The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-02-07
AMan and
His Dog
B. Jsl;a Naaes

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Charing Thornton was not an ear
lily satisfied young man and the work
men employed by him to repair and
put In order the beautiful old country
place left him by 4 rich aunt labored
for fully six months before he was sat.
isfied with the results. But today the
last carpenter had gone to his home In
the village. and Thornton with pipe
in mouth and hands in his pockets had
strolled slowly over the lawn, viewing
the gables from all points-and he
pronounced the work good.
ut took time and thought" he re-
marked aloud to the clean-limbed, big
eyed mastif Nero. his constant COM
paniOn, but 1t paid, old chap. The
old place hasn't looked SO well for
generations. I'll wager, and the re-
suit justifies all the time and money
spent. Don't you think so?"
The dog wagged his tail and looked
up into his masters face as IL to ac-
| quiesce In both statements, and the
young man, with final appreclative
| glance at the great mansion half
buried among the trees, led the way
down a winding little bride path to
the river that ran about the foot of
the grounds.
| II ought to remember where that
swimming hole is" he continued
Don't you recollect how we used to
spend the whole afternoons In the
water, Nero? Or was 1t your father
| who played with me when was boy
here? Time flies so fast that l cannot
separate one generation of dogs from
another" and he laughed as he patted
the dogs smooth flank. Another turn
In the pathway brought them within
sight Of quiet little pool in the wind
ing river and Thornton struck his thigh
approximately.
"Here 1t is, by Jove! |" he cried, mot
a thing changed. The same smooth
rock where we used to understand,
by the powers above, some one Is TAX
| Ahe uip hOW, Aor thSEc uTc ihS
clothes !"
The young mans gray eyes had
caught sight Of small pile Of clothing
resting just where he had dropped his
own, many a time, years before. Be-
fore the two had taken another STEP
the sound Of steady. gentle splashing
came to their ears, and moment later
a curly yellow head appeared from
around slight bend in the river, while
the CLEAN Of two white. well-shaped
arms showed through the water. A
CHEEKY, girlish face looked ut Thorn.
ton for moment, and then the little
swimmers expression changed, and
with cry Of surprise, she turned and
started quickly for her hiding place.
But before Thornton could utter q
cry of warning to the child, the treach-
erOus whirlpool, which he knew only
too well. had caught her and drawn
her beneath the surface. Thornton
sprang to the edge Of the stream and
threw on his coat. He hesitated
second to make sure that the child
was being taken away from shore, and
then plunged In. Nero, thinking II
some new game. followed quickly and
master and dog swan swiftly to the
spot where the child had disappeared.
But before Thornton reached 1t, the
great dog had realized the seriousness
Of the affair. and as the girls head,
with the pale face. and the big eyes
closed, came to the surface again, the
Intelligent dog swept past Thornton
and thrust his nose under the white
arm nearest him. Then he turned and
made his way back to shore, the half
unconscious child clinging to his great
neck. Thornton, too astOnished to
speak, followed rs fast as he might,
and lifted her out of the water as Nero
reached the shadows. She did not
speak or move, and Thornton, who had
had experience In such matters before,
caught up his coat, wrapped 1t about
her, and began to shake her gently.
Presently the big blue eyes opened
languldly, and the little lungs, relieved
Of the water, began to breathe again.
"YOuc are safe now" said Thornton,
reassuringly. 1--WE are going to put
you to bed, between some warm
blankets and"
He stopped, for there In the pathway
above them stood girl whose fresh,
pure beauty fairly took his own breath
away.
"What has happcned?' she cried,
catching sight OF the child In Thorn
toms arms. us she hurt? Oh, darling,
what have You been doing2" and she
ran forward, Thornton motioned her
back gently. "She was In the water"
he said, "and we frightened her. She
went under, and We got her out. She's
safe now. II you will kindly bring
her frock and things will carry her.
She is far too weak to walk, and too
heavy for you"
The girl, whose face was prettier
than ever with Its sudden flush of ex-