Glacier County chief., 1940-07-19

Don't be silly, Hector" she said,
trying to speak lightly. why have you
picked on poor Una? She's not re-
sponsible for everything that goes
wrong. A stray dog must have stolen
it."
Dogs don't open frigidaires," stormed
Now-no lies"
Kathy stared at the child incredu-
scarlet and her lids dropped to hide
her guilty eyes.
Yes" she admitted in a shaky voice
Il took it for my dog"
As they all stared at her, she burst
into tears.
II don't care" she sobbed. Hes
my dog 1 found him. saw him from
the staircase window crawling over
the back garden. He's all muddy. but
he's lovely big Alsatian when he's
clean. I took the joint out to him
and he was so glad.
Where is he?" shouted Mint.
In the woodshed. I brought him
a pan of water and some straw and
you're not to disturb him. He's too
tired"
MINIS face was livid with rage as
he, snatched heavy stick from the
hall stand.
I'll soon have him out" he said to
Una. Il warned you III have no dog
here"
Kathy caught his arm as he strobe
towards the side door.
For PHYS sake, let the poor creature
rest" she said. Tomorrow we can de-
eide what to do with it."
Without speaking, he flung her aside
and went out of the house. AS Una
up in her arms where she struggled in
passion of anger and grief. The other
well trained maids looked on in an
uncomfortable silence which was brok-
en- by the parlor maid.
Excuse me, madam, there's a car
in the drive. Shall I say Not at
homer"
Looking up, Kathy saw Alan stand
ing at the open front door. He seemed
towards him and painted out her tale.
He was quick to catch its drift. for
he broke into her explanation.
"a big dog? Where?"
THE woodshed in the back garden.
That way"
He shouted to her as he sprinted
around the side Of the house.
Kathy returned to the drawing room
and dropped Imply down on the divan.
For the present, she had forgotten the
complications of the situation. She
merely accepted the fact that her
troubles were over because Alan was
Suddenly she opened her eyes at the
distance.
It was followed by silence. AS she
notwithstanding scalp frightened
and her temples grew cold. Then the
room seemed to break apart and the
-, ,,r1 RI r.
times she knew she was staring at the
cream wallpaper-at others her sur
roundings were BACKED out.
After long while, she became con-
scious of Alan kneeling beside her and
chatting her hands.
did you hear?" he whispered.
She nodded.
Eyes, I know. It was a wolf. Is Hec-
tor dead?"
Dead from shock. 1t never mauled
him was at his heels and saw the
whole thing. 1t sprang, but he COL
lapSed first. I called it off at once,
but he was dead. Was his heart
weak?"
Yes"
In imagination Kathy reconstructed
the grim tragedy. The big bully burst
ing into the shed to drive out an eX-
hausted starving dog, only to be con-
fronted by a nightmare vision: green
eyes glowing like points of fire through
the gloom and dark shape reared
up to spring.
Then she vaguely realized that Alan
THE wolf escaped from our 200
some days ago. was away on the
continent and knew nothing about it
until I returned today. came out to
warn you about it. for I was afraid
it might be shock if told you over
rllmors2"
mo Yes" answered Kathy. II
remember now the maids were excited
over something this morning, but I
didn't listen"
where's Una?"
"In the kitchen with the cook" Alan
told her. I've just been talking to her"
"She might have been killed." shud-
dered Kathy. She went in to that
wolf. She thought he was an Alsatian
dog. Why didn't he attack her?"
Because he was gorged with meat,
besides being exhausted He was prob
ably glad to be back in shelter. He's
used to captivity"
HE sprang at Hector-yet he never
touched her"
Her eyes were awed as though she
glimpsed a miracle. Although he did
not share her exaltation, Alan felt he
could not drag her down to common
place level.
do you remember how Una stroked
the lion?" he asked. "She has a certain
quality which wins the instructive
confidence of animals. She is fearless
and she loves them. They know that.
All the same"-his voice sank to a
mutter-'Im thankful she threw Pluto
the joint first"
Then he rose to his feet.
II must ring up the zoo and have
the motor lorry sent out with his
cage" he said. my uncle will be glad
there was no tragedy. Pluto is an un-
usually fine specimen and he would
have been upset If I had been forced
to shoot him"
mo tragedy" Kathy's eye re-
preached him. you forget-Hector is
dead"
As they looked at each other in