The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-07-18
ADOG STAR
BY MARTHA M'CULLOCH.
Copyright 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)

] ltuNfAs hiAi'Ai was a. lAAef
Happy Jack, head of his kennels, said
in the strict privacy Of his own mind,
EFF them dumb brutes knowed what
] sort o. Teller that owned 'em, they'd
never hold up heads ner tails agin."
This was not in malice. Happy Jack
was ready to admit the boss" had his
uses, and was even wise in the way of
neckties, womenkind and other like
! trfcs. But dogs! Dogs were the be-
! all and end-all of existence to Happy
wherefore 1t appeared to him spe-
clal providence that he himself was
set in actual charge Of the fine four
footed creatures. He pampered them
Of course all he dared-also INDUCED
them. Thereby hangs this tale. Orion
running free of leash upon the lawn
out before his kennel leapt the hedges
In pure wanton JOY Of supple strength
and before he could be reclaimed
wrought havoc among the prize ducks
Of old Miss Stretton, who lived next
door.
Result-a very pretty quarrel, made
prettier by the fact that Miss STREET
ton. fat and scant Of breath, left the
settlement Of It to Niece Ellen, one Of
the modern Portals.
"Tm here TO pay in full, ma'am, for
the fine dogs little diversions" Happy
said to Miss Sretton in tone meant
to be diplomatic-evcn propitiatory.
ooh (" said the girl, her wideset eyes
looking through him. aust how
much? / hope we agree in our estl-
mates"
Happy Jack, after some fumbling,
produced bill, written out in the
round schoOl-boy hand of his son and
heir. Miss Stretton glanced at It,
frowned, bit her lips to keep back n
laugh over the document, then pulled
ont fountain pen, added two ciphers
to the sum, and gave back the paper
saying: give kindly corrected your
little mistake"
"No mistake at all If We live till
We see any lively, hundred and ninety
dollars o Sidney Lees money, yell
make Methusalem look like a baby"
"YOu are overlooking the fright
the distress Of mind-the upsetment TO
my aunt. I believe you have q litter
or so of orion pups~ Miss Ellen in
terrupted. Beauties they must be, If
they look like him. Why, there he is
right at our door"
"Let me get him-the murderin'
pirate" Happy Jack cried, starting to
push through the gate. Miss Ellen
clicked It shut in his face, saying with
a little laugh "a dogs a dog by your
reasoning, Happy Stay outside until
my aunts claim Is settled"
ole won't that! He shan'tl Wom-
an. The idea O leavin' beast worth
thousands to be fed on table scraps
Lemme git my hands on that rascal, I
promise ye yen never see his track
again"
"Just what Tn afraid of-therefore
you can't have him until the matter
is settled" Miss Ellen said, a covert
smile playing about her lips.
"If you poison him I'll have the law
on ycr he Kissed orion ran about
like a mad thing, shifting Mt the walk
which led around the poultry yard,
giving the while short ecstatic barks.
Miss Ellen smiled watching his gam
bols. "IIe knows what he wants
ana how much ne wants IT," she said,
rcncctiyely; then piteously: "It's n
shame to kill him, or even send him
TO the pound-but I don't see how we
can possibly keep hIm-and the
ducks"
"Womonl Yen no have the
hearth Happy Jack burst out. And
Just then motorcar purred to n
standsHl behind them. In wink
Sidney Lee was out Of II, smiling and
boWing to Ellen, and asking particu-
lars. That made Ellen blush uncom-
fortably-she had appraised the dead
ducks partly in sport, partly In anger
at Happy Jacks lofty pcnurousness.
Lee hardly glanced at the bill, with
her amendments, before saying eager
ly: "Qulte right, quite right. In fact
TOO modcrate-even | have heard of
Sir Alexander and his victories"
won't You please come int and get
your dog?" Miss Ellen said, fixing
Happy in his tracks with look Of ice.
Lee needed no second hiddng-ln half
minute he was established IN Il porch
rocker smiling at Miss Ellen and say
ing rs he patted Orion's head: Good
| dogl Fine dog You've won me--the
greatest Of prizes. Ever since I saw
her noddng over mt Miss Ellen, ave
schcmed and prayed to find some one
who would Introduce u.s."
"Tm not quite highway robher-
in spite Of my profcssion-let me OK
plain about that ridiculous bill" Miss
Ellen interrupted, choosing to ignore
his speech. give hundred win be
lust--and generous. Don't insist on
paying more-Aunt Lora viii only
waste it-cither on more ducks-or
the missionaries"
"Ill send check" Lee began, his
voice Joyous. She blushcd again. q
had rather something else" she
said "An Orion pup-lf you can part
with ono so low"
"Comel Choose right Off" Lee said
jumping up aud leading her toward
the gate Happy Jack, on watch from
the home gate. uoaned to see II. lie
never knew the exact terms of settle
mcuth ut Six months later gave q
Shrcwd enough guess-for then Miss
Ellen became the owner OF Orion, with
nl his appurtenances, including his
master.