The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-12-06

May at last. II s'pose you are hungry.
1t isn't going to do you a bit of good
to eat but you don't know 1t. I'll ask
Aunty Rose If she has something for
YOU"
She got up YEARLY and went across
the yard. Aunty Rose stood just In
side the screen door.
Don't you want any dinner, Car'lyn
MayT" she asked.
mo, ma'am. l guess I'd better not
eat" said the child.
"Why not?"
"'Cause my stomach's so trembly.
l just know / couldn't keep anything
down, even If / could swallow 1t. But
PrinceIl eat his, please. He-he don't
know any better"
"Tut, tut J" murmured the
Hes the most sensible of the two of
you, I declare"
The minutes of that afternoon drag
There was no idea In the little girls
mind that Uncle Joe might change his
intention and Prince be saved from the
Tatery grave promised him. When
she saw the hardware dealer come in
to the yard almost an hour earlier
than their usual supper time she was
not surprised. Nor did she think Of
pleading with him for the dogs life.
The little girl watched him askance.
Mr.. Stagg came directly through the
yard, stopping only at the she'd for a
moment. There he secured a strong
potato sack, and with 1t trailing from
his hand went halfway up the knoll
to where there was q heap Of stones.
He stopped down and began to select
some Of these, putting them in the
bag.
This was too much for Carolyn May.
With a fearful look at Uncle Joe's I'M
compromising shoulders, she went to
the tree where Prince was chained.
Exchanging the chain for the leather
leash with which she always led him
about. the little girl guided the mon
grel across the yard and around the
corner of the house.
Her last backward glance assured
her that the hardware dealer had not
observed her. Quickly and silently she
led Prince to the front gate. and they
went out together into the dusty road.
II know we oughtn't to-" whis-
pered Carolyn May to her canine
friend, "but 1 feel I've just got to save
you. Prince. II can't see you
drownd-ed dead like thatw
She turned the nearest corner and
went up the road towards the little
closed, g~able-roofed cottage where
Aunty Rose had lived before she had
come to be Uncle Joe's housekeeper.
Carolyn May had already peered
over into the small yard Of the cot
tage and had seen that Mrs. Kennedy
still kept the flower-beds weeded and
the walks neat and the grass plot
trimmed. But the window shutters
were barred and the front door built
up with boards.
Carolyn May went in through the
front gate and sat down on the door
step. while Prince dropped to a COM
III okIlIuuC oCSluC hCIs AuC uO6
slept. The little girl ruminated.
She would not go back to Uncle
Joe's-no, indeed She did not know
just what she would do when dark
should come, but Prince should not be
sacrificed to her uncle's wrath.
A voice, low. sweet. yet startling,
aroused her.
"What r you doing there, little
giri?"
Both runaways started, but neither
OF them was disturbed by the appear
ansce of her who had accosted Caro-
lyn May.
"Oh. Miss Mandy" breathsd the lit
tie girl, and thought that the carpen-
ter's daughter had never looked SO
pretty.
"What are you doing there" repeat
ed Miss Parlow.
"We-we've run away" said Caro-
Ign May at last. She could be nothing
but frank It was her nature.
run away" repeated the pretty
woman you don't lean that9"
Yes. ma'am, I have. And Prince.
From Uncle Joe and Aunty Rose"
Carolyn May assured her. nodding her
head with each declaration.
lob, my dear, what fort" asked
Miss Amanda.
SO Carolyn May told her-and with
tears.
Meanwhile the woman came into TIA
yard and sat beside the child on tho
step. With her arm about the little
girl. Mss Amands snuggied her up
close. wtptng the tears away with her