New Britain herald., 1922-11-16

"Or hadn't you better save 1t untl after we've had nap?"
 "No!'. said Mrs. Fox. Its too i'm portant. 7 I must tell you now. Wha' do you think? Tommy has been play ing with a dog down at Farmer Greens pacei"
 Well, ' that was startling news When Mir. Fox heard it he gave g yelp of surprise.
 That's dangerous thing to do.' he exclaimed. I've known Foxes that made friends with dogs. But there was always trouble sooner or later, There never was dog yet that I'd trust. They'll follow you home if they can. And if they don't try to catch you. they'll try to get some other member of your family"
 Mrs. Fox agreed with him.
 Its wonder" she remarked with a shudder, "that that dog down at the farmhouse hasn't come snooping around our home"
 Somehow 1t doesn't sound like old dog Spot" said Mir. Fox.
 Tt isn't!" Mrs. Fox explained Its strange uoE. AL lcdSt, tiiato "ho' Tommy says.
 Mir. Fox pricked up his ears.~
 Another dog at the farmhouse!" he cried. That's the most unpleasant news I've heard this year. I'll look in- to the matter this very evening"
 They went to bed then.
 When the Fox family awoke. to- wards nightfall, they were all bright as buttons. As soon as it grew dark Tommy Fox lost no time in loping of down the hillside.
 "Stop!" his father called after him Where are you going?" But if Tommy heard his father he didn't stop. Tn fact he seemed to hurry all the more.
 "I'll look into this matter now. T Mir. Fox told his wife. And then he picked tip Tommy's trail and started noiselessly after his son.
 Hal" muttered Mir. Fox present. ly. Just as l thought! This young puppy is going down to the farm house" The trail was leading straight across the meadow towards Farmer Greens place.
 At the fence, beyond which lay the dooryard, Mir. Fox came to 8 halt Through the pickets he could see his son frisking about great, dark shape that sat motionless on the lawn, in front of the farmhouse.
 My goodness" Mir. Fox remarked under his breath. T wouldn't dc that---not for a million hens,"
 II. 1.--r And when at last Tommy came and slipped under the fence his father seized him.
 What does this mean, young man? ?' he hissed
 At first Tommy Fox was frightened And when he saw who 1t was that had him by the ear he was more scared than before. Its nothing, Pa!' he whined.
 "Nothing' his father retorted scornfully. Do you call that great dangerous animal nothing?" Hes good -natured. He's harm. less" Tommy replied. Why, I dared him to follow me home just now And he didn't even stand up. He just sat still and stared at me"
 Mir Fox was amazed.
 This is the queerest dog I ever heard of" he said. 'I'll creep ur behind him and see what I think about him"
 Leaving Tommy behind the fence MT. Fox stole softly Into the door yard. He came back in a little while with a foolish grin on his face. That's not a real dog" he told his son Farmer Green has put him out in his front yard just for looks. But must say that I think Farmer Green has made a mistake | old Spot is a much better looking dog than this one. Let him put Spot ir the front yard and let him keer | this one out back, to guard the hen | house!"
 "oh, Pa, Do you suppose he'd dc that7" cried Tommy. No such luck' his father growled Come. we'll go back and tell youl mother about this affair. because she's disturbed over it And he added. -you stay away from herel This is no place for 2 young puppy like you" Cant we take 2 hen home witt us7" Tommy asked.
 Mir. Fox shook his head.
 Thanksgiving day is not far off We'll have something better then | he told his son.
 Tommy wondered what if could be ] Copyright 1922 by Metropolitan
 Newspaper Service).