The Snowflake herald., 1915-05-28

ward Miller was never annoyed by
the children again. 1t began to be
said that the dog, which he had adopt
ed out of the bitterness of his heart.
was making a man of him. Old ac-
Quaintances, who had dropped Miller
years before, began to nod to him in
the street. Somehow life began to
seem easier to the old man.
However, he still collected his
money as harshly as ever, he still
snarled as he went about his ways.
IL Is hard to change ones disposition
at seventy But the dog was always
at MS side, with the friendliest dis
position imaginable, always with tail
Wagging, and Miller's devoted friend.
Then came the day which was
destined to have permanent effect
on the old man. He was going home
with Outcast after an interview with
one OF his debtors. He had fully lived
up to his reputation and he was
thinking bitterly that he would show
the fellow no more mercy than he
would have expected. Suddenly a
runaway horse came tearing down the
street, attached to buggy, fortunate
ly empty, which was swaying dizzily
from side to side.
Right in the path of the animal
was young woman, poorly dressed.
wheeling baby-carriage She saw
the horse and seemed paralyzed with
fear. She did not know where to turn.
The animal was almost on top of
her.
Suddenly Outcast leaped from the
old mans side and sprang directly in
the horses path, barking furiously.
The horse swerved, Outcast caught
at the reins, the horse dashed to one
side and fell, dragging down the dog
with it and overturning the. buggy
within foot of the baby-carriage.
An instant later the spectators had
leaped to the fallen animals side and
were pulling it to its feet. Others
seized the mother and the carriage
and conducted them across the street
under the shade of Miller's trees. The
woman was sobbing Historically and
clutching the child, which still slept,
in her arms. Miller stood at the side
Of the horse.
Outcast was in a sorry plight The
horse had kicked him as it fell and in
fiicted serious injuries. The dog
could not rise; it got on it's front feet
and dragged its hind quarters pitt
fully. 1t licked it's masters hand.
Old Miller, forgetful of all but the
dog, kneeled beside it, stroking the
paralyzed back. 1t was clear that Out.
cast had not long to live. He picked
him up in his arms.
There were tears in old Miller's
eyes, and his hide-bound nature
seemed softened at last-broken.
AS he stood there the young woman
came up to him timidly.
"Your dog has saved my baby's
life," she said '1s there anything
can do-anything at all? don't know
how l can thank you. have nobody
in the world but my child and crippled
husband"
Olu MIll0T SLdTcu dL u0E. w nat IL
your name. girl?" he demanded
roughly.
Emily Miller, sir"
Old Miller took her hands in his.
II have nobody in the world either
unless my children come back to
me-" he said
People said afterward that it was
the joy of the reunion that made old
Miller a friend of all the boys and
girls In Pilkington. But everybody
gave the credit to Outcast, who might
generally have been seen playing
with little Henry on the old mans
doorstep. The superstition grew, also,
that when the noted surgeon cured
the old mans son of his lameness
passed into the dog, and that was why
he limped little. Because things
get distorted with the lapse of time,
long before he died cranky" old
Miller had DaSSed into a legend