The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-07-27
TRUE At THE LAST
Wolf-Dog Deserted Master, But
Still Loved Him.
Answered "call Of His Fathers"
Though He Proved Loyal When
Loyalty Meant Death by the
Fangs OF His Pack.

fangs OF His PACK.
He had been called Wolf since pup
pyhood. He stood nearly forty inches,
with small ragged, rail-llke body, and
unusually long legs that ended in great,
soft, padlike feet. Jack Stern, Steve
Wormells partner, used to say that
the dog could not turn round In their
"two-by four" cabin without knocking
over the table and chairs and seriously
endangerlng the stove and other furni.
pTe.
One evening, as Steve and Jack sat
playing game Of crlbbage in their
ranger cabin, wolf howled lugubrl.
ously from the mountain side. After o
moment came the answer; then an.
other caught up the call and another
until the lonesome wall echoed from
mountain top TO mountain top.
Suddenly. there came howl, nearer
and more deep-throated.
Stern opened the door.
Come here, Stevel" he said, and
the ranger stepped to his side.
On small, treeless mound, not far
from the cabin. sat Wolf. lie was
squattlng on his launches. with his
nose pointed toward the sky. while
from his throat came a cry quite un-
like his usual howl
ITS the call of his fathers, Steve"
said Jack. "Some day you'll have no
dog hen be gone with the pack"
Steve laughed at the idea. He had
brought Wolf, an awkward bench-leg-
ged puppy, out TO the ranger cabin in a
sack; the dog had always been faith
ful and contented with his lot.
But one morning in the spring Wolf
was missing.
At first Steve clung TO the hope that
Wolf would return when the running"
season was over. lie had heard Of
dogs doing that. But spring merged
into summer, and summer into full, yet
the dog did not come back.
Then they began TO hear that Wolf
had been seen running at the head of a
small band Of wolves. although they
never found n man who had actually
seen him.
About Christmas time, when the
snow was deeper than for many win
ters past, prOwling bands Of wolves be-
gan TO come down near the camp.
One day Steve found that large
bull elk had been killed within mile
Of camp. Signs of the struggle were
to be seen for hundred yards round.
Near the scattered bones OF the elk
We're the disembowled remains of two
wolves. A little farther along Il young
COW elk had fallen beneath the fangs
Of the mountain bandits. And mt each
kill Steve found a large track, twice
the size Of that made by common
wolf.
When the snow had cruSted so that
II would bear up the weight Of n man,
Steve threw his rifle across his arm
and walked over TO the breaks of the
Grande R0nde. He was nearing the
broken lands when the sound of a run
ming pack came to his ears. A moment
later Il small band of wolves, perhaps
fifteen in number, burst from the tim
ber running toward him. And at their
head ran Wolf.
The ranger forgot his danger. He
cried. wolf don't you know me?"
The sound of his voice brought the
great dog 10 a standstill, and the pack
stopped with him. Nose in the air,
sides aquiver, he stood a moment;
then, with low bay of recognition, he
sprang toward his one-time master.
The pack, evidently mistaking their
leaders intention. likewise rushed at
Steve. And the next instant, with his
gun dubbed, he was In the midst of n
snarling, swapping mass of famine
crazed wolves.
When Jack arrived on the scene he
found Steve sitting in the snow, with
the shaggy head of Wolf pilowed in
his lap. Around him, with their NANCY
pelts torn and bloody, lay half dozen
dead wolves.
The rangers clothing was torn TO
shreds and one arm and leg were n
mass of cuts and gashes; but there
were tears in his eyes.
"Ile fought for me, Jack" he said.
pressing the stifrenng lids over the
glazed eyes Of the dead hound. 'Te
gave his life for me. How he fought
And against his own blood, too. Yon-
der lies one OF his own pups. Why
shouldn't l love Youths Com
pnnion.