Evening star., 1921-09-18

appetite OF immense dimensions. Any
way. Zeke would say, what good was
a lazy. yipping dog? Zeke would
never understand how helpful he was
with the cows. His services were in
Aided and abetted by the Stranger,
Stephen marshaled his flock of seven
at sundown and drove them. ambling
and contented, down the lane toward
the barn. Having the Stranger along
sand times pleasanter.
Striken with despair at the thought
Of losing his friend, Stephens brain
considered and rejected every possi-
bility. Then came an inspiration.
used " de to , keep Il the ~" pigs | was an odd Old
shack. 1t was dirty and 1t leaked.
but 1t would have to do for tonight.
Tomorrow he would fix It up some
way. The Stranger would have to
sleep there. zeke would never know.
deserted his charge and he and the
dog cut across the ploWed field to
the old pig pen.
Here. boy: here. boy" he exhorted.
The Stranger was skeptical. He
a panic for fear Zeke would discover
the wandering cows. Perhaps there
was in his voice this time an urging
that could not be resisted.
Here. boy: here. boy" he coaxed.
I'll bring you some supper.
promise"
THE Stranger hesitated, then he en-
tered gingerly. Stephen closed the
saggins door Of the shed and raced
back. The rough field hurt his feet.
and 1t seemed that his lungs would
bleed with the pain of his BREATH
Iessness. But he was happy Even
could not dampen his spirits.
After supper that night he helped
Hephsibah clear up. Zeke had re-
moved his shoes, and. his stockinged
feet on the rounds of the hickory
rocker, he perused the columns of the
of the one kerosene lamp.
In the midst of the plate scsaping
Stephen hesitated. That's a pretty
good bone. Aunt Hephzibah. amt it -
he queried.
"Yes. don't throw it away. Wen
use 1t for SOUP" she said.
stephen waited a minute. IL was
just wonderin' IL couldn't Just have
it," he ventured finally. With instlnc-
tive artistry of appeal he smiled at
her. ITS secret" he admitted, "but
I might tell you;" With appraisins
cy CO hc Fc6aIUou ZIcho. AoNo "bd nv.
sorbed in that mysterious and dull
thing. the printed word. 'Come on"
he whispered. ITS in the pig PEN,
Out into the windy, moonlight night
she followed him where thin. gusty
clouds caught up with a pale .moon.
comradship filled the heart Of Hephxi-
bah Preston. She was party to an
adventure, a secret,
"It's a dog" gasped Stephen. "a
1sST ess Aunt H.snns.s s n, s e shaE a.d
i best Of any one-nsxt to you"
Hephzibah became from that mo-
ment an ally and conspirator. II
hope he don't bark" she Whispered.
"zeke might hear"
S ysrX ssish 's%rt ws aSe aS .1psa nssRh.a L
That we" was the last stroke in di-
plomacy. Hephzibah capitulatsd.
In the days that followed the
Stranger led q curious hut salts
most enough, housed cautiously il not
too well, and adofsd with ali the pas
sion Of a starved affection.
The Stranger proved to be . dog OF
character ~ we'll ~ intelligsnce. He
could be trusted sssoiutsiy s:,I Z. to susrd ra
half MILE down the road to Trim
Hiatt's apple orchard or while hs in-
vestigated q squirrel family In the
hickory grove acress the street, No
power under heaven, it seemed. could
lure the Stranger from his post once
he was charged with his mission. A
doxsn chtpmurks might dispert them
selves in the dust Of the highway. but
the dog remained ehdvsats at his com
maHd. II Zeke could have known 1t,
the Characteristics he admired most
were incorporated in the soul OF this
yaseeond ana @ enttaw; @ -, tals smnsdStes n .
upon the scrapinEs Of his table.
The time vvhen Zeke would discovAf