Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-10
CHAPTER XIV.
Rupe Collins,

i WOEhS so Luz us " SoAiy ooAhS
kittens (that otherwise would have
been drowned) and a pair Of Margaret's
outworn dancing slippers to poor,
angrateful old man sojourning In a
shed up the alley. And although Mr..
Robert Williams after very short in
terval began to leave his guitar on the
front porch again, exactly as II he
thought nothing had happened, Pen
rod, with his younger vision Of ia
TIERS mood, remained coldly distant
from the Jones neighborhood. With
his own family his manner was gentle,
proud and sad, but not for long enough
| to frighten them. The change came
with mystifying abruptness ut the end
| Of the week
1t was Duke who brought 1t about
Duke could chase much bigger dog
out of the Schoields' yard and far
down the street. This might be 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 superst-
ton, for dogs are even 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-
phant. 1t follows, Of course, that a
big dog, away from his own home, will
run from little dog in the little dogs
neighborhood. Otherwise the big dog
must face a charge Of inconsistency,
and dogs are as consistent as they are
superstitious. A dog believes in war,
but he Is convinced that there are times
when 1t is moral to run, and the
thoughtful physiognomist, seeing big
dog fleeing out Of little dogs yard,
must observe that the expression OF the
big dogs face is more conscientious
than alarmed. 1t is the expression Of
person performing duty to himself.
Penrod understood these matters per-
fectly. He knew that the gaunt brown
hound Duke chased up the alley had
fed only out Of Difference to 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
neighborhood.
"You better keep that ole yellow dog
O. yours back" said Penrod omlnous-
ly as he climbed the fence. "You bet
ter catch him and hold him till l get
mine inside the yard again. Dukes
chewed up some pretty bad bulldogs
around here"
The fat faced boy gave Penrod
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 come to 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'n make Duke sickr 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
dog owning friend, he inquired in q
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 great deal Of manner, and it be-
came plain that Duke was impressed
favorably In spite Of former prejudice,
80 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
refectively for a time. It was Penrod
who spoke first.
"What number you go tor Qn an
"oral lesson In English"' Penrod had
been instructed to put this question In
another form, May ask which of our
public schools you attendTD
"Me2~ What number do I 90 TOT"
said the stranger contemptuously. "I
don't go to no number in vacation"
81 mean when it amt"
Third" returned the fat faced boy.
81 got 'em all scared In that school,"
"What OFF," innocently asked Pen
rod, to whom "the third"-in a distant
part Of town-was undiscovered coun-
|. try.
"What Of? / guess you'd soon see
what Of If you ever was In that school
about one day. You'd be lucky II you
got out alive!"
'"Are the teachers meanY'
The other boy frowned with bitter
scorn. Teachers! Teachers don't or
der me around, can tell you. They're
mighty careful how they try TO run
over Rupe Collins"
"Who's Rupe CollinsT'
"Who Is hep echoed the fat faced
boy incredulously. "Say, amt you got
any senseY'
"Whatr
"Say, wouldn't you be just as happy
u you had some sensef'
"Ye-es." Penrod's answer, Ike the
look he lifted to the impressive strang-
er, was meek and placative. "Rupe
Collins Is the principal at your school.
guess"
The other yelled with jeering laugh