The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-09-19

1
piece, and tossed 1t to the dog.
| Snap went the famished jaws, and
the dog came at once to attention"
"Ah, hal" crowed the man $50
you we're hungry" He threw a
second piece, then another, and an
other. "Therel" he exclaimed. when
the sandwich was finished. "How do
you feel, Weary Willie?"
The dog whined, and took tenta-
tive step forward.
whats your name-'Jack?'
There was slow wagging of the
dogs tail.
'Fido7'r
The tail wagged harder.
'Rover?'"
There was quick, short bark.
"Come here, sir" ordered the man; !;
but at the outstretched hand the dog
turned and ran; the memory of those
friendless days and nights was rot to
be SO lightly cast aside.
1t came to be regular thing after
that for the shabby man to bring a
| nightly sandwich to the bench in the
park. and for the dog to come and
eat 1t. There was always an ex-
change of courtesies in the shape of
jovial greetings and sharp barks, and
gradually the dog lost his fear. Three
times he tried to follow his new
friend home, but the sharp go back,
feet to halt. and sent the dog stink
sir, go back!" brought the little eager
ing back to the shadows, there to
stand with wistful eyes gazing after
the shabby figure disappearing down
the street.
After all. where's the use of It.,
Weary Willie?" asked the man one
night when, the sandwich gone, the
two sat together ON the bench.
where's the use of 1t? There's no
pne to care what becomes of us, you
and me. Let's chuck i'll"
The dog thumped his tail against
the seat.
"Humph! Think it's a joke, do
you? Well, maybe 'tis, maybe It's"
There was something queer about
the man that night. His voice shook,
and was not quite clear; his step, too,
was far from steady. and he dropped
on the seat with curious relaxation
of all his muscles. The next night it
was worse, and the next, worse still.
There was a fiat bottle which he
brought again and again from his
pocket and put to his lips after a eau
tious look about him. He stayed
longer and longer each night, and
sometimes he seemed to sleep, so low
was his head bowed on his breast.
At such times the dog spent long
minutes in motionless watching of the
silent figure, giving occasionally
low whine-a whine which met with
no response.
There had been almost a week of
this when one night the man slipped
from the seat and lay half on the
ground. Cinders leaped to the mans
side and licked his face, his hands,
and again his face. He whined, then
barked, then stood quiveringly alert
for the slightest movement. At that
instant down the path came several
boys eating bananas.
There was chorus of jeers, then
a fusillade of banana skins. Cinders,
fierce and bristling, faced the crowd
and barked. He growled and showed
his small white teeth, as from all
sides came men and boys on the run.
More banana skins, and even small
stones, struck the man, the dog, and
the ground nearby. Still the dog
stood firm, thrusting his tiny, fiercs
little self between the inert figure
and the crowd.
Suddenly the man opened his eyes.
One glance at the mob, the dog, and
the flying stones and banana skins
cleared his brain. With a snarl of
rage he caught the quivering little
dog in his arms and staggered to his
feet. There was cry Of "The cops
a-comin'! and the man found him
self all at once alone with the dog,
while up the path came blue-coated,
nurrying figure. Claspins the dog
yet more firmly in his arms, the man
turned and walked rapidly in the
opposite direction.
Come, come, what's the meaning
of all this?" called the policeman, be-
tween short, painting breaths, as he
reached the shabby mans side.
Nothing returned the man. la
conically
But the crowd-what were they
doing?"
"Stoning the dog--and me-
"Stoning you! Been drinkin'?"
do act drunk?" retorted the
man, sharply.
The policeman gave him long,
shrewd glance.
Mighty near it," he growled.
Then he tried new tack.
Whose dog is it?" he demanded.
"Mine. There was a ring OF de-
flance in the mans voice.
Where's its collar? Got q Il
cense?" probed the policeman.
ut will have by this time to-mor-
row."
Looks to me mighty like the little
beast I've been chasin' in these 'cre
parts fur the last month. I've had
more'n dozen complaints of a stray
dog; but | couldn't catch the little
varmint"
You'll not have any complaints of
this dog" said the man, quietly. rs
he turned cff at one of the side paths.
It was then that existence for Gin
ders changed yet again. 1t became
now thing OF kind words, scanty but
gladly given food. and bed in one
corner of a aDaraalv furnished room,