New-York tribune., 1921-02-06

couldn't find hole. Only there was
blue streak across the fox's head
where a bullet had gone. And that
was queer enough, but father said
/ don't give a hoot. There's bull
lets enough in me. Skin out his
nose and let's co.
$50 they cussed each other some
more and finished it up; and Jim,
he heaved the carcass out into the
brush, and father slung the skin
over his shoulder, and they turned
around to start home.
"Well, just about then the old dog
let out behind them and they whirled
around. And father always used to
say that, mad as they We're at each
other, they forgot all about it then,
and they bust out laughing. He said
you couldn't blame them. He said
you never saw anything funnier.
"You see, that fox was just
stunned. The cold snow must have
revived him. Because when my
father and Uncle Jim looked around
that slinless fox was going up over
the hill like cat up a tree-and
the old dog hot on his heels"
y X
fH'HE store rocked with their
mirth as Westley stopped. Lee
Motley roared and the Saladines
laughed in their silent fashion, and
Will Bissell chuckled discreetly be.
hind Proutt's back. Westley him
self displayed such surprise at their
mirth that they laughed the more
and fat little Jean Budier shook q
finger at Proutt and cried:
"And that will put the bee to your
Dan, Msieu Proutt. That will hold
your Dan for. one leetle while, ]
t'ink."
Proutt himself was brick-red with
fury, and his eyes We're black or
Westley, but he pulled himself to-
gether and he laughed.
Shortly.
Westley did not like to make en-
emies. And there had been only
the friendliest malice in his Jest
He took his measures to sooth Proutt
before they left the store that night.
Westley had a dog, setter,
clean-blooded, from one of the coun-
try's finest kennels. A New York
man who had shot woodcock with
the warden the year before had
sent the dog as a friendly gift and
Westley accepted it in the same
spirit. In its second year and still
unframed, it had nevertheless won
Westley and won mis- wife and his
children. They all loved the dog as
they loved each other.
Originally this dog had been
called Rex. The Westleys changed
his name to Reck, which may be
shor5 for Reckless, or may be a
name by itself. at any rate, it
pleased them, and it pleased the dog.
X
FHE dog was unframed, and
Westley had no time for the
arduous work of training. He had
meant to send Reck this fall to
Happerton, in Liberty; but, to make
his amends to Proutt, he took the
latter aside this night and asked
Proutt to take the training of the
dog.
On longer consideration he might
not have done this, but Westley was
man of impulse and, as has been
said, he was anxious to keep Proutt
as a friend. Nevertheless, he had
no sooner asked Proutt to take the
dog than he regretted it and hoped
Proutt would refuse. But the dog
trainer only gave a moment to slow
consideration with downcast eyes.
Then he said huskily: "I charge
$50"
Sure" said Westley.
He's a well-blooded dog" said
Proutt. 'I'll come tomorrow and
fetch him"
And with no further word--thcy
were outside the store--he drove
away. Westley, watching him go,
was filled with vague disquiet. He
wished he might withdraw; he
wished Proutt would change his
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