Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-06

reveaied his terrible teeth.
The collie seemed to regard the new
arrival with lively curiosity. He had
evidently never seen a bulldog - p
and was ignorant of his dangerous
character. lie arched his neck, raised
his ears, wagged mis- tail and advanced
70 touch noses and get acquainted.
Without making sound, or betray
ing the slightest sign of anger. the
bulldog darted straight at the throat
of the unoffeuding stranger Snap
when his powerful jaws. not an inch
from the graceful throat of the collie.
That foolish dog-to the great aston
ishmcnt of the spectators, after such
an numistakablc demonstration made
ho attempt 10 escape. Instead he
made another friendly overture; but
this Mas received in no more kindly
fashion than the first Then there was
a change The peaceful. inquiring
creature of a moment before, was sud
denly transformed into an animal 1.-THE
as a panther. bristling with rage. and
alert for bottle.
The landlord laughed loudly and
clapped his hands Oh his knees. sic
him, Bill he roared, sic him. Eat
him upl
\ crowd soon began to gather to see
what was going on. Once more Har-
hour walked out from the tree; wise.
or otherwise, he was determined to
chamnioR the masterless dog in his
unequal combat, and moved about as
if his long legs were set on springs.
The dog whose ancestors had roam
cd the heather-claa hills of old Scot
laHd soon proved that he possessed
the keen brain of his kind. He evad-
ed every charge of his heavier adver-
sarY, and, leapng lightly To the rear,
bit him mercilesslY on hip and leg.
The bulldog became furious, the foam
dripped from his savage jaws, Time
and again he rushed upon his seem
uglX helpless foe, only To be mised
and badly bitten before lie could re-
cover himself. His strenuous exer-
tons, however. were beginning TO tell
upon the supple collie; his leap be-
came less agile, while the tenacious
bulldog, though lame and painting for
breath. appeared to grow more savage
each moment.
Grab that cowardIy whelpi Just let
fill have one grip on him." bawled the
pulling landlord.
One of his louis made a move to
obey his order, but returned to his
place with considerable haste and
Harbour's Shoe in close proximity to
his coat tails. Presently the bulldog
made a rush and almost caught the
collie in a deadly grip. His glistening
teeth grazed the muzzle of his evasive
enemy. The latter, angered by the
singing scratch seized his heavy an
tagonist by the hind leg, and with
quickside pull. rolled him on his broad
back For few moments there was q
confused mass of struggling, snarling
animals: then the collie leaped to his
feet. and the bulldog rose slowly, with
a long red cash in his side, and one
hind leg hanging limp and broken.
Seeing this the landlord caught up a
heavy piece of scantling and rushed
toward the victorious collie. But he
came to a sudden stop.
"Oh. no you don't my friendi" said
Harbour. You and your dog started
| this trouble. Now YOU and your dog
will take what's coming to you. The
man who lays a finger on that dog, TO
| hurt him, Will feel the weight of these
| 'brandishints a pair OF gigantic fists.
Ne one moved or spoke. and the col
| lie who at that moment must have
| caught some trace of his master, trot-
| ted eff with the same innocent, UNI
daunted air that had characterized his
coming. The hotelkeeper seized his
| beaten. whimperiug dog by the collar
and pulled him inside; the crowd Of
people standing about, jeering him as
| he did SO
Harbour once more found himself
| alone, and his heart sank as he turned
toward the old Implements shed that
| served as n town hall His trouble,
| after the brief excitement through
which he had just passed seemed
weightier than ever, and his spirit
| sank lower, and lower, as he strolled
| along. A light pressure on his arm
caused him TO turn quickly about and
| there stood Hardcastle.
'Well?" questioned the young farm
er. gruflly.
Il guess. John" began Mr. Hard
castle, with a slight nervous halt, Il
| guess we'll call that fire business off
| I've Just been down and Withdrawn
| the charge. You needn't bother about
| the matter of the hay. either hay is
| cheap this spring; and, anyhow. I've
| lots left. More than that, my teams
| will be through with the seeding early
and if you are needing any help, come
| to me. ] want to bury the Ratchet
| and here's my hand on it,
John stared in speechless astonish-
mcnt. reaching out his 4hand mechani-
eally, as he did SO. Mil. Why
what for he managed to stammer
at last.
AIR. Hardcastle halted astride the
| side of his wagon box into which he
Was climbing Look" he said, and
there were unmistakable signs of
moisture in his little, hard gray eyes.
az he pointed To the spring seat, where
cooled comfortably upon his masters
overcoat, holding in his teeth the reins
of the restless team. lay the intelligent
collie of the recent fight with the bull
dog.
He was my son Colemans dog, and
was with him when we found him
dead in the snow last December, out
on the open prairie. Our Dumb Ami
ais.