Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-07-06

N<far up the trail. Stub was no blue
cibbOn, petted dog of records and pedi-
gree; he was d notwithstanding little
yellow cur of mixed ancestry and bad
habits-that is, he had been all this
when Rathburn found him six months
before and championed his cause in
quarrel with a crowd of rOughs in
Mike Swaney's saloon. Since then he
mad developed into a well-behaved
title beast with a pair Of wistful eyes
hat looked unutterable love.
Rathburn had rescued the dog that
lay in the saloon more to thWart the
designs of Pete Mulligan, the head of
he gang and an old enemy, than for
any compassion for the dog itself;
out after he had taken the little ami
nal home he rather enjoyed the slav-
sh devotion Wilhelm the dogs mind
seemed evidently to be the only fit
'eturn for so great a service as had
been done him. For some months,
therefore, Rathburn petted the dog,
led him, taught him to "Speak" and to
beg" and made of him an almost
constant companion. AT the end Of
hat time, the novelty having worn
hin, he was ready-as he expressed
1t to himself-"to call the whole thing
off" and great was his disgust uHat
the dog failed to see the affair in the
same light.
For some time, Rathburn endured
The plaintive whines, the questioning
ayes, the frequent thrusts of a cold
little nose against his hand; then he
determined to end it all.
"Stub. come here" he called sharp
iy, his right hand seeking his pocket.
With a yelp Of JOY the dog leaped
forward-not for days had his master
voluntarily noticed him.
Rathburn raised his pistol and took
careful aim. His eye was steady and
his hand did not shake. Two feet
away the dog had come to a sudden
halt. Something in the eye or in the
leveled weapon had stayed his feet.
He whined, then barked, his eyes all
the while wiStfully demanding an eX-
PLANTATION. Suddenly, his gaze still
fixed on his masters face, he rose
upright on his launches and held be-
fore him two little dangling paws.
There was a silence, followed by a
muttered oath, as the pistol dropped
to the ground.
"COnfound my babyishness! !" snarled
Rathburn, STOPPING and pOcketing his
weapon. "One would think I'd never
seen a gun before"
This was on Sunday. On Monday
Rathburn took the dog far up the
trail.
"Want dOg?" he said to a low
hrowed, mkempt man sitting at the
door Of 2 squat cabin.
well. don't I amt buyin' dogs
these days"
''Xer don't have ter buy this one"
observed Rathburn meaningly.
The other glanced up with sharp
eyes.
"Humph! Bite?7 he snapped
Rathburn shook his head.
"Sick of him." he returned lacon-
ically. Like his room better'n his
company"
'IIumph." grunted the other Then
TO the dog; Come here, sir, an let's
have a look at ye."
Five minutes later Rathburn strobe
down the trail alone, while behind
him. on the other side of the fast-shut
cabin door, parked and scratched a
frantic little yellow dog.
Tuesday night. when Rathburn came
home, the first sound that greeted him
was a joyous bark, as a quivering
eager little creature leaped upon him
out of the dark.
On Wednesday Stub trotted into
town at Rathburn's heels, and all the
way down the struggling street he
looked neither to the right nor to the
left, so fearful did he seem that the
two great boots he was following
should in some way slip from his
sight. And yet, vigilant as he was, the
door of SWaney's saloon got somehow
between and left him on one side
barking and whining and running like
MAD about the room, while on the
other his master stood jinglng the
two pieces of silver in his pocket
the price Mike Swaney had paid fol
his new dog.
Halfway up the mountain-side Rath
burn was still chuckling, still jingling
his coins.
when man pays money" he was
saying aloud as he squared his shOul
ders and looked across the valley al
the setting sun, when man pays
money he watches out. | reckon Stut
has gone fer good. sure thing, this
time!" And yet-long before dawr
there came whine and gentle
scratch at his cabin door; and al
though four times the dog was re
turned to his new owner, four timci
he escaped and nosed the long trai
that led to the cabin on the mountain
side.
After Stubs fourth desertion thu
saloon-keeper refused to take hin
again, and for week the dog lay I'm
molested in his old place in the SUI
outside the cabin door, or dozed be