A SHORT STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16828, 21 June 1926, Page 5

A SHORT STORY.

TATTERS. (By Stanley Blii’q.' As his limbs gained strength a spirit, nf advent ur” crept into his bleed. Ai l . inspirin.tr curiosii y urged him on. and for tli.' first, liiim in’ I'ivjit a\v.iv from iiis brothers .ml -is!’ rs. nnsnl a laborious patli Ihrough thick. warm straw, and near, d It!” ilazz!mg ovil of wiiito towards; wtiirh his eyes had in.etiiirtivf’iy turned a few days; before. ihe eirrle widened as lie. neared it and the si renglheuing light hurt his eyes. lie crawled airing the rough edges of the kennel and suddenly found his startled orbs gazing out upon a vast, uneven whiteness, lie squealed in fright and ran bank into the friendly gloom that bad surrounded him from birth: but the virus or adventure’ was upon him, and he ventured forth again. He pushed a tentative black-and-white head out into the bright expanse, and.

ending it did not. touch him, placed two paws outside of the kennel. He remained there, half in and half out, until a huge raindrop fell and hit him upon the nose. 11*’ howled ill irigllt and scuttled back to ids mother Airedale . . . hut the lure of the lug

world outside called to him. lie re turned.

As the days sped on he ventured out into the yard, where, something cold played about his legs and stirred the

growing black fur on his back. Once or twice lie ran round and round in a circle to catch wiinivvcr stirred his fur, and in his excitement he. yelped aloud, riolll1■ tiines he saw wisps of straw careering before the wind, and lie chased them with an invigorating joy of the chase, iiis yelps took on a sterner note, bis limbs hardened, anil his frame gained in proportions. Wicklow had watched the pup for some days tie.fore lie seized upon the furry ball of activity and gathered him up. lie called his assistant over. “Look at 1.110 size of the little brute, he said. “Have you ever seen such bad colouring! How on earth did this ugly spot of while creep in? “Dunno, sir. A throw-back. There might ha’ been a cross in one of th’, strains some years back.’’

“Yes. It has ruined the pup. And look at the length of the jaw. Square enough; but have you ever seen an Airedale with anything as long as that? I’m annoyed, you know! lie’s a pound, if not more, heavier than any of the others in the litter. lie’s got more hone —far more. Rut how on earth can he be sold as an Airedale with that splash of white?” “Can’t be done, sir. Wot about offerin' 'im as a first cross?” Wicklow shook liis head. He did not know how lie would describe the pup; but he decided to sell it at any price to tlie first prospective buyer, lie was angry and somewhat perturbed that iiis kennels, wherein only dogs of show strain and high pedigree were reared, should produce such a nondescript example of an Airedale. '1 hat while sp'asli, however, was the decisive lactor in the sale of the pup. c.irs Ughtred-Brown came down to the kennels with Mr Ughtred-Brown for the purpose of buying a pup after her own heart. There was a substantial afflu-

ence about the ponderous, fur-coated form of the lady, and Wicklow recognised that careful handling would effect the sate of a fancy-priced pup. He was wrong. .Mrs Ughtred-Brown had only known tile joys of a vast bank balance a few years; but in that period she had discovered a method of buying only what she wanted, and neither tong pedigivs, an endless string of firsts, seconds and thirds in file most important shows ill tile country moved her one Lillie. “Ain’t you got any others?” she asked Wicklow when he had exhausted ids prize pens and liis pedigrees, lie shrugged liis shoulders. Her too obvious indifference for dogs of pure merit had annoyed and disgusted him. “Well,” lie said, “there is a litter of Airedales over there. And one of them is about the only Airedale ill the world with a blob of white on it. Quite a freak ”

“Hid you say th’ only one in th world?”' r-T.” looked at him eagerly.

