The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-06-13

cuse he could and the woman protest.
ing, after the manner of women. that
she should have been more taetful In
her desire to help.
This was apparently the end Of all
communication between the neighbOrs,
but Peter grew into beautiful speci-
men of ugliness. He had his uses. too,
which none could deny The cherry
trees and currant bushes were 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 Peter 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 50 skillfully done that SO far the
thief had not been caught. And at last
there came a dark windy night while
Mr.. Carey was away on trip for his
firm. Mrs. Carey, not naturally timld
and unafraid of the mutterings Of an
approaching storm, went to bed as
usual and to sleep. Her maid of all
work followed the example Of her mis-
tresS.
Some time after midnight Peter, who
had been lying mOtiOnless In the deep
shadow Of the front porch, lifted his
head and blinked his red eyes. For a
moment he heard nothing but the wind,
and then window creaked as it was
slid cautiously up.
Peter skunk across the grass and sat
down on his launches, silently expect
ant, beneath the window. A cat wait
ing for mouse could not have been
more alert than his white bulk. His
ears caught the tinkle Of silver, heard
the soft splutter Of a "noiSeless" match,
and he felt rather than heard padded
footsteps which after a time stole up
stairs. And then there came the scream
of a frightened woman. At that Peter
stood up and, with bowlegs planted
firmly, waited at attention.
Footsteps, and less soft ones than
the previous ones, sounded on the
stairs. A clinking bag was thrust out
Of the open window and was followed
by the leg of man. Peter gave lit
tie 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 situation, she gave little cry of
joy. Then. realizing that Peter was
hardly more than Il pup and might not
be able to hold out against the strug-
giles 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 win
dowS were up, the LeightOns had
heard nothing. Mr.. Leighton thrust
his head out and demanded an eXpla-
nation and then reached the front
porch so quickly that his wife said
afterward that he must have slid down
the banlster.
He was not any too soon, for the
burglar had managed to reach his re-
volver, and as Mr.. Leighton vaulted
the porch railings there was a report.
Peter growled savagely and took
tirmer 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 bandaged. Mrs. Carey put her
arms around his neck and kissed his
blunt nose, at which demonstration he
was serenely unmoved.
Peter now wears a silver collar with
an Inscription which would make him
vain We're he an ordinary dog, and,
moreover, he hardly knows who are
the members Of his immediate family,
so intimate are the two families.