Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-17

IL Tvs . So'i " S'SASN
tightly between his legs, and he shiv-
cred and shook as the wind blew the
snow against his hollow sides.
The little man, buttoned up to his
ears in a fur coat, a no hollows-
He was round and fat and rolled
when he walked.
"Hello!' he said, as he stumbled
over the dog. He stopped and peered
through his eyeglasses. Where did
you come FROM"
The dog raied a hopeful ear and
whined.
Burton called Billy Bates from
The big blue motor car at the curb,
get a move on, I'm freezing
Burton ran down the steps and
came up to the machine, putting. Il
thought maybe I'd have my man take
that dog in"
Don't do it," Billy advised. He
ought to be in the pound. He's just
a common cur"
Burton climbed in. well, I'd like
to have a dog" he said, as they
started off.
Get a good one then" Billy ad-
monished. We might go up to the
over"
All right" Burton agreed. But as
they whizzed away, his eyes went
back to the little creature crouched
In his doorway, seeking shelter from
the cutting blasts.
What you want Billy explained,
lis a good city dog. A bull terrier, 1
should say. One of the fellows has a
ACKNOWLEDGMENT him over, you
know, and paid for him by the yard,
and another has a French poodle and
ties his hair in front with a red bow,
but those are eccentricities. And fox
terriers are too lady-like, and hunt
ing dogs are for the country. If you
want a dog that is perfectly good
form, I should say a bull terrier"
Gould I keep a bull terrier In my
rooms?' Burton asked.
You've heard of a bull in a china
shop" remarked Billy facetiously,
and this could not be worse
Burton laughed. He always laugh
ed at his friends feeble jokes. 1t was
one of the easiest ways of paying his
debt Of gratitude. For Billy had made
possible Burton's break into society,
and the friendship of the two men
was based on Billy's social canniness
and on Buttons willingness to pay all
bills. 1t was Billy who chose the ire
proachable bachelor apartments where
Burton lived in lonely state; it was
Billy who furnished the buffet and
the valet; 1t was Billy who coached
Burton in the ethics of up-to-date gas
tronomy; and it was Billy who shared
in all of these benefits, gratis. Hence
it was on the cards that, under Billy's
chaperonage, Burton should buy his
dog.
At the door of the Kennel Club they
met Marcia Wells and her mother.
Marcia had an abundance of red
gold hair. She wore a smart walking
suit, and the violets that Burton had
sent her. And she was a joy forever,
She was taller than Burton and as
he walked beside her he was i'll at
ease. There were other reasons than
his size for u~neasiness, however. Mar
cha ancestors had come over in the
Mayfower, and she bore the stamp of
her new world aristocracy in her conf
lent air, her security, her detach-
ment from what she called the COM
mon herd.
Buttons ancestry was a thing of
shreads and tatters, There had been
a Burton in the Civil War. Back of
that he dared not go. The soldier had
served with some honor, but he had
signed his name with q cross mark.
The Burtons following had been dead
| poor and dead ignorant, until this one
son, with shrewdness and good luck,
had struggled into a fortune.
Il love dogs said Marcia Wells, as
they stopped in front of an engaging
bunch of st. Bernard puppies. Down
at Wellsoboro we nave fifteen, and
when j start out for a ride, they al
most tear me to pieces"
II had a dog once" Burton told her
ergerly. lit was the incest dog, and
when it died l cried like everything.
l was a little fellow, you know"
What kind of a dog was it?' Mar
cha asked. pulling the ears of a point
er who had made overtures as she
passed.
"Oh, don't know Burton STAN
mered, Just dog, l guess"
"Really?" Marcia murmured. and
added, ut doesn't pay to keep any
thing but blooded dogs
Well, my little dog was pretty
NICE" Burton insisted, and then wilt
ed It Marcia's Indifferent "Really?"
Billy Bates. who with Mrs. Wells,