Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-17
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)

whole holiday at the mgh schooI at Mn
,hsster which the twins attended. Cat
+v had developed cold, and Mrs. Mas
tors insisted upon her remaining indoors,
but Bab's restless spirit chafed against
confinement, and, though it was tacitly
understood that she was not to go home,
che made her escape after lunch and took
a depressing walk in the muddy lanes.
She felt cross and out of spirits, and
inclined to fall foul of everything and
avery enc. so, when she came suddenly
across three or four big, loutish lads, who
were preparing to drown a puppy in a
wavside pool, she stood still and spoke
her mind with considerable vigor.
Boys! What are you doing?" she
cried.
The lads looked round and grinned
They we're Just old enough to consider
themselves boys" no longer, and, as it
happened, they all came from a hamlet
mile or two awCv across the fields,
where the people were popularity sup
posed to be "a rough lot" The young
ladies at the cottage had been advised to
avoia it's vicinity, SO though the youths
saw at once that Bah was a lady they
had no idea as to her identity.
What are you doing?" she repeated.
Maxim away VII tn puppy" re-
sponded the eldest of the group youth
Of about 16 with an evil, vicious face.
Babs color faded, and her eyes dark
ened ominously.
You cruel-torturing brute!" she
said, very slowly and distinctly. Drown
it at once if it must be drowned Or
let it co.
Hey! Harken to her ladyship!" cried
one of the smaller boys, and they all set
UP a shout of mocking laughter, above
which the puppy's shrill yelp rose des-
pairingly as his tormentor treated him to
a semi immersion. Bah had quick tenn
per, and rarely paused to think of the
consequences of her actions. She made a
sudden rush through the group of mock
ing lads, and, Selling the rope out of the
ringleader's astonished hands, she drew
the puppy up and clasped the wet, shiv-
ering little creature in her arms. Then
she stood at bay, and looked around
defiantly.
you'll have to drown me too if you
try to touch it again!" she painted.
The lad nonplussed for the moment,
speedily regained his presence of mind
and advanced on her threateningly, en-
couraged by the laughter of his compan-
ions.
THE dogs mine 1 found it yester-
day, and l can do as | please WI it. Gil
it over to mel" dirty hand frightened
roughly over the girls arm. "Gi' it up
ne repeated, ''gi' it up, or Pll chuck thee
and it into tn pond"
His evil face was close to her own,
and he was forcing her backward to the
brink of the bank Whether he would
have carried out his threat or not it was
impossible to say, but at that moment a
sudden diversion occurred,
"Now then, you fellows! What are
you doing there?"
The question, emanating from a young
man who had approached the group un-
seen by them, produced an unexpected
effect. The lads gave one swift compre-
hensive glance at his stalwart proper
tions and the very uncompromising stick
that was swinging in his hand, and then.
with one exception, they took to their
heels and disappeared through a gap in
the hedge. The exception was Bab's cap
tor, who, even as he loosed his grasp on
her arm, found himself caught in an iron
grip.
WAS he bullying you?" the man be-
gan, and then the sight of the dog
seemed to give him key to the proceed
ings, and he administered a slight shak-
ing. you young scoundrel!" he ejacu-
lated
He was torturing it! He-he wouldn't
drown it. Oh, the poor little thing!"
cried Bah.
There was yell of protest from the
culprit, followed by the sound of a
struggle and a splash. The puppy's exc
cutioner was floundering in the mud at
the bottom of the pool, and the Young
man who had administered justice turned
TO Bah with a smile.
Now let me see the dog" he said.
And that was how the acquaintance
began Bah always declared that in the
excitement of the moment, she felt as
though she must have known him for a
Lifetime. They were nearly a mile from
the village, and, when the subject of the
dog had been exhausted, and the little,
cowed creature was trotting contentedly
at their heels, she found herself talking
to her companion with a cheerful CANA
raderie that would have dismayed her
more discreet twin.
y
chester 2" she cried "Well, it is an aw-
ful long tramp, and most people shirk
bicycling because the roads are so bad
but il Is lucky thing for the puppy and
myself that you were so energetic. You
are going to Herrickscroft, l suppose?"
No." he replied. 81 am bound for a
attic place called Bernessted."
Bah opened her eyes. "Why, that's
%nere / live!" she exclaimed. at is a
NICE village. but not show place, like
there"
And so you think l am an excursion.
'st interpolated the man, with a smile
Bah turned and surveyed him critical.
y He was very tall and decidedly good
i2ohng, with a handsome, bronzed face
and merry blue eyes
/ think you're an artist" she pro.
nonneed. Its rather early for artists OF
course; but Mrs. Kelk, at the Bernessted
arms always makes them so comfort,
aoie that they come down off and on all
tne year round. Are you an artist? 2" she