Evening star., 1926-04-04
OLD DUKE.

er his luncheon the next after
noon when Jack Tolman, the sheriff,
drove into the yard. Old Duke, who
had been lying beside one of the Pill
lars of the veranda, capered sideways
over to the democrat wagon in when
the sheriff sat-. for they were old
| friends and had hunted many fox
| together.
Good evening. sheriff" said the
Major with his customary courtesy
won't you hitch your horse, sir
and come in and have something
NO, thanks" the sheriff replied. Il
reckon | won't get out. I'm sorry TO
say this is a business trip"
Old Duke was standing on his hind
legs between the wheels. his big noZ-
I zle resting on Tolman's leg. The man
laid his hand on the dogs head.
Poor Old Duke," he murmured.
What are you poor Old DukinG
about?" demanded the Major suspi-
ciously. lis some nigrah claimin'
chicken DAMAGE
mo nigrah" responded Tolman sig
nificantly. It's a heap worse'n that.
Fact is" He paused. Fact is, Sam
Bullock has sworn out a summons for
Old Duke. He lost sheep last night. -"
"A Sheep cried the Major. THE
internal liar. That miserable white
trash! Who ever heard of Old Duke
lookin' at a sheep? I'll law him for
libel. by
The sheriff rubbed his chin apollo
! getically.
1T don't hardly seem possible he
agreed. However, Bill Evans says he
caught him with the carcass last night
and he's sworn to it.
Last night Last night. roared
Ma jor d'Auriac in frenzy. My dog
was locked up in the house all last
night. This is conspiracy, sir A
conspiracy"
I'm sorry, major" said Tolman. Il
sure am! But law is law, and here's
the summons"
He handed the major a square piece
of soiled paper.
For moment Major dAuriac
studied the paper in bewilderment.
Randolph Peyton!" he choked.
80, What a dastardly revenge"
He leaned against the nearest pillar,
his goatee trembling.
You tell Judge Peyton---" His
voice shook.
Now, major" protested the sheriff,
you know the judge amt to blame
for this
II see the whole thing" the major
declared fiercely. THAT Yankee owns
Peyton-body, boots and breeches.
You say, law is law. Well. | say
Justice is Justice I'll show this up
start that he can't come down here
and run Gods country. No. SIR
Old Duke had stall<ed over to the
major and was looking up into his
face, slowly swinging his long tail.
The old man bent over him and put
his arms around the hounds neck:
$50 they want to kill YOU. do they?"
he said well. Wen show EN-
He gently separated the dogs lips
until he had exposed his glistening
fangs and half the red gums Old
Duke looked mildly surprised.
You can see for yourself there's
no wool between his teeth
The sheriff smiled apologetically.
Perhaps he's got rid of it some
how" he replied Then he looked
awkwardly away.
BY rights" he hazarded as if to
himself, Il ought to take the animal
into custody, but III be hanged if
will.'
Just then Rene came through the
hedge. AT. sight of the sheriff he
turned color,
Rene. my boy" called out his
father. this is the last straw, Judge
Peyton has issued summons against
Old Duke for sheep killing
Rene did not reply. His handsome
face was pale.
It's a piece of perjury" calculated
the major. Rene, YOU know Old
Duke was in the house all last night.
For several seconds there was no
sound. Then Rene answered slowly:
II can swear that when | locked up
the house last night Old Duke was
In the library and this morning he
was still there"
x !.
VALLEY FAIR rapidly filled for the
' great legal sporting event of the
decade. The Culpeper House over
flowed and there was no residence in
the town which did not have its quota
of guests. On the morning of the
trial Main street was a solid line of
fiivvers and the railroad ran a 'spe-
cial'' up from Winchester.
When Judge Randolph Peyton as
cended the bench every seat was oc-
cupied, and even the wall spaces and
aisles We're crowded with friends of
the defendant from the town itself
and all parts of the countryside. But
the chief character in the play was
not a man. On a slightly elevated
rallied platform. or dock, sad a grand
old fox hound, his black coat cOmbed
and rubbed until it glistened with
every move of the muscles beneath,
his broad belt and the star over his
eye white as snow, his freshly polished
collar shining. an aristocrat of aristo
Gratis. true dog of the d'Auriacs-
Old Duke, the defendant, on trial for
his life. There was a somewhat puz-
zled look i'll his brown eyes and the
confusion, although subdued, obviously
had excited him, but he sat there obe-
diently turning his head now and
again to look at the major and occa-
sionally. as he recognized some one,
humping the platform with his tail.
I'VE will proceed, gentlemen" an