V, icklow smothered n smile. ~i guess il, is. Absolutely the one ;tiirl only. Ilis light, sarcasm hail no impression on the lady. She merely demanded, “Lei’s hive a look at ’iin. That white blemish, hitter eyesore to the breeder, sold the dog. “Cor, ain't that there little star of white just about cute'. 1 ” Airs Ughtrcdllrown picked up the pup. “ 'V w old is 'c, and what does ’e eat? \Yc ain t ever ’ad a dog before ” She would not allow her husband to carry the pup to their huge car. “Drive carefully,” she admonished her chauffeur. “I’ve just bought a valuable Airedale. The only one in the world with white on it.” Mr Ughlrcdlirown followed her into the car. He grinned sheepishly—his wife had not told the chauffeur lo “drive carctully” when she had set out with her spouse. The career of file pup in Ule home of the Ughfred-Browns was eventful, original, but not successful. The proud owner created a lied of satin cushions for the clog in a warm corner of her bedroom. He. never slept on those cushions. Tore them lo shreds and distributed feathers all over the. house. lie learned a way into the kitchen. in Lim first instance lie devoured a small chicken, at the second visit the remains of a large ham, and in Urn third lapped up the contents of a three-pound pel of strawberry .jam. having first knock* d that .jam pot oh tile kitchen lahie in his frenzied endeavours to poke ids square .jaw into the narrow neck. In the. fourth instance in one and the same morning lie made the acquaintance, of the cook. That irate lady struck him with a broom, thrashed him with a towel, and threw a bucket of water over him. He raced upstairs, howling wilh pain, and was not heard'of for hours. Airs Ughtred-lirown found him curled up within her wardrobe. He had pus!led op* u tin* door witii Ills paw. Abe remembered that siie had left it slightly ajar. The pup had pulled down her frocks, first he slept, then awakened, feeling hot and ill. He turned round and round uneasily. Too hot ihore, lie. crept out, leapt upon the bed. Tim exertion was fatal, ile deposited a portion of tile jam and a paid of Urn chicken upon a down quill, lint he (Yd' no belter. Crawled miserably l, ;! rk into the wardrobe and was violently sick upon I wo rivpo do chine frocks. From thence lie moved limply into the olh* - r c cm*-!-. And slept. There his happy n isir* ;s found him. \n,i she also found -nth', r I dines. .Mrs I'cidred-llrov.n was angry. Into ! the psychology of a puppy, an 1, realising tool, 'dia.-da-o nemf \v is I s~ s;ii! carri* *1 ihe i II tie fid In w mi > ji,V centre of Ihe room .md i mwin d j, 1,, i ~, \ mindly with an umbreii.i I pat 1.. crouched under In r, snarled out of mi, all. e\ w i a' id. and "lily I owb-.i In (I'TOiiv wlir.n <i violin I I»i *.» \ v inijiinjrrij iipnn hrid/ro «>r his Ti:«> inrnri.it d 1 m’y w.e wnmac.rny \ mb u!. I toils Were, so won 111 ot M. 1 1, ibusbar: i ran inf.. Mm room, libpnhd”d at !wr v.wwrnl,.. lAlrw 1.. passed by flic bn!. L p >;i !; i ■ • a ’e,vn quid hi: saw— lie joined ill Una chastisement. The pup escaped, tcampered wildly

down Hi*’ si airs. Ugh I red-Brown follow’"!. Beaching the main hall, the deg bolted towards an open do or, fell (town a llighl, of while steps, sped down file garden path with a small tail tenaciously curled heneaih its logs, iln.lced uii*!< r a gale—and vanished. That neeiiTT. d a! three oil a drizzly .January afternoon. By ten that night Mrs (h.vblred-llrown had moved everything that money could move to recover Hie tost dog. Beneath the. ponderous pomposity of an otlicious exterior born of newly acquired wealth lay a depth of humane kindliness. "Pore ii' 1 ’ feller," she said. “I 'ate to think of him out in a night like Ibis. I wonder if the perlic*’ have Yard yet?” “Urnpii !" Ughtred-Brown hoped they had no*. lie remembered the quilt, the wardrobe, sundry decorations—and they had not had the dog a week.

Perched amongst a jumbled heap of Hour sacks the boy disinterestedly watched a pup paddling along the wet road. Casually attracted, lie jumped down.

“Cum ’ ere, chappie,’’ lie said. “Tiler’s a good tickle daws!" lie grabbed the delighted dog into iiis arms anil laboriously re-entered the lorry. During a half-hour wait, for the driver (he twain played with mutual enjoyment. The pup was grateful for the warmth. His tail throbbed with growing abandon. He barked wickedly in a hoarse, broken way. The sound afforded the boy intense, amusement. He would have kept the dog but for the objections of the, lorry-driver. “Put it down!” The maiv jerked a thumb at the pup before pulling oil his gauntlets. “H’you want ter be pinched for steaiin’ it?”

