Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-12-18
Daisy and Modred Junior

shifted when the Carterets suggested
sending the dog in by express. She
glanced at the st. Bernard puppy and
tossed her small shapely head.
II guess l can take him twenty
miles" she insisted as she tugged at
the leather leash. "As though l could
let the splendid fellow come to his new
home in an express crate. It's awfully
good of you TO give him to me, and l
am sure that he will not be the least
bit of trouble on the way to town."
II wish / could 90 to the station with
you said Carteret regretfully. IF it
wasn't that / was expecting long dis
tanCe CALI
Nonsense was the disdainful re-
ply 1T will not be the least bit Of
trouble
She shook hands with Carteret, kiss
ed Grace and, with final wave of her
hand, started down the road toward
the station.
When she came in sight of the tracks
and the little red building she strobe
across the platform. proudly leading
Modre.l Junior, and approached the
baggagemaster.
II suppose that l may check my
dog" she said, with a stress upon the
word my" The man smiled.
Sure" he assented, but the road is
tied up. A freight train ran off the
rails at the bridge, and it will be some
time tomorrow before the trains run
again"
Tomorrow" gasped Daisy. Il must
be in town tonight
There's the trolley" suggested the
agent II don't think they'll take the
dog, though. That's one of the Car
terets, isn't it? Better take him back
and have him expressed in when the
Snarl gets untanged."
With nod of thanks, Daisy turned
away But she had no intention of
turning back and confessing failure.
She had declared her ability TO get
Mcdred Junior to town. and she was
going TO do ii. 1t might be against
the rules to carry dogs on the trolley.
but Daisy from her ripe experience
knew men were but human and that
regulations were not always observed.
Modred Junior ambled amicably beside
her, and 10 him she ccnfded her plan
of campaign.
I'VE must wait for a young con-
ductor," she explained. "Then while
put on my peasantest air you must
look very tired and detected, and he
simply can't refuse to take us"
Perhaps if Modred Junior had played
his part well the result might have
been different, but Modrcd Junior was
only puppy and the world was still
his friend. When the interurban car
ca ME along and the conductor dropped
from the step to explain 10 the girl
that II was against the rules to carry
dogs Modred Junior rose on his hind
legs and planted his paws affectiOnately
upon the conductors coat. unheedful
of the fact that on the way to the troll
ley he had padded through some de-
licioUsly cool mudboles.
Modred Junior meant WELL but the
conductor sprang back to the platform,
muttering uncOmplimentary remarks
about dogs, and the car sped on, leav-
Ing the two standing In the road re-
garding each other dismally. The cars
ran at fifteen minute intervals, and
Daisy decided to walk on to the next
stop. Modred Junior, nothing loath,
trotted beside her
1t was the same story with the next
car, though this time Daisy was care
full to hold MOdred Junior On a short
leash. The conductor was a grabbed
old man, with more regard for rules
than beauty. The second rebuff only
served to make Daisy the more deter
mined. She had often done her fifteen
miles In the country in summer. She
could do il now, and, ignoring the fact
that her dainty shoes were scarcely
designed for walking, she started off.
Before the end of the first FIVE miles
she bitterly repented her decision. Her
ankles turned with the high heeled
shoes, while MOdred Junior was in dire
distress. This was far different from
playing about the yard at home, and
finally he sat down and fatty refused
to go any farther. The limit of his
puppy endurance had been reached
There was no house In sight of the
spot where Modred Junior took his last
stand. For the last mile the road had
run through the woods, and Daisy had
recourse to the feminine relief of tears.
The darkness was closing in, and the
dry leaves rustled dlsmally as the wind
blew through the branches.
Around curve in the road flashed
an automobile headlight, and the beam
fell full upon the disconsolate pair.
With an exclamation, the chauffeur
brought his machine to a stop and
sprang out.
What's the matter!' he cried.
what are you doing out here at this
time of nightr'
For a moment Daisy shrank back,
but she was too miserable to he dis
dainful. Relief even In TIE shape OF
Dick Wainwright was too welcome to
he scorned. In the revulsion OF feel
ing Daisy was sobbing out her troubles
on his shoulder, while Modred Junior
divided his attention between the I'M