Evening star., 1944-04-19
This and That
By Charles E. Traceueu.

The milkman was fond of dogs. Some
times he would let one ride with him
in the wagon, but not often, because
1t wasn't supposed to be a sanitary
thing to do.
The only exception was old Buddy
This was q Chesapeake Bay dog, who
roamed the neighborhood at will, and
was known to every one.
He was in his 18th year when the
quarantine went into effect. Before
this the milknan had permitted Buddy
to ride around with him. Both dog
and man looked forward to the few
blocks.
Sometimes the milkman brought q
few bones for Buddy. The big dog
would wait for him at the corner. and
when he heard the familiar grind OF
the wagon he would begin to wag his
long tail.
1t was thin tail now, not thick and
clubllke, as in former days, but Buddy
could still do fine job of wagging it.
When the milkman roared up In his
car the dog would leap into it. and
away they would go.
"You be a good dog, my friend" said
the milkman to Buddy, the last time
he saw him before his vacation.
This day he had a particular nice
bone for him. Buddy registered anina-
ton, and got out of the car with his
find.
The man smiled. He waved a hand
to his four-legged friend of the milky
way.
These friendships of every day are
sometimes the best In life, if you make
them so. Mailmen work up affection
Tor some of the dogs along their routes,
but not for the ones that bite them.
Biting now is bad business
Rabies has put new meaning into
a dog bite. Still, many a dog owner
remains unimpressed. Buddy's owner
was one of these evidently. Though
the quarantine was extended, and in
some sections dogs were being shot old
Buddy roamed the streets as always.
II the dogcatchers caught him, he
would be taken away and held for 10
days. II the owner of such a dog came
Tor 1t within the time, he could get
his pet back by paying sum of money.
II ne did not, any one could get the
dog by paying for him. Otherwise he
was executed.
Death by rabies is not a pretty sight.
1t Is such a horrible thing that few
descriptions of it ever have been printed.
The agony and screams last for days.
No wonder very little has been written
about it, except in medical Journals.
If accurate blow-by-blo accounts
could be printed, perhaps more people
WnillH knnn thoir INnc ot
rabies epidemics
Nobody worried about Buddy. Not
even the milkman, who went on his
vacation and came back in high spirits.
He received his first jolt when no big
dog stood on the old corner
What has happened to Buddy?" he
said, as he left the milk.
The dogcatchers had got him, he was
told. No, nobody had gone after him.
He was old, you see, and deaf, and in
few months, anyway
The milkman hurried along as fast
as he could. This was the last of the
10 days. Maybe he wouldn't be too late.
He slapped through his route faster
than he had ever done before. Sweat
stood out on him.
Fortunately, the pound was not far
from his last call. It was one of the
first of the spring days, and everything
was getting green, and few dandelions
already were up
AS he came In sight of the place, he
saw long, dark form on the ground,
and his heart sank.
You are too late-by Is minutes"
said the pound man.
Buddy's friend walked over to the
old dog, who laid stretched out by a
shallow grave. His mouth was open
and some of the worn teeth were vis-
ible.
The milkman kneeled down. The
tears fell upon the dogs head. Then
the man got up, and looked around,
half-blinded, for something
dandelion was all he could find. He
placed 1t between the cold paws and
went back to his wagon. Old Buddy
had not been deserted. after all. ?.