The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-09-23

works SO far rs to carry some
kittens Chat otherwise would have
been drowned and Il pair of Margaret's
outwOrn dancing slippers to II poor.
ungrateful old man Soiouruing in n
shed up the alley. And although MIR.
Robert Williams after Il very short In
terval began to leave his guitar on the
front porch again. exactly as if he
thought nothing had happened. Pen
rod. with his younger vision Of n ia
theirs mood, remained coldly distant
from the Jones neighborhOod. With
bis OWN family his manner was gentle,
proud and sad. but not for long enough
to brighten them. The change came
with mystifyIng ab%ruptneSs ut the end
of the week
1t was Duke who brought it about.
Duke could chase a much bigger dog
out OF the Schoieids' yard and far
down the street. This might he thought
to indicate unusual valor on the part
of Duke and cOWardice on that of the
bigger dogs whom he undoubtedly put
to rOut. On the contrary. all such
flights were founded in mere supcrsti
ton, for dogs are ever more superSti-
tious than boys and cOlored people,
and the most firmly established Of all
dog superStitions is that any dog, be
he the smallest and feeblest in the
world, can whip any treSpasSer what
sOever.
A rat terrier believes that on his
home grounds he can whip an ele-
plant. 1t follows. Of course. that n
big dog, away from his own home. will
run from a little dog in the little dogs
neighborhood. Otherwise the big dog
must face a charge Of Inconsistency.
and dogs are as consistent as hey are
superStitiouS. A dog believes in war.
but he is convinced that there ere times
when it is moral to run. and the
thoughtful physiognomiSt. seeing a big
dog fleeing out Of a little dogs yard.
must observe that the expression of the
big dogs face is more conscientious
than alarmed. 1t is the expression Of a
person performing a duty to himself.
PenrOd understood these matters per
fectly. He knew that the gaunt brown
hound Duke chased up the alley had
fled only out of Difference to a custom.
yet Penrod could not refrain from
Dragging of Duke to the hounds own
er, a fat faced stranger Of twelve or
thirteen. who had wandered into the
n~eighborhood.
You better keep that ole yellow dog
O yours back said Penrod ominous-
ly as he climbed the fence. You bet
ter catch him and hold him till | get
mine inside the yard again. Dukes
chewed up some pretty bad bulldogs
around here"
The fat faced boy gave Penrod a
fishy stare. You'd oughta learn him
not to do that" he said. It'll make
him sick"
What will?"
The stranger laughed raspingly and
gaZed up the alley, where the hound.
having copIe to q halt. now cOolly sat
down, and, with an expression Of
roguish benevolence, patronizingly
watched the tempered fury Of Duke.
whose assaults and barkings were be-
coming perfunctory.
"What'll make Duke sick?" Penrod
demanded.
"Eatin' dead bulldogs people leave
around here"
This was not improvisation but for
mula. adapted from other occasions TO
the present encounter. Nevertheless. it
was new to Penrod. and he was so
taken with it that resentment lost It
self in admiration. Hastily commit
ting the gem to memory for use upon
a dog owning friend. he inquired in a
sociable tone:
Whats your dogs name?"
Dan. You better call your ole pup.
cause Dan eats live dogs
Dams actions poorly supported his
masters assertion. for upon Dukes
ceasing to bark Dan rose and showed
the most courteous interest In making
the little old dogs acquaintance. Dan
had a great deal of manner. and it be-
came plain that Duke was impressed
favorably In spite Of former prejudice.
so that presently the two trotted
amicably back TO their masters and
sat down with the harmonious but in
different air of having known each 9th
er intimately for years.
They were received without com
ment. though both boys looked at them
reiectively for a time. 1t was Penrod
who spoke first.
What number you 60 tor Gin an
"oral lesson in English" PenrOd had
been instructed to put this question In
another form. May | ask which Of our
public schools you attendy"j
Me? What number do | go to-"
said the stranger contemptuously. 81
don't 20 TO no number In vacation"
Il mean when II amt"
Third" returned the fat faced boy.
u got 'em all scared In that school,"
What off innocently asked Pen
rod, to whom 1.-The third"-in a distant