.
beneath the window. 4 cat waiting for
a mouse could not have been more alert
than his white bulk. His ears caught
the tinkle of silver, heard the soft splut-
ter of a "noiseless" match. and he felt
rather than heard padded footsteps which
after a time stole upstairs And then
there came the scream Of a frightened
woman. At that Peter stood IN and
with bowlegs planted hrmly, waited 81
attention.
Footsteps, and less soft ones than the
previous ones, sounded on the stairs a
blinking bag was thrust out Of the omen
window, and was followed by the leg Of
man. Peter gave a little spring and
took hold-the man lost his balance and
fell upon his back with Peter on his
chest.
Three seconds later Mrs. Carey thrust
/ her head out Of the open dining-room
window to see what had become OF the
man, When her eyes took in the situa-
I ton, she gave a little cry of iov. Then.
realizing that Peter was hardly more
than pup and might not be able to hold
out against the struggles of the man. she
dashed across the yard and rang the
Leightons doorbell furiOUsly The whole
affair had been so noiseless that. though
all the windows were up. the Leightous
had heard nothing Mr.. Leighton thrust
his head out and demanded an explana-
uon-and then reached the front porch
so quickly that his wife said afterward
that he must have slid down the banister
lie was not any too soon, for the burg
lar had managed TO reach his revolver.
and as MI Leighton vaulted the porch
ratings there was a report. Peter growled
saVagely and took a firmer hold.
When the man was securely bound with
many yards OF clothesline. Peter slowly
and with Infinite dignity left his post and
held up his wounded paw to be han
daged. Mrs. Carey put her arms around
his neck and kissed his blunt nose at
which demonstration he was serenelv nm
moved.
Peter now wears a silver collar with an
inscription which would make him vain
were he an ordinary dog; and, moreover.
he hardly knows who are the members of
his immediate family, so intimate are the
two families
lCCpyright. 1907. BY C. H sutclifel