The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1919-12-11
gle
DOGGY Man
By ALDEN CHAPMAN
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News
paper Union.)

they had DOGGY man directly NJ
hand without appealing to a vague and
distant object Of juycn$c dread.
Just ut the outskirts of the town was
spot marShy and broken. 1t had
been at one time a great resort for
wild ducks and geese in the season
and some ardent hunter had built
shed house fairly habitable. With
the growing scarcity of game it had
been abandoned until "Old Noon
tramp, CyniC, miSer, hermit, II was re-
ported, came along, appropriated the
ramshackle hut, patched it up and set
tied down. All kinds Of wild stories
We're current concerning him. He was
old gray whiSkered, had Glittering. for
bidding eyes and never addressed
those who met him. Once or twice
week he would visit the local general
store, purchase what provisions he re-
quired and then again retire TO his
grewsOme retreat.
Robert Blake his wife and their lit
tie four-year- child lived in a neat
but isolated cottage directly mt the
edge of the swamp. They had bought
It cheap on account of its unfavorable
situation, but had made perfect para
disc of its garden space. Economical
as they were, however, they had not
been able to keep up their payments
on the property, Illness and lack or
steady employment cutting down the
income of Mr.. Blake. At times they
dejectedly feared that they would have
to give up their little home.
Doris was a bright, lively little
sprite and rarely wandered away from
home. Upon her youthful mind Old
Moon had been impressed in way
that made her serious, but one moon
light evening she came rushing into
the house in fervent frame OF excite
ment.
"Oh, papa mamma" she cried
breathessly. I've talked to hint"
"Who is him. DorisT" questioned
her mother.
"Old Moon. Oh, surely he was the
man you once pointed out to me! He
was coming from the town, his arms
full of groceries, and bundle fell over
and / ran out and picked it up and
gave ii to him. He set his things on
the ground and put his hand on my
head and said. Thank you, my little
cherub,' and then gave me this box OF
candy. He spoke so kindly, and he
can't be bugaboo, to treat little girl
so nice, can he, now?'
Old Moon was no longer quoted to
| Doris as a DOGGY man. In fact, she
asked questions constantly about his
! lonely living place and wanted to see
/ him again One day her father brought
home her first pair of rubbers and
Doris gloated over an accession she
had long coveted.
| 81 can go out in the wet grass now
whenever / want to, can't l, mammaF
she submitted. "Why, can even walk
along the edge Of swamp water, pick
! ing pretty pebbles and shells. Oh,
what dear, cute little rubbers"
1t was just about dusk one afternoon
when Doris started from the house.
1t had been raining and the fact de-
lighted her, for she could find some
puddes to wade through. She VEN
tured in the direction of the swamp.
Some distant flowers tempted her and
she wandered on and on until haze
coming down over the landscape con-
fused her. She began to cry as she
found that she had lost both rubbers
in the mud.
Then she saw a spark Of light in the
distance. She hurried toward it, to ar
rive in front of wretched hut.
Vaguely she fancled that 1t must be
the oft-mooted habtation of Old Moon.
She tiptoed to the sill Of window,
glanced within lighted room and,
young as she was, what she saw there
chilled and thrilled her-Old Moon ly-
ing bound hand and foot upon the floor
and two men bending over him. One
held a hammer menacingly, the other
was prodding the helpless captive with
poker.
Doris ran from the spot with a wild
cry of fright. 1t was shrill and echo
ing. Missing their little one, her ia
Their and mother had started to find
her.
"Oh, papa! mammal" gasped Doris
wildly as they reached her-"Old Moon
In his house and two men are trying to
kill him!"
Robert Blake seized a heavy piece of
wood and drove in the window sash as
he In turn dlscerned what was going
on behind 1t. The two strangers fled
at his appearance. Mr.. Blake relieved
the old hermit of his bonds.
"They were talking Of torturing me
with a red-hot poker il l did not dis
close the hiding place Of my money"
he explained. You have saved Ii, and
me. All! Is that your childT' as the
door opened and little Doris and her
mother stood revealed.
1t appeared that Old Moon had no in
considerable treasure hidden In the old
shack. The visitation Of the burglars
had the effect of driving him nearer to
J his neighbors. His gratitude toward
little Doris, who had been the medium
of his rescue, led to his building new
and better home next to that Of the
Dlakes. He insisted on helping them
! rut of their money troubles, proving a
, good friend and neighbor and seeming
/ never to tire of the company Of the