The Clio messenger., 1918-10-11

noon. Freda Payne, whom she liked
| very much, lived up the road beyond
| the schoOlhOuse, and she had invited
OF course, Prince had to be included
In the invitation. Freda fully under
stood that, and Carolyn May took him
| on his leash.
They saw Miss Minnie at her desk
when they went past the schoolhouse.
She was correcting written exercises.
Carolyn May secretly hoped that her
own was much better than she feared
! It was.
Not far beyond the schoolhouss
Prince began to growl, and the hairs
stiffened on his neck.
Whatever Is the matter with you,
Prince" demanded Carolyn May.
In a moment she saw the cause of
the dogs continued agitation. A
roughly dressed, bewhiskered man sat
beside the road eating lunch out Of a
newspaper. He leered at Carolyn May
and said:
II guess you got bad dog there.
amt We, little girl"
"Oh, no! He's us'ally very polite"
answered Carolyn May. "You must be
still, Prince! You see," she explained,
she doesn't like folks to wear old
clothes. f-if you had on your Sun
day suit, I'm quite sure he would not
growl at you"
"He wouldn't, hey?" said the man
~ tnI- ty An ~ ha IaS 81
crumbs of his lunch. "An' suppose a
feller amt got no Sunday suit?"
"Why then, I s'pose Prince wouldn't
ever let you come into our yard-if
he was loose"
"Don't let him loose now, little GIRL"
said the fellow, getting up hurriedly
and cycling the angry dog askance.
"Oh, no, sir. We're going visiting
up the road. Come away, Prince.
won't let him touch you," she assured
the man.
The latter seemed rather doubtful
of her ability to hold the dog long, and
he hobbled away towards the school
house.
Carolyn May had a very pleasant
call-Freda's mother even approved of
Prince-and 1t was an hour before the
two started for home. In sight Of the
school house Prince gave evidence
again of excitement.
II wonder what is the matter with
you now," Carolyn May began, when
suddenly she sighted what had EVIL
IDENTIFY so disturbed the dog.
A man was crouching under one of
the schoolhouse windows, bobbing up
now and then to peer in. 1t was the
man whom they had previously seen
beside the road.
"Hush, Princew whispered little
Carolyn May, holding the dog by the
collar.
She, too, could see through the open
window. Miss Minnie was still at her
desk. She had finished correcting the
pupils papers. Now she had her bag
open and was counting the money Mr..
Brady had given her.
"O-o-ohi" breathed Carolyn May,
cliEging to the eager dogs collar.
The man at the window suddenly
the door. In a moment he appeared In
the schoolroom before the startled
teacher.
Miss Minnie screamed. The man,
with a rough threat, darted forward
to seize her purse.
Just then Carolyn May unsnapped
the leash from Princes collar and let
him go.
"Save Miss Minnie, Princeyw she
cried after the charging dog.
Prince did not trouble about the
door. The open window, through
which the tramp had spied upon the
schOOlmistress, was nearer. He went
up the wall and scrambled over the
sill with a savage determination that
left no doubt whatever In the tramp's
mind.
With a yell Of terror the fellow
bounded out Of the door and tore
along the road and through The Cor
ners at speed never before equaled
in that locality by knight Of the road.
Prince lost little time in recovering
his footing and again getting on the
trail Of the fleeing tramp. But he was
soon baying the fellow past the black
smith shop and the store.
The incident called the entire popu.
lation Of The Corners, save the bed.
ridden, to the windows and doors. For
once the little, somnolent village
awoke.