The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-04

looking Bob suddenly motioned with
his arm as If throwing and cried
again:
Fetch the stick, DanH'
Dan felt he had been caught nap
ping and made extra speed In getting
through the door. Bob could hear
him snuffing about in the snow. At
ter long time he appeared in the
doorway and looked shamefacedly at
his master.
Get 1T. Dan" urged Bob. fetch
the stick"
Thus encouraged Dan had another
look. But he could not find the stick
and finally crept back in deep humil-
iation. Bob actually threw the stick
outside the door several times more
and then tired his ruse again.
This time Dan vindicated the good
opinion of his acuteness held by Bob,
If not by his uncle. Unable to find
the stick that he though Bob had
thrown Dan at length appeared hest
tatingly in the doorway with a stick
of his own selection in his mouth.
1t was done. of course rather to cover
his own failure than because he real
lied Bob wanted stick. But what
ever the motive Dan did just what
Bob was working to get him to do.
Good old DAM" cried Bob, joy
fully and as we'll as he could he Law
ished praise on the dog until Dan
registered pride in every lineament
of his body. AS further reward and
stimulation Bob opened his luncheon
and gave Dan a bite of bread and
meat.
The dog did not yet wholly under
stand but after half dozen more
lessons, in which he was rewarded
NJ my ooch
time that he performed correctly. he
learned that what Bob wanted was
any stick of wood. Thereafter Bob
had only to say, Fetch a stick. Dan"
and Dan would sally forth to the
wood pile and come proudly back
with the required fuel in his jaws.
All night long Bob lay on the
hearth. Fever and pain made him
little ligh- headed at times but he al
ways became. himself in time to send
Dan for wood to maintain the fire
that kept the life in their bodies. The
storm howled about the cabin all
night and the snow drove in half
across the floor. Fortunately, how
ever, it did not drift deeply about
the woodpile and Dan was able to
find a stick each time that he floun-
dered forth. But his labor grew as the
snow deepened and towards morning
he was long time away on each trip
and came back painting heavily and
covered with snow from ears to heels.
Bit by bit Bob gave him all the
luncheon for he did not want any
himself and Dan was doing all the
work.
BY dawn the sky had cleared and
the wind fallen away to a calm. With
the light a party of men, headed by
Mr.. Colpitts, came toiling up the trail
on snowshoes bound for the cabin as
the likeliest place to look lirst for the
missing Bob. They gave shout of
joy as they saw a thin column of
smoke rising from the chimney. AS
they drew near Dan dashed out,
barked gladly at sight of them, but
kept on to the woodpile where he
seized a stick and went struggling
back to the cabin with it. The men
reached the door in time to see Bob
take the stick from the dog and place
it on the fire.
Bob told his story in few broken
sentences. His uncle said little but
he stopped several times to pat Dams
head a weakness of which he had
never before been guilty.
The following day Mr.. Colpitts
spoke to the hired man in Bob's
hearing:
"Jim.' he said. when you are
down to the village today stop at the
hardware store and get a hunrder
feet of six-foot chicken wire Well
have to fence the chickens in now
Dan is back"