The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-09-06
Reversed Unanimity.
CHAPTER II

The great blade of the grading ms,
chine. running ~diagonaIly across tbs
read and pulling the earth toward II
median line, had made several trips
and much persifage about Jim Ii
wins forthcoming appearance bef0r,
b board had been addressed to jim
and exchanged by others for his bene
ut.
To Newton Bronson was given tn,
task Of leveling and distributing thu
earth rolled into the road by tn.
graders labor which in the interests
OF fitting a muzzle on his big mongre
dog he deserted whenever the machine
moved away from him. That there
was some mystery about the muzzls
was evident from Newton's pains to
make a secret of it. Its wires were
curled into a ring directly over the
dogs nose, and into this ring Newton
had fitted a cork, through which he had
thrust a large needle which protruded,
an inch-long bayonet, in front OF
Ponto's nose.
AS the grader moved along one side
of the highway, a high-powered auto
mobile approached on the other. max
Ing rather bad weather Of the newly
repaired road. A pile of loose soil that
Newton had allowed to lie just across
the path made a certain maintenance
OF speed desirable. Newton planted
himself in the path of the labOring
car, and waved its driver a command
TO halt. The car came to a standstiIl
with Its front wheels in the edge of
the loose earth, and the chauffeur
tuning at the possibility of stalling-a
contingency upon which Newton had
confidently reckoned.
"What dye want7" he demanded.
what dye mean by stopping me in
this kind of placer"
Il want to ask you" said Newton
with mock p%oliteness, "if you have the
correct time"
The chauffeur sought words ppro-
pirate to his feelings. Ponto and his
muzzle saved him the trouble. A
pretty pointer leaped from the car,
and attracted by the evident friendli.
ness Of Ponto's greeting, pricked up
its ears, and sought, in a spirit of
canine brotherhood, to touch noses
with him.. The needle in Ponto's muz-
lie did its work to the agony and hor-
ror of the pointer, which leaped back
with a yelp, and turned tail. Ponto,
In an effort to apologize, followed, and
hnding itself bayonetted at every con-
tact with this demon dog, the pointer
definitely took flight, bowling, leaving
Ponto In a state of wonder and hu-
initiation at the sudden end of what
had promised to be a very friendly
acquaintance. The pointers master
watched Its strange flight, and swore.
His eye turned to the boy who had
caused all this, and he alighted pale
with anger.
I've got time" said he, remember
ing Newton's impudent question, ito
give you what you deserve"
Newton grinned and lodged, but the
bank of loose earth was his undoing,
and while he stumbled, the chauffeur
caught and held him by the collar.
Ponto interviewed, for as the
stood holding Newton, the
dog, evidently regarding the stranger
as his masters friend, thrust his nose
into the chauffeur's palm. The chauf-
behaved much as his pointer had
done, except that the pointer did not
swear.
The grading gang laughed. Newton
grinned even while In the fell clutch
Of circumstance. Ponto tried to smell
The chauffeur's trousers, and what had
been a laugh became a roar. eau
ton and mercy departed from the
,~bauneur's mood; he drew back his
list to strike the boy-and found 1t
,aught by the hard hand of Jim
You're too angry to punish this
10Y" said Jim gently, even If you
'ad the right TO punish him at all |"
The chauffeur, however, unhesitat-
ngly released Newton, and ~furiousIy
delivered a blow meant for Jim's jaw,
which miscarried by q foot. In reply,
Inn countered with an swk---
winxing uppercut. 1t landed raIriy on
he point of the jaw. The chauffeur
taggered and slowly toppled over into
be soft earth which had caused so
luch Of the rumpus.
"Oh, cut 1t out" said a fat man In
rear Of the car, who had hither-
manifested small interest in any
ling save Ponto. Get in, and let's
} ep our way