When the lorry pulled away the young Airedale followed. lie was big grown fur three months, and long in the leg. He sped silently along the ground as Hie lorry gained speed. Miles were covered. Even the stamina of an Airedale lias limits, and he gradually lagged, lie - breathed in great, distressed gasps, but the indomitable within his great heart ever urged him on. 11l Hie growing dusk lie lost sight of the lorry. Made a violent effort to increase his pace. Maintained it for a mile, and limn staggered to the roadside and fell down on the soft, wet grass. Rain cooled ids heated tongue, streamed pleasantly down his head, and saturated his hack. He recovered strength. Regan to suffer from tile cold. Whined once or twice and shivered. Wandered away into the fields. Entered a wood. There were scurrying sounds in the undergrowth. Hunger seized him, he leaped into the thickets; but found nothing. He had didicully in seeing things. Cut and scratched his jaws and legs. Snapped viciously at a bramble that tore his hair from his head, and then yelped in pain with a thorn in the side of his jaw. Crept into a corner away from the wind, and beneath a swaying clump of bracken slept until the early morning. Throughout the grey hours ho wandered across open dales. Rain was replaced by a driving wind of bitter cold. His hunger increased. He tried to hunt. Waited and waited for a hare. Leaped out upon it. Ran and ran and ran. The hare doubled back, sped into a hole. Vanished. He scratched and dug into the hole for an hour. Ran round it, whining and smelling. Day merged into night. A subtle exhaustion forced him to creep again into a thicket. He slept. Awakened with his limbs frozen from the cold. Howled aloud in agony, startling birds into frenzied bight. A sickly sun shone down oil the land when ho loped away painfully, lie was lean and hungry. A little evil tempered. Flecked here and there with blood from the laceruii*.*n ol' brambles. He slouched inLo a village, when the sun was high. Roamed Lo and fro among the houses. Found occasional buckets crammed with house refuse. .Nosed’ deep down for food and scattered the contents over the ground. Near the far outskirts an elderiy man saw him, called him over. The pup neared him with suspicion, but responded joyfully to the friendly touch of a hand, and leaped around in ecstasy. The old man walked towards the house, the dog behind him. “Yon's a poor ill-starved puppy, ’ ho called to someone moving in the kitchen, “a pup just like the one. our Ronnie had those many years ago.” A woman joined him and nodded. “Ho ’Lis,” she said; “poor wee puppy. You’re just like our dead Ronnie’s dog. Come here now, we’ll give you a nice, big dinner, just—just for auld lang sync, eh, dad?” The old man nodded. There was moisture in iiis eyes.

“Aye, mother. For auld lang syne. They fed the dog, patted him and sent him away with a hone. Carrying that bone through Hie village, the little wanderer fought Hirer battles with other dogs before lie lost it. He gambolled with olhers until they one by one sped away in I lie night. Again he loped away in the direction of Hie. woods, flitting with a silent, ghostly tread across Hie hard earth.

Days passed into weeks. He, hardened. With cunning born of almost latent instincL, revived from the. faroff wolf days of bis primordial ancestors, lie trapped rabbits, sneaked into the farms and killed peaceful fowls. Ferocity grew upon him. He did not readily respond in the call of man. Boys in a village enticed him by holding out a chunk of bread. Then limy pointed great white hands upon l;is hark and put a muzzle over his mouth. But whilst they endeavou:'”d In altacli a 1 in lo his lail lie escaped and I'uri’i’n’il wildly away into the woods. There lie fought with one paw at a time lo force Ilm muzzle from his jaws. lii-; efforts failed, lie rolled over on his hack, si lick liis jaw roughly into Hie. earth. 11, was all unavailing. A day and a night passed, lie could not cal liecause of Hie muzzle. He could not drink to any purpose except where I,lm water was very deep and lie could plunge, ids nose to such a level Hint his longue could lap. A second day merged into night. And a Hurd. With lue growing pains of lilinger Im !:■ pt ivuiro

and more to the woods, lie wakened. liis body was emaciatm!. The fur upon which thick layers of paint was spread fell out in iilll” iiii I’ . iiis

strength c 1 1 i I * ■ < I. Fl-eli/.ii *1 ei'fnrl.s lo force o : f. Urn muzzle brought a light of madness into bus ey s. Haler do desisted, lie crawled slowly out into the open, slouched wilh dragging steps across a strip of ploughed car! ii, and finally fell heavily down near low wood railings. At dust: he sucee.eded in scrambling !o his I tod. I ’as.wd through an "P'Oi gale, and shakily following a Him siia.fl of light reached a rough wooden door and fell heavily against il. lit. T;dbo! plugged inbacro into a. big p j [ 11 '. ;, j,! i i i i ■ i i a ! 11 a 1 1 d i and i i * led his head lo pull a 1 the wen!. There was a ; .iibi 0- charm ill a strong face, strangely Imiched by an unnatural sourness, it was yniilkful, kindly, ;,;11 on and a lil I i" eg* il a l once. 1 lo : U'W Old, a cumd of .smoko. s ', md of 100 world. Wil--0 , ; |! I j . -red let VW ell clenched I*,, tii. “and life v, "UP! be a good I ding. ; f | p, r ■. : ■ e no women I! mro vu e, ml j, • I .... * res ■, 0 .- ■; imiiapplm "bill, v. by do you . ay tha 1 i low • n you m lu .a vii an aw-e :• i ion A' The ip v. Arl It ur \\ illi.miis hoi a I wa ; s ..in paid ii iragals hr litis ymibg-aibi aal'lslllmiei''a life. “1 say it her.,ll:-'.' i know. I haV i ,e c 11 tiirmu.ii il. i iii-oii u all llm i. i I - i om, iii-.|;ai:d. sod i know lb if woman is compost d of an I He hist for pleasures, an insufferable cun mil, anu

