Mountain advocate., 1922-04-07
A Dog and a Loaf
of Bread
By MARVIN ST. JOHNS

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Copyright is22 Western Newspaper unios
"Scatl" ordered Mrs 0lared Smith.
and bang. q rolling pm went hurting
through the open ,rway after
flying canlle. II struck the animal.
who uttered cry Of pain and disnp
peared, limping.
Easy, mother; easy does II. you
know" spoke an even, soothing voice.
and Jared Smith came into view.
"Just a minute more ana ! might have
got IT, Here's your rolling pin. ma.
I'll look after the dog"
you'll do no such thing. Jared
SMITH" stormed his angry helpmeei
'The animal got mis- lesson and de-
serves IT,"
"And what has he been doing7" In
qulred Jared placidly.
Better ask that when you get your
supper" observed Mrs. Smith tartly.
"seelng as the dog stole the small
loaf I'd baked special for you, and
put II out to cool.
zone thing-don't you dare 10 bring
that animal back here Now, you
mind mel proclaimed Mrs. Smith.
Jared went out In search Of the
animal In dsfavor. He had picked up
the poor creature coming home the
day previous.
Jared was tender-hearted, even with
the brute creation. He came across
the dog sinking behind the barn and
holding up broken paw.
"why. you poor thingl" he pitied,
caressing the frightened and trembling
animal.
Jared went into the barn and got
some horse llniment and some rags.
He soon had the injured limb mended
up. Then he filed a pan with water
and led the animal to All empty cat
tie pen way back OF the house.
"Now you stay here till the storms
blow over" he advised his dumb
charge.
"Where are you going with that
tinplate Of stuff" demanded Mrs.
Smith.
"It's for that dog, Samantha" ex-
planned Jared. "You hurt him a good
deal. He won't trouble you any he
fore he gets In shape to travel on his
way"
you'll just encourage him to hang
around" declared Mrs. Smith. pee
vishly.
Samantha" said her husband
softly, don't forget that David liked
dogs"
"David!" The old wrinkled face OF
the woman ramed. paled.
David-her boy IA door opened In
her soul long closed seemingly. and
a host of longing, pititul memories
had rushed In.
Two years lonely. hitter and hope
less-two years without the boy who
had run away from home to become
a sailor. Only once they had heard
from him. There had come a letter
to the mourning mother from the er-
rant but loving son.
II wouldn't do II over again." read
the pathetic missive, but I'm started
and I've got pride enough 10 60
through with It, Mother, I'm going to
the East Indies next. Then I'm COM
ing home"
A year went by and no further word
from the wandering boy and the ship
he had sailed In reported lost In a
terrible storm of the Malacca coast.
Mrs Smith was strangely silent all
that evening. After they had retired
for the night her husband noted how
restless she was. Once he fancled he
heard her sobbing softly.
He was himself awakened shortly
after midnight by the barking of the
dog.
"YOu can fetch that dog into the
kitchen If you want to. Jared" she
said.
AS Jared came out into the yard
the dog limped up to him. The farmer
petted the animal and motioned it to
follow him into the house. However,
the animal acted strangely.
"The critter acts funny, l declared"
Jared was saying as his wife came
out into the yard. "Why, what does
the animal want, anyhow"
Out of curiosity both of them fol-
lowed the lImping animal. The dog
penetrated the thick copse given over
to dense underground. Ten feet ad-
vanced among this Jared Smith halted
with shock.
"Why, Samantha =" he exclaimed.
Its a mani"
Mrs. Smith peered timorously over
her husbands shoulder.
"Oh, Jared Is II some one deadY"
she shuddered.
II think not. hope not, Samantha"
replied Jared. lifting One-half eaten
little loaf from beside the PROSTATE
fgure-"yOur brendl'
Just there the dog crept up TO the
stranger and nOsed at his face buried
In the grass. The recumbent man
moved and then with a groan turned !