The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-03-11
: TITLE MARK RENDLE had
asked Old Man Negley to help

II TITLE MARK RENDLE had
asked Old Man Negley to help
him choose a collie pup at the
Blankacre kennels. There had been
six puppies In the yard. Four Of
these, for one reason or another. the
old man had vetoed as pets. AS the
remaining two were scampering about.
he told Mark that both were fine pups
but that one of them would be worth
ten times as much to the boy as the
other.
'What funny thing to say r. ex-
claimed Mark. I'll don't under
stand"
"Well," said Old Man Negley, 'T'll
put 1t little palmer. You and your
father wanted my advice in picking
out a pup for you. That's why 1 adj
vised you against taking any of those
other four we saw. AS veteran dog
man saw flaws in them that a be-
ginner, like yourself, wouldn't be
likely to see.
"But both of these two pups here
are fine specimens. Both seem to have
good sense, too; and good dispositions.
Either one would make nice pet.
But / want to see you pick out the
one you like best; and want to know
why. Because there is a difference
between them that you can figure out
for yourself If you think hard enough.
A difference that will make one of
them worth ten times as much to you
as the other Outwardly, they are
about the same. Play around with
them for a while before you decide"
For the next ten minutes the boy
played with both the pups. At least
he tried to play with both Of them
but he succeeded in playing with only
one. One of the pups had rushed de-
lightedly up to Mark the moment 1t
was let out of the kennel yard.
It had frisked about him. dancing
and jumping up; and had then played.
In the same way about Old Man Neg
ley and the kennel man. galloping
back to the boy at his first summons
and continuing to gambol with him.
1t was a most demonstrative and low
ing puppy; effusively eager to make
friends. 1t would rush to Mark at his
call and then would tear over to Neg
ley when the old man chirped to it.
The other pup was quite as gay and
playful. But 1t paid no heed at all to
Marks blandishing calls nor to Old
Man Negley's chirpings. 1t played
with Its furry brother and romped
wildly. It obeyed quickly and eagerly
when the kennelman spoke to 1t. But
when one of the others called it or
tried to handle 1t, 1t would trot over
to the kennelman and stand close be-
side him looking up into his eyes, low
Ingly; paying no heed to Mark or
Negley
There was no timidity in the pups
behavior. There was nothing in it ex-
cept complete Indifference to these
coaxing newcomers.
''You have entire care of these pups,
don't your asked Old Man Negley of
the kennelman.
EYES," answered the kennelman.
grinning, for he understood the seem
ingly aimless drift of the question.
'T'm the only one who has handled
'em since they were weaned."
In vain did Mark cajole this second
puppy to come at his call or to romp
with him. But the first puppy was all
over him, making friends with glad
zest with him and with Negley and
with the kennelman II was a most
adorable and adoring pup.
AT last Mark went up to the kennel
man and said:
"Mr. Negley tells me one of these
puppies will be worth ten times as
much to me, for chum. as the other.
rs he?''
"Negley's mistaken" answered the
kennelman, CURLY. ''Not ten times as
much Twenty times as much"
"Goodp' cried Mark. exulting. sThen
I know which it is. I've make my
choice. / know the one want. /
want this one-the one that comes
when call him and that loves me so
much already. That other one won't
have a thing to do with me. He'd be
horrid sort Of chum. ! choose this
tirst one"