The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-27
Baeley and the
Pup; or, What
Would You Do?
BY KENNETH HARRIS

by KENNETH HARRIS.
n ONSIDERED from a humanitarian
1 standpoint. Bagley was not remark
- able. His sympathies had tolerablv
wsll-defined eallouses on them here and
there, just as yours and mine have-for-
tunately.
He could read his morning paper with
out being made Wretched for the rest Of
the day, and go through a magazine
Fiction and alb, dry eyed and without a
suspicion of chOkiness or a despairing
sigh.
Nevertheless. Bagley has decent in
stincts that would not allow him TO stand
idly by when a dumb animal was being
abused, and when the thick-necked per
son in the butcher shop kicked the dog
from the threshold across the sidewalk
10 the wheel OF waiting dray, and
stepped forward seeming about TO repeat
the kick, Bagley interviewed.
Il wouldn't do that" he said
"Oh, you wouldn't, eh?" retorted the
thick-necked person, with ferOcious pleas
antry. We'll, you don't have TO, but
you'd better stand aside If you don't
want me 10 step on you"
That's all right, but you won't touch
| that dog, said Bagley, and as the thick
necked person pushed him aside, he hit
out and landed on brutal jaw, with
about as much damaging effect as if he
had punched the butchers ChOpping
| block.
Before he could recover himself, the
| thick-necked person smOte him on the
! nose and followed that with a blow that
almost instantly closed his left eye.
Bagley fought back gamely, but If a
/ policeman had not miraculOusiy arrived
/ in the nick of time. he might have been a
worthy candidate for a crown Of mar
| tyrdOm.
As it was after a brief alteration, the
| thick-necked person went back to his
/ shop and Bagley picked up his hat and
readJusted his collar and necktle- he
was about to walk away when his eye
| fell on the brindled cause of the trouble,
who was sitting on his launches a short
distance away.
Poor fellow" said Bagley. Poor old
chap"
The dog made a dash at him, his body
/ wriggiing in an ecstasy OF joyous emo
/ ton. Bagley snapped his fingers and the
/ dog jumped on him, making frantic
| efforts to lick the hand that was caress-
/ ing him.
Bagley was moved By the poor ami
mails gratitude; also a strong sense OF
the nobility Of his own conduct was
thrilling MIN. The pity Of it was that
/ there had been no witnesses of his hero
| ism but the policeman, and the police
man had been unappreciative.
1t was an ugly brute of a dog, mon
| gTel from his tOO-thiCk muzze to the
tip of his tOo-long tail-a brindled epitOme
of breeds; but Bagley knew he had made
in him a friend who would follow him
through any adversely, who would leave
the flesh-pots of the proud. and rich to
share a bare crust with him, so Come
along, pup" said Bagley, and the cur
trOtted along behind him with the air Of
one whose life destiny is fully settled
Mrs. Bagley received the waif with a
lack Of enthusiasm. What on earth do
you want with a dog, my dearF' she
said.
There are several uses for him." re-
piled Bagley. ITO begin with, he viii
be a protector against burglars and
7 L.. aa h rrHnr
effective alarm. and, furthermore, we
might teach him tricks for the amuse-
ment OF our guests and save the expense
of a professional entertainer"
Don't talk nonsense. Come and let
me see If I can't do something for that
/ poor eye" said Mrs. Bagley.
Installing Hector at Home.
BagIey fed the dog literally that
evening, and then took him down to the
! basement, where he lined cracker box
with some old carpet for HeCtOrs bed.
/ (IIe had decided to call the dog Hector)
/ He had barely reached the top of the
/ stairs when the air was rent by dismal
/ hOwlings. Bagiey decided to pay no at
| tenliOn to these demonstrations of grief,
/ in the fond hope that the dog would get
/ tired.
/ Mrs. Bagley maintained an eloquent and
| exasperating silence. After about an hour
/ of it, Bagley said, Hes lonely, poor fell
/ low. He didn't like to leave me"
/ Mrs. Bagley shifted.
Il suppose you wouldn't want me to
/ let him Out?" Bagley asked. 1T doesn't
seem to me that he could do any harm"
I most decidedly do not want him
| loose, declared Mrs. Bagley. The idea
/ Of such a thing"
oh very we'll" said Bagley, and
presently the bowling ceased and didn't
break out again until an hour after mid
night. That time Bagley was obliged to
so down and demonstrate with Hector,
using an old broom
The next morning, when he went to the
| basement, Hector welcomed him as ef-
/ fusively as ever. whereat Bagley's heart
/ smOte him for his severity.
After breakfast ne took Hector for a
walk. His wife tried TO get him to stay
/ at home on account of his eye, but he in
sisted that he was not likely to meet any
| body. He did, though. He met two elder
! " women, evidently strangers to the sub
| urb, and Hector greeted them with the
most extravagant demonstrations Of joy.
Come here, Hector" called Bagley.
but Hector took not the slightest notice
| and as his new friends walked on pro-
ceeded to follow them. Bagley whistled
and called in a more peremptory manner.
at which the two women stopped
Go to your master, nice doggie, said
one You'll get into trouble il you
don't"
Hector merely cringed.
Poor fellow" said the other. He looks
as if he had been terribly ill-treated ana
half-starved And what a brutal looking
/ mani He's been fighting, don't YOU seer
Bagley could just hear this. He called
/ to Hector again, unavailingly, and then,
| in bitterness of spirit, turned and walked
! away.
where is that dog?" asked Mrs. Bag
/ lev. Did YOU see ne pulled down those
| lace curtains that I had drying IN the
/ basement and tore them all into shreds?
A day or two later as Bagley was re-
I turning home a brindled dog pranceo
| gaiIv across a rOad-width Of mud puddies
and planted his dripping paws on the sun
urbanite's previously immaculate trou-
/ sers 1t was Hector.
/ Bagley drew back his right leg and then
/ kicked out with all the might In him.
"Blame you to blamenation, you meas
/ w beastr' he exclaimed savagely as Hec-
/ tor lit bowling. He took step toward
the dog, frOwning.
"Ob. wouldn't do that" said a man
who had come up behind There was
I righteous indignation in the mans voice.