The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-06-24
A
VALUABLE
DOG
By MARTHA v. MONROE

When Stephen Yardley returned from
Europe he brought dog with him.
The animal was evidently not of
breed that would enable him to take
prize In dog show. and since
Yardley was rich ard always had the
best that money could buy there was
some curiosity among his friends to
know why the beast bad taken his
fancy. This was enhanced by noticing
that "Yardley led the dog down the
gangway himself and on leaving the
dock took him with him into the car
riage.
What did you pay for him?" asked
friend.
Five thousand dollars"
Five thousand dollarsY
Yes. and ten thousand wouldn't buy
him." =.
'There must be something about him
that is not discernible to the eye. What
is it?"
"I'll tell you. | was in Paris when
the great European war broke out. In
deed, for the past few years I've been
more in Paris than at home. Well. you
know we Americans in Paris organized
an American corps to join in the dis
pute between the allies and Germans.
| enlisted why ! don't exactly know.
The United States remained neutral,
4 oh oi N.
ed neutral. but we didn't We went into
II the way most men volunteer in war
time-to be in the excitement
Anyway. we formed corps and
after a certain amount of training
were marched to the front. You re.
member that there was lot of fighting
In wood near the center of the line.
| was fighting one day In the wood
when we suddenly came upon lot of
! Germans. and lively scrimmage fol-
lowed. Our fellows were driven back,
and l., shot in the body. was left on
the field The Germans didn't know
that they had licked US or. fearing an
ambush or something. retreated.
"Well, there was, deserted by
friend and foe. left to bleed to death
in a wood. Night came ON, and the
horror and loneliness were enough to
kill man without his dying Of a
wound Fortunately the cold weather
| had not yet come ON. and didn't suffer
with the cold. 1t was a relief to see
the day coming, for it brought hope
that there would be more lighting in
the wood and l would be within the
lines OF either one side or the other.
But the firing that began with
dawn seemed to recede rather than ap
| proach. had nothing to sustain me
either of food or drink. ! crawled to-
ward the nearest dead body-a Ger
man-and tried to find some sustenance
on him. but there was neither crust
| OF bread nor a swallow Of water. !
| crawlerf on a little farther to dead
| Frenchman and found some bread and
| a flask of wine.
If II hadn't been for these / would
have persisted, for | lay there all that
! day and another night. ! had stuffed
part OF my shirt into my wound, and
| 1t cboked up the bleeding but ! didn't
dare draw long breath for fear of
starting the bemOrrhage again. While
| was intent Oh myself and my dread.
| full condition incidents about me were
ever present. The birds that had been
| frightened away by the firing returned
and were tlitting in the branches above
me. insects were buZZing attending
to their daily affairs, unmindful that
a human being was gradually sinking
| to death.
| FINALLY fell into stupor. l didn't
| know whether 1t was night or day and
didn't care. | heard a distant boom
ing. but that was going on all the
| while | heard the bark of a dog and
had been in better condition might
have especially noticed it. The bark
sounding nearer, ! made an effort to
arouse myself When it was close by
me | opened my eyes and there was
the dog looking at me and barking.
Pretty soon be scampered off, bark
ing as he ran; then | could hear him
dra wing nearer again. But | was too
weak to take much notice of him. He
was gone so long that | forgot all
about him. But after awhile heard
his bark again far away, but drawing
nearer. The next thing knew felt
hand on my wrist. Opening my eyes,
there was man with a red cross on
his arm kneeling beside me.
LAS soon as he knew that | lived he
| gave call, and assistance came. /
was put on a stretcher and carried to
| the rear, where l was placed In q hos
| pital and received proper attention.
las soon as | got well enough to
think of anything except myself | ask
| ed about the dog that had saved me.
l was told that he was one Of the dogs
that had been trained to hunt for the
wounded. He had gone off into the
wood where | lay and had come back
barking and indicating that he wished
to be followed. A man was sent with
him and found me very near deaths
door. Probably another hour without
attention would have finished me.
Il asked to see the dog. and he was
brought In to me- When | offered to
buy him was told that the Red Cross
dogs were not for sale. Then agreed
to subscribe $1,000 to the Red Cross
fund in exchange for him. My offer
did not produce any effect till | raised
1t to $1,000. Then by some hocus po-
Gus the Red Cross managers got
around the selling of one of their dogs
for money. and my offer was accepted.