Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-04
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AS they stopped at the fodder lou Little
Pat slid to the ground and Ross tied the
horse to a fencepost. Then the man and
the boy took up their solemn walk toward
the s,lnken grave.
1.-THE worser half of mothers 1yin' here
two years. said Pat pausing "and Chatter
Pate's on top, covered with my old blue
shirt. The holes big enough to bury him
in, amt it, NIister?'
Eyes" said Ross.
Silently the doctor stopped down, and
Little Pat dropped on his knees beside him.
1t was the boys tender fingers that lifted
the shirt and exposed the fettered body of
Chatter Pate. The four little legs were still
tied together, and the leather strap held the
jaws close. Suddenly in the moonlight Ross
Wetherton saw stubby tail moving slowly
to and fro. With an exclamation he stood
up.
3He's not dead, Pat" he cried, "he's not
dead!7
Little Pat bounded up and placed himself
between Chatter Pate and the doctor. "Ye
can't have him!" he shrieked. "Ye prom
ised ye'd take mel"
DR.. Wetherton placed one hand on Pats
shoulder and with the other tilted the boys
chin upward He could see the agonized
face of Little Pat and noted with a catch in
his breath the child's twitching lips.
@Let's unstrap him. he said, "and after
ward | will tell you what | have decided.
In moment Chatter Pate was free. The
dog dropped sidewise upon the sunken grave,
and stretched his cramped legs with mourn
full whine.
Standing hesitant for an instant, Little
Pat glanced first at the dog and then up into
the face of the man. Then, with a sup
pressed sob, he gathered Chatter Pate's
To
heart. But if Ross Wetherton heard the
words Of love and sympathy that Little Pat
poured into Chatter Pate's ears, he gave no
sign.
a thought we were dead, Clatter," wills
pered Pat. Il thought as how I'd sent We to
Mummy. But We needn't shake, ole man,
and We can quit beatin' me with yer tail,
cause I'm to take yer placela
Suddenly Pat stood up with Chatter Pate's
head snuggled under his arm. 1T weren't
meant for him to die, Mister" he said. "Jed
can believe that you took him, just the
same. Anyway, he won't care long as he
gets the twenty-five.
led SMITH opened the door at Wether
/. tons knock With Pats hand in his, the
latter stood in the doorway glancing about
the kitchen moment. The woman Clover
looked up expectantly.
@Mr. Smith," Ross cleared his throat.
3I've come to pay for the dog, and to buy
your boy"
The farmer rose to his feet. what do ye
want with Pato'
"To do as like with returned the other
sharply. IF you have price, name it. |
want him.
Something in his tones made Pat shiver;
but he hung tighter to the large white hand.
A look of cunning spread over Smiths
face. "Ye mean ye want the boy for keeps:'
Eyes, for keeps repeated Ross.
swell, he amt much good as a kid" said
Smith thoughtfully, "and as long as amt
his own pappy-' he stopped and thought
a moment. If cur be worth twenty
dollars, kid like that ought to be worth
five hundred
"You will sign paper that you won't ever
NEEDLE with him, no matter what do?"
@Ye can have the paper, all right. When
do | get the money!
Tomorrow morning. Come to my house.
I'm going to take the lad back with me now"
The doctors dark face was serious and his
tones stern. He pushed Little Pat into the
night, followed him out, and closed the door
after them quickly.
WITHOUT a word Wetherton drew the