Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-08-10

to that sharp command, fire.
quently scampered on with his master
to spend long days In the foothills, or
following the mountain streams. Some
times 1t was a partridge, sometimes It
was d squirrel or q rabbit-whatever
It was that fell victim to Rathburn's
gun, Stub learned very soon that it
must be brought at once to the mas
ter and laid at his feet.
It was on one Of the days when
work, not hunting, flilid the time, that
Rathburn came home after long
days labor to find Stub waiting for
him with. a dead rabbit. After that It
came to be common thing for the
dog to trot of by himself In the morn.
ing; and the fhan fell more and more
in the way Of letting him go alone. as
It left. his own time the more free for
the pursuit Of that.golden sprite who
was ever promising success Just ahead.
AS for Stub-Stub was happy. He
spent the long days In the foothills or
on the mountain-side, and soon be-
came expert In his hunting.
81 Gradually as the days passed there
came still another change In the life
at the cabin. Rathburn's step became
slow, and his cheeks sunken. Some
times he did not leave home all day,
but lay tossing from side to side on
his bunk In the corner. At such times,
II the result Of Stubs hunt were eat
able, the man you'd rouse himself
enough to stir the fire and get SIP
per; and always, after such day at,
home, Rathburn was astir the next
morning at dawn and of in feverish
haste for a long days work to make
up for the long day Of iileness.
But there came time when he
could not do this-when each day
found him prone on his bunk or NOV
ing feebly about the room. Then came
a night when Stubs bark at the door
was unanswered. Again and again;
Stub demanded admit lance only to be
met with silence. The door, though
unattached, was swollen from recent
{ rains, and It took Eve good minutes
I and all the strength Of one small dog,
to push 1t open a narrow foot, and
then there were only silence and a
dying fire by way Of greeting. 33 sss
Stub dropped his burden on the
floor and whined. He was particu-;
larry proud tonight; he had brought
home partridg first he had
ever caught without the aid Of his
masters gun.
The figure on the bed did not move.
The dog picked up the bird he had
dropped and walked toward his mas
ter. This time he laid his Offering
close to the bunk and barked.
IS The man stirred and groaned. For.
long minutes the dog stood notion
less, watching; then he crept to the
+ fire and almost into the hot ashes In
his efforts to warm the blood Of his
sshivering little legs.
In the morning the fire was quite
|soqt Stub stretched his stitfened body
aud gaxed about the room. Over IN
the bed the man did not stir, nor
speak The dead bird lay untouched
al! his side. There was q whine, q
bark, and q long minute. Of apparent
sindecfslon;; then the dog battered
across the floor. wormed@ himself
.nIougn me partly open door, and took
tns 9 ali tnat veg 70 the foothills. !.
Is Three times Stub brought to the
snre!ess, silent cabin the result Of his
day's hunt and laid u at his masters
slae, and q always \ there Was only
silence or q low groan to greet him. Il
s. YIN the third night y showed the
0~n<~As ~
nrst 4. storm g e, Ct the season a keen
wind swept down the mounts ia and
played desand-seek with the cabin
: PFC .s q mat an5 the morning long
oaf g nlgn.plled nov lay across the