Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-15

Down charge"
The dog, trembling with eager com
prehension, dropped like shot, muz-
zle laid fat between his paws. siward
unleashed him, looked down at MN
for a second, stopped and caressed the
silky head, then, with q laugh. swung
himself into the phaeton beside the
driver, who, pretty head turned, hao
been looking on intentiy.
Your dog is yard broken" he said.
"Look at him"
II see. Do you think he VIII follow
usY
II think So"
The horse started, Miss Lands look
ing back over her shoulder at the dog,
who lay motionless, crouched fiat IN
the road.
Then Siward turned. "Come on, Sag
amorew he said gayly. and the dog
sprang forward, ctrcled about the NOV
Ing phaeton, splitting the air with
yelps of ecstasy, then tore ahead, MAD
with the delight of stretching cramped
muscles amid the long rank grass and
shrubbery of the roadside.
The girl watched him donbtfully.
When he disappeared far away up the
road she turned the blue inquiry Of her
eyes on Siward.
He'll be back" said the young fell
low, laughing, and presently the dog
reappeared on a tearing gallop. white
flag tossing, glorious in his new Hber-
ty. enchanted with the confidence this
tall young man had reposed in him
this adorable young man, this wonder
full friend who had suddenly appeared
to release him from an undignified and
abominable situation in crate.
"a good dog" said Siward, and the
girl looked around at him, partly be-
cause his voice was pleasant, partly
because a vague memory was begin
ming to stir within her, coupling some
thing unpleasant with the name OF 81
ward.
She had been conscious OF 1t when
he first named himself, but, absorbed
in the overwhelming importance OF
her telegram, had left the analysis OF
the matter for the future.
She thought again Of her telegram,
tneorized little, came to no conclu-
sion, except to let the matter rest for
the present, and mentally turned to the
next and far less important problem
the question Of this rather attractive
Young man at her side and why the
name of Siward should be linked IN
her mind with anything disagreeable.
Tentatively following the elusive
mental clews that might awaken some
thing definite concerning her hazy i'm
| preston of the man beside her, she
spoke pleasantly, conventionally, touch
| ing idly any topic that might have
bearing and, under self possession SO
detached as to give an impression OF
indifference, eyes, ears and intelligence
admitted that he was agreeable to
/ look at, pleasant Of voice and difficult
| to reconcile with anything unpleasant.
| They discussed shooting and the
opening Of the season, dogs and the
training of dogs and why some go gun
shy and why some are blinkers'
From sport and Its justification they
became inconsequential, and she was
beginning to enjoy the freshness OF
| their chance acquaintance. his nice at
titude toward things, his irrelevancy.
his gayety. 4
Laughter thawed her, for, notwith-
standing the fearless confidence she
| had been taught for men Of her own
kind. self possession and reserve, ii
not inherent, had also been drilled into
her, and she required a great deal in a
| man before she paid him the tribute
Of one of her pretty laughs.
| Apparently they were advancing
rather rapidly.
Don't you think we ought to call
the dog in, Mr.. Siward?"
Eyes; he's had enough!"
| She drew rein. He sprang out and
whistled, and the Sycamore pup, dusty
and happy, came romping back: 81
ward motioned him to the rumble, but
the dog leaped to the front.
II don't mind" said the girl. Let
him sit here between US. And you
might occupy yourself by pulling some
of those burs from his ears If you
will"
! "Of course I will. Look up here,
puppy! No! Don't try to lick my
face, for that is bad manners. Demon
strations are odious, as the poet says"
"Its always bad manners, isn't itY'
asked Miss Lands.
tsWhat-being affectionate 2"
Eyes, and admitting it."
II believe it is. Do you hear that,
Sycamore? But, never mind; I'll
break the rules some day when were
alone'
The dog laid one paw on Siward's
knee, looking him wistfully In the
| eyes.
'More demonstrations" observed the
girl. "Mr. Siward, you are hugging
him! This amounts to a dual con-
spiracy in bad manners"
lawfully glad to admit you to the
conspiracy" he said. "There's one
vacancy-if you are eligible"
IT am. l was discovered recently
kissing my saddle mare"
''That settles it! Sycamore, give the
young lady the grip"
Sylvia Lands glanced at the dog,
then, impulsively shifting the whip to
her left hand, held out the right, and
very gravely the Sycamore pup laid
one paw in her dainty white gloved
palm.
| .tvo,, dorlino', nnrrmJ1red the girl