The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-11-26

him. A sense of shame drove him
back to meet them.
where's Inza?" he cried.
They didn't seem to hear him,
and he caught hold of Belinda Snodd
as she was painting by.
where's Inza?" he repeated,
holding her fast by the arm.
ooh! Oh, I don't know!" She
could hardly speak, and her voice
shook like her whole body. 'That-
that awful dog! He-she-I don't
knowl It's terriblel I'm scared to
DEATH"
One of the other girls, a little
blonde, had stopped of her own ac-
cord. She was trembling too, but
she gave Bart look that was a
stiff blow to his pride. "You were
with her." she said. "Why don't
you know where she is?"
"Why, II thought"
But he hadn't thought, and he
couldn't explain. He had taken to
his heels and left her, and now he
knew just what that made him look
like. He let 60 of Belinda Snodd's
arm and headed back for the grove,
on the jump again. It took cour-
age of some kind for him to do that.
The sound of a gun came from
within the grove.
Neither Hodge nor the fleeing girls
had seen John Snodd coming, for
all of them had fled toward the high
way in the vicinity of the school
grounds. But the report of that
gun gave Bart's heart a lift. It
meant, of course, that somebody
had fired at the dog. He put more
speed into his stride.
They were removing the torn,
foam-covered coat from Merriwell's
left arm when Bart came running
back through the trees. His mouth
open, his hands clutched tightly to-
gether, Tad Jones was the pic
ture of suspense as he watched. Her
face damp with tears, Inza was still
sitting on the ground and watching
them also. No one appeared to hear
f1OuSe approaching.
He saw the dead dog lying where
it had fallen. Snodd had dropped
his gun a few steps away. That
explained a part of what had hap
pened, but he knew he could never
explain what he had done. Nobody
would understand, if he tried.
This realization stopped him, 80
feet away. What could he say?
What was there for him to say or
do?
Frank Merriwell was taking off
his own coat now. He looked pretty
sober, but still not as disturbed and
anxious as the others. Quickly he
thrust the sleeve of his shirt up
above the elbow.
81 don't believe the dogs teeth
touched me-" he said. eff I'm right,
I owe it to Hodges coat"
Snodd took hold of Franks wrist
and turned his arm to inspect it
thoroughly. "By gingerl" he cried
in great relief. II can't see even a
teeny scratch. Now if that don't
beat the world my heads a pun
KIM"
Barney Mulloy put an arm round
Merry's shoulders. His chin was
quivering a little, but he managed
to grin. "You lucky slobl" was all
he could say then.
But Tad Jones had less control.
"Gosh, I'm glad!" he cried hop
ping up and down as if trying to hop
out of his skin. "I'm glad, Frankl
I'm awful glad! If old Tige had
bit you I'd gone right off md jumped
in the ocean, would"
well, I'm not feeling so bad
about it myself" said Frank, after
taking a deep breath of relief. Sand
it's lucky the insane beast didn't
eat you up, Tad"
"I've got something to say to Sile
Gleason" declared John Snodd
grimly. Sewing little shaver a
dog in that condition! He ought to
be made to smart for it."
Frank turned toward INA without
stopping to put his coat on again.
That brought him round facing
Hodge, who still stood where he had
halted. They looked each other in