Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-01-06
CHAPTER XIV.
Duke.

do you wish me to go now?"
Yes, if you can. Anything to
PREVENT"
Nothing special. Lady has a
loose shoe, and I was about to take
her to the blacksmiths; but can
do it later"
Il wish you would. want to get
Morris Arnold's name on this paper.
Look him up, please, and ask him to
sign it,
Il suppose Perez is using DUn?"
Il think he Isl
1T is fine morning. I'll walk"
Reginald went out, and calling
Duke, started for Enderly 1t was
April. The New England spring is
apt to be misery of her charms, hut
when she does deign to grant a fine
day it is very lovely The air was
soft and sweet, green grass was
fringing the roadsides and lending
tinge of color to lawn and hilltop.
the sky with its ever drifting clouds
flecking the blue expense was a
dream Of beauty. Creamy, and dove
colored, and deepest steely gray, they
floated hither and thither, or massed
| themselves in great banks, soon to
dispense and form again into new
combinations
| Reginald and Duke went briskly
and joyfully on. Both seemed to be
in sympathy with natures awaken
ing-bOth were rejoicing in exube1
ant life. Duke made more extra
trips and side dashes into lanes and
open gateways than was quite con-
sistent with his usual dignity-but
they were brief ones; he never vol
unfairly remained long away from
his young masters side.
Duke" said Reginald, Il think
you and I must take a walking trip
this summer. What do you thipk of
the plan?"
Reginald had way of talking to-
Duke when they were alone as
though he were person, and Duke
would wag his tail and look up with
a serious expression in his fine eyes,
as though he understood every word.
Where do you think we would
better go?" continued Reginald.
Shall we go to the White Noun
tains and climb those steep hills and
look off over a wide, wide sweep of
valleys, or shall we travel across the
country and visit the towns and vii
lagos that come in our way, and put
up at houses in the outskirts, where
they will let you sleep at the foot
of my bed, or shall we go down to
seashore and have larks in the water
and rescue girls from drowning?
Which shall it be, Duke?"
The dog gave a bound ahead, then
turned, and looking confidently at
Reginald, seemed to say" Do which
ever you please Any plan that suits
you will suit me. I know it will be
JCAiy' any hOH
Reginald did his errand, and in or
der to gain a little time returned by
a footpath across lots" This path
led down to the railway and beyond
it, and as he came out Of the woods
into the open field he heard the
whistle of an engine. A moment
later he was Mortified to behold two
small children playing, apparently
unconcerned, on the track below On
account Of a long curve in the road,
they could not be seen from the ap-
preaching train.
For an instant Reginald Wa. 1azed.
He knew not what to do. He felt
quite sure that he could not reach
them soon enough to save them. He
did not think the trainmen would
discover them in season to stop the
engine. Was there any way of es-
cape. Duke was swift and sure
footed-in him lay hope.
Duke sprang forward, and with
one bound was away. Reginald
watched him with eyes ablaze,
though he was at the same time run
ming and waving his hat, hoping to
attract attention the moment the
train rounded the curve.
He saw Duke seize one child and
set it down in safety-the other
child, frightened, ran to the other
side of the track. There was flash
"A roar-a cloud of smoke-a shrill
whistle-a hiss of steam, and as the
train went flying past him he saw
both Duke and the children standing
unhurt by the side of the track.
Good Duke! Noble Duke!" said
Reginald, and Duke wagged his tail
and looked up to his master with low