Evening star., 1923-02-18

made him drop. And now Larsen. hav-
horse, hurried toward him as Thomp-
son had done-except that in Larser's
hand was the gun.
The old-fashioned black powder Of
generation ago makes loud explo-
sion. 1t sounds like a cannon COM
pared with the modern snokeless
powder used for almost a generation
by nearly all hunters. Perhaps it was
merely accident that had caused Lar
sen before he left the house to load
his pump gun with black-powder
shells.
AS for Comet, he only knew that the
birds rose with a whtrr, and that then,
above his head, burst an awful roar.
almost splitting his ear drums, shock
ing every sensitive nerve. filing him
with terror such as he had never felt
before. Even then in the confusion
and horror Of the noise he turned to
the man. ears ringing. eyes dilated.
AS for Larsen. he declared afterward
to others and himself even. that he
noticed no nervousness in the dog.
that he was intent only on getting
several birds for breakfast.
4 = y
l. pump gun beloved it's cannon
like roar, piercing the ear drums.
shattering the nerves. Comet turned.
One moro glance backward at a face,
pale. exui:ant. Then the puppy in him
conquered. Tail tucked, he ran away
from that blasting noise.
There is this in fear, that once man
or dog turns. fear increases Witness
the panic of armies of theater audi
ences when the cry OF fire is given.
Faster and faster from that terror
that seemed following him Comet
sped. Miles and miles he ran. Now
and then. stumbling over brlars, he
yelped. His tail was tucked. his eyes
crazy with fear. Seeing a farmhouse,
he made for that. 1t was noon hour.
and 4 group OF men loitered about
the yard. With the cry. Mad dog
one ran into the house for a gun
When he came out the others told him
that the dog was under the porch. and
must only have had a fit And under
the porch. in fact. was Comet Pressed
against the wall in the comparative
darkness. the magnificent pointer with
the ouivering soul waited, painting.
eyes cleaning. horror still ringing in
his ears
Here Larsen found him that after.
noon. A, boy crswIed underneath and
dragged him forth. He who had start
ed life favored of the gods. who that
morning had been full OF high spirit
and pride. who had circled his first
field like a champion, was a shrink
ing. cringing creature. like a homeless
cur.
The men laughed at the spectacle
he made. To many people a gun-shy
dog is,in his terror. sight for mirth.
Perhaps he is. Certainly he is as
much so as dog with can tied to
his tail. But some day neither sight
will be funny TO any human soul.
As for Larsen. he kept repeating In
sanctimonious tones that he had
never been more astonlshed in his
life. though. to tell the truth. he had
never thought much of this breed of
pointers. He was very sorry. he said,
very sorry. But any one peering at
him from the bushes a he rode home.
dog with tucked tail at his horses
heels. would have seen shrewd smile
on his face.
And thus II happened that Comet
came home in disgrace-a coward ex-
PEELED from college. not for some
youthful prank, but because he was
yellow. And he knew he was dis
graced. He saw it in the face Of the
big man Devant. who> looked at him
in the yard where he had spent his
happy puppyhood. then turned away
He knew it because Of what he saw
in the face OF Jim Thompson.
In the house was a long. plausible
letter.expiaining how it happened. T
did everything I could. I never was
as much surprised in my life. The
dog is hopeless"
As for the other inhabitants of the
big house, their minds were full of
the events OF the season-de luxe
hunting parties. more society events
than hunts; lunches served in the
woods by uniformed buffers: launch
rides up the river; arriving and de-
parting guests. Only one Of them
except Devant gave the gun-shy dog
thouH6t Marian pevant visited