Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-05-27
LOCHINVAR
MAKES
GOOD
10 by d. J. walsh.)


LOchinvar being magnificent
gold-and-whlte collie and the
pride of Pops heart Wherever Pop
hung his hat the collie hung his col
lar wherever Pop led the dog, like
Mary's lamb, was sure to follow. So
1t was that when Pop applied for the
Job as cook on the Bar-O ranch, Loeb
invar was at his side.
"Hph!" said Foreman Jim, looking
over the much thumbed, smeary ref
erences, you'll do but can't
you park that there dog somewheres
else2"
Pop shook his white head.
mo, siree," he said firmly. "Loch-
invar goes into the agreement or l
don't. Raised him from pup, did
Say, all the pay dirt In the world
couldn't separate u.s."
Foreman Jim scratched his head.
Cooks, good cooks, had been scarce
that year and Pop had all the ear
marks Of good cook.
"All right, the dog kin come" he
grunted at length, "but eff he don't
make good :"
Pop Watson picked up his bags and
marched In the direction Of the kitch-
en-, Lochinvar close to his heels.
During the next three months Fore
man Jim had no cause to regret his
decision. Pop was the finest cook the
Bar-O ranch had ever boosted and
Lochinvar was a real dog He could
round up q herd of cattle quicker
than any cowboy and II he were told
to find black sheep in a hundred
white sheep he'd come back with the
one of dusky color and none other.
Yet, while Lochinvar earned his
keep and was the pet Of every man
on the ranch, he failed to register a
hit with Foreman Jim. Jim Just
couldn't stand the dog and took no
pains to conceal his dislike.
Time and again Lochinvar would
run to him, plumy tail waving, white
forelegs dancing, only to be thrust
aside with a muttered curse or a
kick, But he wouldn't whine, not
Lochinvar; he'd simply creep away
was almost human and the next time
Jim would cross his path his greeting
would be none the less ELUSIVE.
Then, one day, Pop, having his aft
ernoon nap in his favorite rocker,
folded his hands and drifted into a
sleep from which he never awoke.
LOchinvar mourned his loss three
days and three nights, refusing to
touch either food or water. On the
fourth day by some freakish twist of
mind he ceased his mourning, and
adopted Foreman Jim.
Now, any man in the outfit would
have been flattered and glad to have
been adopted by Lochinvar, but not
Jim. Just why the collie should have
attached himself to the one man who
hated him so thoroughly, was more
than we could understand. Yet that
Is exactly what Lochinvar did.
He followed Foreman Jim about the
Face as faithfully as he'd followed
Pop. And when Jim would hit the
range, no matter how long the drive,
LocInvar would trot along.
This lasted a month. The last day,
Jim, as was his custom, went to
Daren, some thirty miles away, to get
the pay roll.
Mind you don't come along" he
growled to Lochinvar who, with head
cooked to one side, was watching the
horse being saddled, "ef you do, I'll
give you lesson you'll never forget
Bout fed up with your following me
around, anyway"
Lochlnvar's tail dropped and, ODE
dicntly he laid down. Still lying
down, he watched Jim ride out of
the gates and allowed him to proceed
several hundred feet down the dusty
road, when he rose and trOtted after
him.
Foreman Jim, ignorant Of his pur-
suer, reached Darlen at noon, had his
lunch at the Darien emporium, Sc
cured the pay roll from the bank,
stocked up on tobacco and started
back for Bar-O. Returning over the
brush route he met Lochlnvar, tongue
extended. Upon seeing his newly
adopted master the dog made a fee
BILE attempt to wag his tail. Jim, how
ever, only glared. Angered at the
dogs dIsobedlence, he saw no grace
In this gesture.
80 you aimed to go ag'In me, did
you" he yelled, his face distorted with
rage, well, I'll teach you a thing or
two. LII give you lesson you'll not
forget"
He jumped from his horse, took a
short rope from his saddle bag and
gvasping the collar OF the exhausted
collie, pulled him into the thIckest
shrubbery and tied him firmly to
tree
"There, you'll not bother me again."
he muttered and, without a backward
look. strobe toward his horse, leaped
into the saddle and rode on.
II was after shutdown when he re-
turned to Bar-O. Stevens, the book
keeper. In a considerable state of agl-
tation, met him at the gate
"IIO jim" he greeted the still, sour
faced foreman, some news. Boss Is
going to be here early tomorrow
morning. Said not to distribute the |
pay roll till he gets to Bar-O. Guess |
that means some raises, heyl Thought |
I'd meet you sos can tote the money |
to the safe"
"Uh," Jim swung out of his saddle |
and felt for the familiar leather pack. |
ct that had carried the Bar-O money |