The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-10-12
GORDON walked nervonsly up ana


Gordon walked nervously up ana
down the grass at the side Of the track.
looking anxiously each way for sign of
the wrecktng train. The thought OF
Julia did occur to him, but he put it i'm
patiently away, for he knew just how
poorly Julia would bear a delay on y
journey even in his company. He had
been with her once when the engine
got off the tract on G short trip down
to q Virginia house-party, and she was
the most impatient creature alive, al
though 1t mattered not whit to any
of the rest Of the party whether they
made merry on the train or ct their
friends house. And yet, If julia We're
anything at all to him, would not he
like the thought Of her companionship
now?
A great white dog hobbled up to him
and fawned upon him as he urned to
go back to the train. and he laid his
hand kindly upon the animals head,
and noted the wistful eyes upon his
face. lie was a noble dog, and Gordon
stood for a moment fondling him. Then
he turned impatiently and tralnped
back to the car again. But when he
reached the steps he found that the dog
had followed him.
Gordon froWned, half in annoyance,
half in amusement. and sitting down on
a log by the wayside he took the dogs
pink nozzle into his hands, caressing
the white fur above 1t gently.
The dog whined happily, end Gordon
meditated. How long would the train
wait? Would he miss getting to New
York in time for the dime, =? Would he
miss the chance TO rise IN his chiefs
good graces? The chief would expect
him to get to New York some other way
II the train were delayed. How long
ought he to wait on possibilities?
81 OF mn t1t tr, ~. ID -, = - ~
trainmen coming Jack hurI!edly. Evid-
emily the train was about to start. With
a final kindly stroke OF the white head,
ne called a WorkMen nearby, handed
him half a dollar to hold the dog, and
spring on board.
He had scarcely settled himself into
his chair, however, before the dog came
rushing up the aisle from the other
end of the car, and p~recipitated himself
muddy and noiSily upon Elm.
With haste and perturbation Gordan
hurried the dog to the door and tried to
Ting him Off, but the roor creature
pulled back and ciIng to the platform
yelpinS piteously.
Just then the conductor came from
the other car ana looked at him Curl
ously.
NO dogs allowed in these cars lie
said gruffiy.
We'll, if you know how to enforce
that rule wish YOU would" said Cor
dom. I'm sure l don't know What to
do with him."
Where has he cen since you left
Washington?" asked the grim conduc-
tor with suspicion in his eyes.
II certainly haven't had him Sc
GREETED about me, a dog of thai size,"
remarked the young ma lryly. Be
sides, he isn't my dog. / never saw
him before till he followed me at the
station. I'm as anxious to be rid Of
him as he is to stay"
The conductor eyed the young man
keenly, and then allowed q grim sense
Of humor to appear in one corner of
his mouth
Got a chain or a rope for him?" he
more sympathetically.
Well, no." remarked the unhappy
attache of the dog. MOT having had
an appointment with the dog l didn't
provide myself with a leash for him"
said the conductor briefly. and
slafnmed his way into the next car.
There seemed nothing else to be
oone, put 1t was most annoying to be
thus forced on the notice of his fellow
travellers, when his commission re-
CURED that he be as inconspicuous as
possible.
At Jersey City he hoped to escape
and leave the dog to the tender mercies
OF the baggage man, out that official
was craftily waiting for him and hand
ed the animal over to his unwilling
master with a satisfaction i'll propor-
toned to the fee he had received for
caring for him.
Ihen began a series Of misfortunes.
disappointment and suspicion stalked
beside him, and behind him a voice
continually whispered his chiefs last
injunction: Don't let anything hinder
you'll"
Frantically he tried first one place
m then another, but all to no effect.
NOBODY apparently wanted to care for
a stray white dog, and his very haste
aroused suspicion. Once he came near
being arrested as a dog thief. He could
not get rid Of that dog! Yet he must
nave to have the animal sent home to
Washington as the only solution of the
problem? Then a queer fancy seized
him that just in some such way had
Miss Julia Bentley been s~hadowing his
lays for nearly three years now; and
ne had actually this very day been
considering calmly whether he might
not have to marry her, Just because She
was SO persistent in her taking pos
session Of him. Not that she was I'M
ladyllke, of course; no, indeed! She
was stately and beautiful and had
never offended. But she had always
quietly, persistently, taken it for grant
v ne AHS "Ouiu ne "neT attendant
whenever she chose; and she always
chose whenever he was in the least in
clined to enjoy any other woman's
company.
He frowned at himself. Was there
something weak about his character
h a woman or a dog could so easily
master him? Would any other cm-
ploye in the office, once trusted with
his great commissicn, haIe allowed it
to be hindered h Z dog?