Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30

agony to Miss Arnold. The Sheriff. who
happened to be in the vicinity was among
them and him she succeeded in imbuing witt,
the belief that Charley had not only stolen
the mare but abducted Celia as well The
officer looked grave. and some of the men
fingered pistols in their belts.
an that case-on fast hoss-a barnbov
like hint will be long chase, he said
unless he leaves the boss somewhere: then
we'll need dawgs."
@Charley he done got houn' dawg in the
barn, Boss-you kin hear him, one Of the
hands said
@Jest the thing!" the Sheriff cried "Fetch
him along-an fetch some of Charley's
c1othes-a boot-anything He CANT get
off the road with the boss. and if he takes to
the brush the dog will pick him up. Fetch
some of the little girls clothes too. We may
have to trail EN-, Ma am" he explained to
Miss Arnold
Dazed. she watched the little cavalcade
start out on the moonlit main road, -@the
only one a hossrnan could have taken to
git anywheres,' as the Sheriff remarked
the hound Koto tugging in the leash. 1t
never occurred to one of them that the little
girl might have wandered off alone; for,
with the evidence of stealing the mare, no
body doubted Charley's guilt. They had al
ready fixed his punishment, if caught.
to Memphis the Sheriff swore "Hellol
What's gone of that houn' pup?"
They had come along the road at good
speed and were passing the branch. when
Koto, either by instinct or divination. sens
ing his masters recent proximity, tugged for
the side track, nearly pulling the man that
held him out of the saddle.
There's two horse tracks, goin' an COM
in!" the Sheriff said. He sprang from his
saddle. examining the footprints in the soft
clay road. @Same hossi' he announced
Hes went up this swale-hidin' close to the
plantation. Fetch along that lantern!"
Koto knew Charley and Vixen too well to
need any scent laid wherever they might
have gone. Resentful at being kept back, he
lifted his head in bell like baying that sounded
as dirge; them breaking out of hand he
made straight for the brake, the searching
party at his heels.
Got him cornered, shore as shootin'i" the
Sheriff said in hoarse whisper. @He won't
play no.more tricks like this!'
At the spot where Charley had lost the
baby tracks, only to take up the more SIMS
ter trail, the hound too found himself at loss.
He pointed his nose skyward with little
yelps of distress, darting too and fro. The
searchers strained their eyes for some sign;
but where Charley's love-sharpened gaze
had served the feeble lanternlight failed
them.
1t seemed to the watchers that hours
passed in the interminable search. Then
suddenly Koto shifted with little joyous
whines, as at some familiar scent unexpect-
edly come upon.
THE first dawn's light glinted down the
mountainsde as the searchers emerged
upon the little path. The hound once more
took up the trail with deep throated baying.
the baying that sent the master he sought
hurting down the cliff with his precious
burden
The searchers climbed swiftly, the light
growing stronger with each moment. At the
rocky ledge where Charley had faltered the
hound hesitated, divided between two trails;
then he ran to the outer edge of the cliff The
Sheriff peered down the precipice. Below.
bathed in the rosy light of the rising sun.
there lay something something that was
hardly man, but the right arm still shell
tered the white form of the little golden
Honey Girl
Charley still breathed when the searchers,
following the path of the chasm, came upon
his mangled form. BY one of those marvels
of Providence that have filled the annals of
human life with hairbreadth escapes. Char
ley's little Honey Girl was unscathed. Her
pallid face with its tearstains, nestled con-
1. ~ \ Il, Il