The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-02-13

81
Rest there TO read the paper of the
day before while the boy with his big
/ bundle of old clothes and new extras.
/ walked homeward alone.
The Allen house was on the lower
road and to reach it you turned the
! corner just above Web Saunders
/ billiard room and went on past Lem"
I Mullett's stable. ana the Methodist
4 "buryin' ground"-the sects in Orhan
4 they are dead. for each denomination
4 has its separate cemetery past the
late Captain Saunders estate and on
up the hill overlooking the bay. Brad
ley had just reached the little house
\ next door to the Aliens. when, through
the side gate Of its yard, there darted
small. ragged looking dog, barking
as If it went by steam. 1t was follow
\ ed by big dog. also barking. and this
in turn was followed by another and
still another. None of the animals was
handsome and none looked as il it was
good for much except TO bark but
each seemed to feel that it was its spe
cial duty to devour the boy before the
others got A chance at him. On they
came. noisy procession. growing and
swapping.
Bradley put down his bundle and
looked about for stone but the snow
covered the road and there were no
stones in sight. He poised himself OH
one foot and held the other ready for
kick. The dogs formed a circle about
lin and the racket was blood curdling
Out of the gate darted slim girl in
a red dress. brandishing broom.
"They won't hurt you she scream
ed, running to the rescue. stop it. Pc
ter! Be quiet Rags Go home. Tues
day! Winfield, I'll give it to you"'
The dogs lodged the broom and re-
tired to safe distance. wagging their
tails and doing their best to indicate
that they We're only making believe
anyhow. Winfield. the small dog that
had led the attack. was the most per-
sistent, and he snapped at the broom
in high glee evidently considering that
it was waved for his particular amuse-
ment.
They got away before l could stop
EN-" painted the girl ''Grandma's
gone to the store. and | went out in the
woodshed 10 play with EN-. and they
bounced out OF the door first thing.
full Of it, that's ALL
Il wasn't scared" said Bradley Il
didn't believe they'd bite. l like dogs"
do you|' said the girl eagerly. $50
do I. Grandma says she does, too, i'll
moderation. The old maids don't
though. Oh. | forgot. You're the old
maids boy, amt you? l saw you out
in their yard with Miss Prissy this
. mornin'."
Eyes. saw you too. You live in here.
, don't you:'
'Um-hum. oh. my goodness.
haven't got any rubbers Oh, and grand
ma said if | got my feet wet today she
didn't know but she'd skin me. | must
, 60 right back and dry 'em before she
comes. I've had a cold; that's why
amt to school. How'll ever get these
dogs in
'I'll help YOU if you want lie to, .
volunteered bradley
"Will you? That's splendid Come
, on-'
; Bradley carried his bundle to the
, back steps of the little house and then
returned to assist at the dog catching.
p 1t wasn't an easy operation, but tin
dish scientifically ratified by his new
acquaintance tempted all but the wary
Winfield and a bone finally decoyed
the latter inside the woodshed. and the
door was slammed and bolted upon the
humbugged pack.
There exclaimed the girl. that's
all right l hope grandma won't notice
the tracks in the snow If she's only
forgot her glasses it's all right Now
come into the kitchen till | put my
feet in the oven. What's your name:'
Bradley Nickerson. Most folks call
, me Brad"
That's good name. My last names
Baker. l hate my first one-it's Au-
gusta. Amt that the worst? Grandma
calls me 'Gusty.' Ugh! You can call
me Gus if you want to. 1t sounds
more like boys name. / wish l was
boy"
WHY
"Oh. because boy can do things and
doesn't have to be 'ladylike.' If | was
boy nobody would think it was funny
for me to like dogs, and l could have
as many as wanted"
. II should think you had a good many
now. Where did you get 'em ALI"
"Oh, just found 'em. Rags came
here one day himself. / call him Rags
because he looks as If he was all
ravelin's. And Peter, the blacksmith
gave to me. Said l could have him If
I'd get him out Of his sight. He sort
Of named himself. And Tuesday was
named that because l found him on
Tuesday when | was on a picnic over
to East Harniss. And Winield-he's
the newest one-came on Cap'n Bur-
CESS fishing schooner and nobody
wanted him, so they gave him to me.