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

the eyes again, and the flush Of
shame on Bart's face could not be
mistaken. No sneering, no triumph
now; and Merry was not one to
kick a fellow when he was down.
ST had to make use of your coat,
Hodge," he said, "and I'm sure
you'll never want to wear it again.
I'll pay you for it."
Bart made no reply, and Frank
went to Inza and dropped on one
knee. "Now how about that ankle?"
he asked.
She wasn't looking at him now.
Her proud mouth was very humble.
"Are you sure-dead sure-you
were not touched by the teeth OF
that awful dog?" she asked.
He smiled. "There isn't mark
on me-"
ats marvellous! Never, never in
my life will / forget the-the way
you fought that dog"
She wanted to say more than that,
but the words would not come. They
both felt awkward. He laughed to
cover his embarrassment.
"Well, I'll remember it a while
myself. I've had more fun doing
other things. You mustn't try to
walk on that foot. I don't believe it
will be such a hard job for Barney
and me to carry you back to Mr..
Snodd's house. You can't weigh a
ton."
Now she laughed too. "I'm an
awful lightweight" she said, "espe-
cially above the ears"
Hodge heard it all. He had been
paying no attention to Mulloy, who
was staring at him with a look OF
unspeakable contempt. Bart was
sorry he had come back there. That
had been another mistake. He might
have known there was nothing he
could do to put himself right.
Feeling as empty as a dry well,
he turned about and walked swiftly
and silently away.
Tad Jones was the torch that
started the story of Frank Merri-
wells fight with the mad dog rum
ming like wildfire through Fardale
village. But Pete Smith, the local
reporter for city daily, listened
doubtfully to Tad's lurid account of
the unflinching manner in which
Frank had faced the dog and battled
with it. That, Pete thought, would
make a fine newspaper story, but of
course it was too good to be true.
So he went to question INA Bur-
rage, in her home, and was amazed
when her version of the affair sus-
tanned Tad in every particular but
one. Her ankle had been sprained,
not broken.
Now enthusiastic and eager, the
reporter got hold of Tony Accero
without wasting time. ~ o h n
Snodd's place, Tony" cried Pete,
diving into the car, "and step on the
gas"
Frank was writing a letter to his
uncle when Mulloy crashed into the
room. The face of the Irish boy was
split by grin.
"Be after dropping that and come
down to see man, my lad" said
Barney.
"What MANI" Frank wanted to
know. "What's he want to see me
for?"
"It's a reporter for newspaper,
and he's going to make We famous,
frankie"
That made Merry drop the pen
and stand up. "a reporter" he ex-
claimed. "Good Lord!"
This was something he hadn't ex-
pected, something he wasn't pre-
pared for, something that made him
shy like skittish pony.
Yesterday you arrived in Far
dale" said Barney, who seemed to
be enjoying Franks CONSERVATION,
land tomorrow your name will be
emblazoned in the public print. Fast
work"
"But don't want to see a re-
porter" said Merriwell, looking
around the room as if in search of a
place to hide. "And I'm not going
to see him either, and answer lot
of silly questions.
ITO BE CONTINUED