The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-12-19

Fred comes within yard Of Aga
memnon he stands In danger of
losing couple Of eyes; otherwise
Agamemnon stalks about majes-
tically with his tail Up and never
looks at him."
There was a silence. "Oh dear"
said Michael at length. e.
Michael, il you ask where din.
ner Is, I shall murder you. I am
fully aware that it's late. It isn't
our fault: It's the butcher boy"
Later"
ooh, no. He came to the other
houses at the usual time. But he
didn't have our meat. He was sure
he had, but he. hadn't. He had to
60 back after it, and he Just this
minute got here. Charlotte Jean
went to the gate and got it. She
talked to him vigorously. could
see her."
''It won't be long now" Michael
murmured contentedly.
mot long. Michael :" she
turned to him suddenly. "Do you
thiak they might be in code?
Really?"
II sincerely hope not" Michael
murmured. I'm starving"
idiot! The letters"
ooh. DEAR" Michael sighed
again.
'There," said Tuck suddenly.
"She's putting it in the pan. She
just threw the bone to Fred"
"Thank heaven" Michael said.
II don't think Agamemnon will
appreciate that" Tuck said again.
"He's sitting on the fence with an
expression of utter disgust on his
face" SIS
A little later there arose on the
still air low, long moaning. Cor
don'S voice came from the heights
of the pole. "Hey you, Fred, stop
that yowling!" But Fred did not
stop. He moaned again, his doggy
voice rising to a frenzied squeal
on the last note.
Michael stood up suddenly.
Whats he moaning about?" he
asked sharply.
II don't know" Tuck replied.
"Do you suppose he's got bit Of
bone caught in his throat? It
sounds as if he were in pain"
He's Dead?'
MICHAEL was through the door
lVA in a second, and out with
the dog. Gordon knelt by Fred
and looked up at Michael anx-
iously. "He just kind of laid
down." he said. cit looks like he's
got kind of a pain, maybe"
Fred was lying on the ground.
He stopped moaning and looked
up at Gordon pleadingly. Gordon
patted his head. "There. there, old
kid" he said. whats the matter
with you? Eat too fast?"
Fred's head went down on the
ground. His eyes were still on
Gordon's face. His stumpy tail
wagged once, feebly, as if to an
Swer his master once more.
Once more, but never again.
"My Godp' Michael softly.
FredI Fredl" Gordon called,
terrible fear in his tone.
The dogs eyes were open and
staring. Michael put his hand over
the doggy heart.
"pm afraid he's a pretty
sick dog, Gordon" he said slowly.
Il think we'd better send for the
vet"
"The vet?" Gordon looked up at
Michael. He looked back at the dog.
He looked again at Michael with
shrewdness and fear mingled.
''He's he's dead already.
isn't he?" he asked. His blue eyes
were full of pain.
"Tm afraid he is" Michael said,
refusing to meet those eyes. "I'll
carry him for you. old chap"
mo. He's my dog. I'll carry
him." And Gordon bent, hiding the
lower lip firmly caught between
his teeth, and picked up the dog.
Michael went as far as the gate,
and then came rushing back to
the kitchen door. His face was as
white as paper and his eyes blazed.
Give me that meat" he said to
the startled maid. every bit of
it Charlotte Jean. You haven't
tasted it, have your"
why no, Mr.. Forester. That
haven't sir. Is something 90"
Wrap it up in the paper it came
in" he commanded sharply. 'Take
it out OF that pan. and wrap the
pan. Don't wash it, and don't
touch it. Do you understand that?H
Yes -. why yes -" "
He was gone. to the yard again.
Tuck was standing where Fred
had died. Her face was strange,
frozen. At her feet lay the bone,
half eaten. which had fallen from
Fred's mouth. Michael slipped the
piece OF paper in his hand UNDER
meath it. and wrapped it carefully.
He turned to her. do you want
to come to town with me to eat?"
he said brusquely. There's no
meat here for dinner"
Michael >. was that meat -.
Is It ;"
81 don't know. You saw what
happened to the dog. I'm going
to take 1t to Headquarters, to the
analyst. Immediately. Do you
want to come? wish you would"
I'll get Bunny"
It was three very silent young
people who came back to the house
on the campus about half past
eight that night. They had had
dinner at the Cat and Fiddle after
Michael had been In to Head
quarters with the package Of
meat; the analyst, DR.. Jethro, had
promised to start at it inmedi-
ately, and give Michael q report
sometime before morning. So they
were prepared to sit up until the
telephone call came.