Evening star., 1927-11-20
What HAPPENED When Peter Kicked Stray ANIMAL

ment. He no longer clustered Of
hunted fights in the streets OF the
village. He attended to his work
and, as every one admitted, no farriel
in the country could fit horseshoes
better, or do a better Job at welding
When Joe Harkness returned to his
shop he kept Zinn as partner
Neither did Peter Zinn waste time OF
money on whisky, but, in spite OF
these new and manifold virtues, some
Of the very observant declared tha,
there was more to be feared from the
silent and settled ferocity Of his man
ner than from the old, boisterous
ways. Constable Frejus was among
the latter. He practiced half an hour
every day with his revolver.
X " y
RLONDY, in the meantime, stepped
49, into maturity in a few swift
months. His neck grew thicker and
more arched, and in his dark brown
eyes there appeared a wistful look OF
eagerness, saving when Peter Zinr
was near. The rest Of the family he
tolerated, but did not love. 1t was ir
vain that Mrs. Zinn. eager to please
husband whose Transformation hao
filled her with wonder and awe, law
ished attentions upon Blondy. 1t was
in vain that the three boys petted and
fondled and talked kindly to Blondy
He endured these demonstrations, but
did not return them. But. when D
o'clock came in the evening of the day
Blondy went out to the gate Of the
front yard and stood there like a white
statue, until a certain heavy step
sounded on the wooden sidewalk up
the hill. That noise changed Blondy
into an ecstacy of impatlence. ana
when the big man came through the
gate. Blondy raced and leaped about
him with such "A mufiled whine of JOY,
coming from such depths OF his heart'
that his whole body tremhled. At meals
Blondy lay across the feet OF the mas
ter At night he curled into warm
circle at tile foot of the bed.
There was only one trouble with
Blondy. When people asked. What
sort of a dog is that Peter Zihn
could never answer anything except.
"A fighting dog; you can lay to that
1t was a stranger who flnally gave
them information, a lumber merchant
who had come to Sioux Crossing 10
buy timber land. He stopped Peter
Zinn on the street and crouched on
his heels to admire Blondy.
"A real white one" said no. AS
fine a bull terrier as I ever saw. what
does he weigh"
"Fifty.five pounds" said Zinn.
"I'll give you S. for every pound OF
him." said the stranger.
Peter Zinn was silent.
Love him too much to part with
him. eho" asked the other, smiling up
at the bis blacksmith.
Love him?" snorted Zinn. Love
a dos, I amt no fool"
"Ah?" said the stranger. Then
what's your price,"
Peter Zinn scratched his head; then
he scowled. for. when he tried to
translate Blondy into terms OF money
his wits failed him.
That's two hundred and seventy
five dollars" he said finally.
"Ill make it three hundred. even.
And, mind YOU" my friend, this dog
is useless for show purposes. You've
let him fight too much, and he's GOV.
cred with scars. However. he's a
grand dog"
Zinn hardly heard the last Of this.
He was considering that, for three
hundred dollars. he could extend the
blacksmith shop by one-half and get
a full partnership with Hardness, or
else he could buy that four.cylinder
car young Thompson wanted to sell.
Yet even the snowy grandeur OF an
automobile would hardly serve. He
did not love Blondy. Love was an
emotion he scorned as beneath the
dignity Of a strong man. He had not
married his wife because Of love. but
because he was tired Of eating in res
taurants, and because other men had
homes. The possession of an autonio.
bile would put the stamp upon his new
prosperity, but could an automobile
welcome him home at night. or sleep
at his feet?
81 dunno" he said at last. Il guess
/ amt selling
And he walked on. He did not feel