Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-11-22
Following Bigger's
Example.
BY JAMES REILLY.
Copyrighted. 1907. by Mary MoKson.

Temple slipped Off his coat and threw
1t beside the camera case, with q
watch 1t" to the white bulldog that
sat gravely at the foot OF the tree.
Bigger exhibited his teeth In smile
intended to be pleasant and stretched
himself out beside the case on the soft
mat Of pine needles. The walk to the,
falls had not tired him. hrf ha was
we'll content to lie on the fragrant car
pet and doze and dream of cats on
fences that were always low enough
to bring the feline prey within his
reach and of succession Of canine
battles In which he was always the VIC
tor. At heart Bigger was a child OF
peace. 1t was only in his dreams that
his 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
hum OF insect life. Dick Temple had
picked out a clump Of pines In which
to make his camp, and through the
leafy aisles Bigger could command
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 Its 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
to the river beyond.
Temple had long ago exhausted the
Photographic possibilities Of the falls
and departed In the direction of down
stream, but the footballs that reused
Bigger from n dream of conquest came
from the other way. and Bigger looked
up just as the sunlight glinted upon the
golden hair and the scarlet coat of
slender girl who under other circum-
stances would have excited Bigger's
entire approval.
From the crown Of the golden head
to the tip of the dainty russell shoe
she was patrician, one of Bigger'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, 1t seemed strange
to Bigger that she should share in
desire for his masters property, and
he emitted low growl of polite warn
Ing.
The girl came steadily forward until
she was almost within reach of those
powerful jaws; then she paused.
"You are very bad dog" she scold-
ed gently. ut IL very dear Of you to
keep guard over those things, but don't
you know they are not yours to
guard"
Bigger made vigorous dissent to this
sentiment, but the girl went on.
"You Sec" she explained. "Reggy
wants those extra plates before the
light gets away. 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 Bgger's teeth set firmly In her
skirt.
Had 1t been n 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 hopelcssly.
you're bad, wicked dog" she
scolded, "to make SO much trouble.
When Reg comes | shall have him
whip YOU and he will come He Ii too
anxious to walt long for me. Please
let me 60"
She made n movement to dlsengage
herself, but Bigger growled again, and
this time there was deeper note that
warned her that resistance would be
met with greater force. She sank help
lessly back upon the sprlngy, odorous
carpet Of nature and settled herself
more comfortably.
II shall have to wait for Reggie"
she said, land he'll be really angry at
you IL you spoil his chance of getting
that view. He's going back to town
tomorrow, and he will not have another
opportunity"
Bigger preserved discreet silence.
He was too gallant to argue point
with 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 SPUR
rels and the hum of the summer noises;
then there was a crashing sound In the
underbrush, and Bigger pricked up his
ears, while the girl reused herself to
listen.
Here l am, Reggiew she called.
Under the pines by your camerai
There's a horrid dog here, and he won't
let me CO."
A loud, clear whistle sounded, but
Bigger only growled a protest against
obedience and chung to his captive. A
moment later Temple burst through
the alders that fringed the stream.
The girls face turned crimson.
EFF this Is your dog" she said, with
dignity, will you kindly call him OFT
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 I should need them myself" he
said, with laugh and sign to Big
ger, who released his prisoner and
stalked with dignity across to Tenn
pie. "You Sec" he went on, "tbey hap
pen to be my plates"
He knelt on the ground to shift the
used holders to compartment Of the
case and change the new ones to q
sling carrier across his shoulders. The
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