The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-05-19


nN Monday Rathburn took the dog
Sfar up the trail Stub was no blue
ribbon. petted dog OF records and pedl-
gree: he was vicious looking little
yellow cur of mixed ancestry and bad
ilablss--thar Is. he had been all this
when Rathburn found him six months
before and championed his cause In a
quarrel with crowd OF ronghs in
Mike Swaney's saloon. Since then he
had developed Into q wellshehaved
little beast with pair OF wistful eyes
that looked unutterahle love.
Rathburn had rescued the dog that
day In the saloon more TO thwart the
designs Of Pete Mnlligan. the head Of
the gang and an old enemy than for
any compassion for the dog itself;
but after he had taken the little ant
nal home he rather enjoyed the slay-
fish devotion wilhelm the dogs mind
seemed evidently to he the only fit
return for so great service as had
been done him. For some months,
therefore. Rathhurn petted the dog,
fed him. taught him to speak and 10
beg and made OF him an almost
constant companion. At the end OF
that time. the novelty having worn
thin. he was ready--as he expressed
1T 10 hlmself-''t call the whole thing
on" and great was his disgust that
the dog failed to see the affair in the
same light
For some time, Rathburn endured
the plalntive whines. the questioning
eyes. the frequent thrusts Of cold
little nose against his hand; then he
determined to end II oil.
.Stub. come here" he called sharp
ly, his right hand seeking his pocket.
With a yelp Of JOY the dog leaped
forward--not for days had his master
voluntarily noticed him.
Rathhurn raised his pistol and took
careful aim. His eye was steady aud
his hand did not shake Two feet
away the dog had come TO 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
muttered oath. as the pistol dropped
to the ground.
''Confeund my hahyishness r snarled
Rathburn. stoopSng and pocketlng his
weapon. -0ne would think I'd never
seen gun before"
This was on Sunday. On Monday
Rathburn took the dog far up the
trail.
want dogr' he said to a low
browed. unkernpt man sitting at the
door OF a squat cabin
"Weil. / don't. amt buyin' dogs
these days"
yer don't have ter buy this one"
observed Rathhurn meaningly.
The other glanced up with sharp
eyes.
"Humphl BIte;s he snapped.
Rathburn shook his head
"Sick Of him." be returned lacon.
ically. Like his room better'n his
company"
~Humphi" grunted the other. Then
TO the dog: Come here, sir. an let's
have look at vel"
Five minutes later Rathhurn strobe
down the trail alone. while behind
him. on the other side OF the fast-shut
cabin door. harked and scratched a
frantic little yellow dog.
Tuesday night, when Rathburn came
home. the first sound that greeted him
was joyous bark. as a quivering,
eager little creature leaped upon him
ont 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, 50 fearful did be seem tina, the
two great boots he was following
should in some way slip from his
sight. And yet. yigilant 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 j!ngling the
two pieces Of silver In his pocket
the price Mike Swaney had paid for
his new dog.
Halfway up the mountain-side Rath-
burn was still chuckling. still jingling
his coins.
~When a man pays money" he was
saying aloud, as he squared his shoul-
ders and looked across the valley at
III H