The Owosso times., 1920-11-12
A Self
Provider
BY RALPH HAMILTON

tCopyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union }
They made pathetic and sorrowful
picture, Elsa Danforth and Great
Dane dog, Victor. She sat on the grass
her arms around the shaggy head, rock
ing 1t to and fro and sobbing as If her
heart would break. The intelligent
animal bent his affectionate gaze up
on her with wistful, troubled eyes as
though striving to comprehend the
grief of his fair young mistress.
"Oh, father, has it got to be?" MUIR
INJURED the young girl brokenly.
"YeS, farmer Robins wants dog
to watch his melon patch and the or
chard, and he will take the very best
of care of Victor. He can afford to
keep the animal. We can't. I'm sor-
ry, Elsa, but with meat at forty cents
pound Victor would have to go hun
cry"
"Why, father, what has Strengthened
you SOP" exclaimed Elsa.
II am always short of cash till the
crops come in, and John Devon, the
banker, called me on a note unexpect-
edly. 1t was mean turn to serve an
old-time client, but l managed to meet
the demand. Robins will be here soon.
I'll get a chain for Victor"
"But l promised Alvin to care for
dear old Victor as if he was our Own,"
said Elsa. 81 think he would never
forgive me if anything happened to
him."
Abel Danforth went to the stable
and brought back dog chain. AS
it clanked to the ground Victor eyed
it askance.
"He seems to know we are plotting
against him." choked up Elsa.
"Oh, there is Mr.. Robins now," and
father and daughter went towards the
road to greet the visitor who was to
convey Victor to his farm, ten miles
distant. Absorbed in pleading for the
tenderest care for Victor his mistress
occupied several minutes. When her
father turned to hand over the an
imal, Victor had disappeared. The
light of hope came into Elsa's eyes
as she said:
"The poor fellow knows we were
going to cruelty abandon him and has
gone into hiding"
Farmer Robins delayed a home re-
turn to the limit. "Fll be this way
day after tomorrow" he finally ad-
vised, land you'd better have him
chained up and ready"
pOrary respite for Victor. Then as
the farmers wagon ratified away she
burst into an eXultant and ecstatic
laugh. Her father, following the di-
rectiOn of her glance, saw what she
saw-the head of wise, cautious Vic
tor poked from the door of the hay
loft, looking this way and that for
the enemy he had instinctively rec
ognized in Farmer Robins.
Alvin Marsh was the owner of Vic
tor and was the accepted lover of
Elsa Danforth. A month previous they
had postponed their intended mar
riage, while he went to the far South
on account of some legal wrangle as
to some property his uncle had left
him. Its securement meant good
deal to the engaged pair, for Alvin
had counted on trading 1t for little
home. He had left Victor in charge
of Elsa. Sparse crops necessitated
strict economy with her father. Vic
tor was big eater and choice as to
the kind Of food he ate and his keep
really meant a charge the Danforths
could not very well meet.
The intelligent animal frisked about
Elsa as If like herself appreciating the
postponement of his banishment. An
hour before dusk he disappeared in
the direction Of the town. Elsa was
looking for him quite anxiously an
hour later, when he reappeared car
rying between his jaws a clean bone
with fresh raw meat adhering to 1t.
He looked up into Elsa's face as If
was burden on the family, and would
not tax their larder supply as long as
there were meat shops in the town.
The next day, twice during its pass
ing hours Victor disappeared and re-
with a very fair meat supply.
What with this and some bread and
milk he seemed fed comfortably and
Mr.. Danforth said: .-.
"You feel so bad about parting with
Victor, Elsa, that we'll put Robins off
as long as the animal can supply the
bulk of his own prOvender. "Oh!
heard the news? Some sharp fellows
meaked a lot of money and securities
from Devon's Office today while ne
was away at lunch"
In that same circumstance Victor
played a fateful part. He of course
was never able to put 1t in words, but
Il was figured out afterwards by i'm
,ginative human minds. Rambling
about the morning after the robbery,
Victor had come upon the two men in
the woods who had committed the
crime. They were discussing a meal
,f bread and ham, and had placed be-
,ide them q wallet holding some mon
" and a package containing over fifty
Liberty bonds they had secured at the