a complete lark of loyally towards her man. Now if what on earth is that?" The two men stood up. Faint, srraleliing was audible above a levs' moaning. The sounds emanated from Hie oilier side of ilia door. Talbot hurried across Hie room, pulled the door open, and dragged in the gaunt, einaeialeil figure of a dog, dabbed in placed will) while paint, minus a lot of fur. a wire muzzle attached lo his jaws. Talbot, closed lli» door, 1-<1 the animal into the light. The. dog feebly wagged his lail. Trembling limbs would not. .support Hie frail body, and lie sank upon llie floor. “Poor beast!" Talbot knelt by it. “Why, Williams, it is starved. Nearly dead. Some brute turned it adrift with that muzzle on. Ye gods, bow could any man do that? Will you bring a little milk, please? Yes, from that cuphoard. A little bread, too. Not a lot, because the poor brute is so far gone that too much would kill it.” The pup could not keep up its head whilst the muzzle was removed. Then lie looked into Talbot's eyes with an unfathomable gratitude. “You poor blighter,” the man muttered; “even your coat is in rags and tatters. Tailors, I think, should lie your name.”

Talbot single-handed worked a small sheep farm. Financial success came liis way but slowly, lie had had 100 little capital in 111*' first instance and insufficient friends in the second. His utter distaste for women had had an adverse, effect upon liis standing in the village. He was considered morose and evil tempered. He was neither. Years before laughter had always lurked within iiis eyes, lie had been a steadfast worker and a loyal comrade. The Airedale pup found if so now. He had been christened Tatters. He became the lone man’s constant companion. The dog's fierce nature responded lo the hand of firm kindliness. He quickly assimilated the benefits to be derived from sitting up to beg. from reclining upon the lloor in an attitude of dying for iiis country—with one eager eye focused upon a lump of sugar—or in raising a tentative paw in shaking hands, and of carrying a basket in his great white tcctli. In the day lie roamed with Talbol away and across the acres of Hie holding." He learned to round up the sheep, to walk sedately at heel, to join in the chase, lo retrieve. The pair went for long tramps up amid the heathery hills and high up towards liiose distant him' lines of beacons abutting into Hie sky. Their fellowship and understanding was complete. At night, in the solitude of the wooden dwelling, the two sat betore the wide fireplace, the dog curled up upon a rug, the man staring down into the glowing embers or lying back in iiis chair with smoke curling slowly from his pipe, staring up into the twirling blue, his thoughts lost in the long ago. When the liarded tints of winter had merged into soft tones of spring the two swam in the river. They would traverse a half-mile upstream, the dog barking with the deep-throated roar Unit had grown with him, and then they would turn and come down with the flow.

Great days. Tablot grew less saturnine. 11c discovered a new joy in living, in the giant strength of his thickset limbs. He walked the miles with a springy gait, his bare head in the wind, a laugh on his lips. Tatters was a huge, big-boned two-year-old when he first created that enmity with Bundell that was ultimately to result in an order for his execution. Bunded was a power in the village. Ib' owned I ho (Mariners’ Inn. iii' was wealthy, good-natured in a bellicose way, hut possessed of a ragged temper. In rushing after Talbot the dog charged into Bundell in the village street and knocked him down. Folk who saw the incident laughed. In falling, the irate innkeeper struck his head on a stone, blood flowing from the wound. He complained to the police. P.C. Hooper was driven to call with a complaint. Talbot listened quietly. “What do you want to do to the dog?” he asked. “P’raps he ought to ’avc a muzzle on, sir.” “All right, Hooper. Here, Tatters, come here. Now, then, Hooper, here's the dog; put a muzzle on him.” Hooper advanced gingerly. Tatters hacked, bared his tenth and snarled so viciously that the constable hopped back hurriedly, dislodging his helmet. When lie went, lo pick it up the dog leaped forward. Hooper decided lo leave ids headgear where it was for a moment. . “It was only bocos of Mister Bundell, sir,” he said humbly. Talbol laughed, called the dog away and reirieved the helmet. -Tell Bundell that I’ll see about a muzzle. Explain lo him that it will be belter for the dog.” “Belter for the dog, sir?” “Explain In Mr Bundell that I’ll have 'Patters muzzled whenever Mr Bundell is about. I. would not like my dog 1° be poisoned through Idling him." Hooper duly explained. Not to Bundell. but lo the whole village. The village laughed. And Bundell soon found out why the village, laughed. I',’indi‘H's only son was a sloul, redraced youth of eighteen. The I wain plotted and. .succeeding in luring Tailors aside with a large piece of meat, oiivn>d him a second lump, liberally fl wiLli poison. The. Airedale in- ■ tiiictivelv refused, anil Bundell, jwn., in a chagrined fury, belaboured him with a thick slick. Thai was a filial policy. To tiers Lurned on him, knocked ldin down, and lore a chunk of flesh out of his leg. The youth shrieked aloud in fear. His parents, in inlerfering, were attacked 100. Talbot was charged, and had lo appear before a magistrate in the counly lawn of M ulbi i x I it. H was a town associated willi his liillerest, memories. Si,me of that bitlerness, mi I'url.ima lely, found its way in bis demean when In; appeared before the magistrate. At that period ho had just succeeded in wiping off the da lit on ids holding. For I he first lime for years lie had established a balance of over ten pounds at his bank. M he enlureed journey lo the town used up some, of Unit money. This, perhaps, added lo Hi,, piling sarcasm of bis repartees. There, was suliieient humour ill l.hi’iu to provide Hie counly papers with long Mol i*’s lliat made good reading. In abbreviated form the news was repeated in a number of Hie national ,I;, ilj.’s. There was enough evidence. iiY.ihist Hie dog- to bring a serious a!-.pe,'l in!.l the rase. The angry meiri-h rale was firm. ••You will pay iwenl.y pounds damages i’ll ill'll count and e.osts.” be said. •’I hav out gut. five pounds With me,” 'fall.llf replied wearily. He. realised liis mistake. The magistrate m.lil-d su!!!‘'V.fiat grim'y. ••ivy tlie .'mi', or .win may have ilm ..pti'.n of having the dog d'-siroyeii." • [-V !i,.it grasped th” rails, fought duwn a rising anger. ”\ - ry weil." lb' Spat ' So quietly lhal liie iTiiwdeil eoiirl stared, “i'll pay the line if you'll give iilll” t . raise th” •" ip. |ii’T’i aw ”! Hi" sal awe. by again pVaiilg a sin HI mwiaaice nil his holily . .\;i,| a.'l to work a fresh In wipe , if. Bundell. junior, always r"lanii’d a \ j,, I e!i i hair* * I towards tin- dog. duly a month later he struck Tatters with

a whip when driving past in a two wheeled buggy, lie repeated Hie prae

lire on every possible occasion, and finally was billon on the hand. The. bile was not serious. On the same day he rut the hand in cleaning a stable. Blood poisoning set in. Th" whole trouble was ascribed lo the dog. Again Tallin! had In fare the magistrate in Mulbuxter. I’uhiie feeling was against him. Because Hume was an element, of doubt ill the I’viileiiee of Bundell’s doctor lie asked for an adjournment.. It was granted. Tallin! obtained the services of n physician and a lawyer. His dog’s life was al stale'. liis doctor's evidence did not carry enough weigh!. He was only a local man, and his arguments that a bile from a perfectly healthy dog could not set up the symptoms found in young Bundell s arm were waived aside.

Talbot lost. He made no effort to hide his emotion when an order was made for the deslrnyal of l!m dog. He made one last, hopeless appeal to the magistrate.

“That dog,” lie said, “was everything to me. He was my only companion. He is gentle wiLli animals and gentle witli children. lie has never wantonly attacked anyone ”

His pleas failed, fie, walked dully out, of the court. His mind in a chaos, he listened listlessly In a uniformed figure in the lobby who. standing- before him, whispered—“lf you will come, over to the Hotel Imperial, sir. there is a lady there who thinks she might be aide lo save your dog.” it was a faint gleam of hope. Talbot followed iiis informant. He was left for a moment alone, in a lounge. Then a door opened. He. turned. “You, Marjorie!" lie cried. The woman nodded. Touched her iips with one finger.

“Yes, Tony. Don’t be angry. I never intended to interfere with your life again. Only—l—t saw how you suffered this morning. And—and I thought the dog might be saved. By appealing, I mean, and getting evidence from a doctor with some influence, behind him. Your little man had no chance.

“if you would only let me help. Tony. Please don’t interrupt! Please! Not for you, Tony, but for your dog.” There were tears in her eyes. "I read of the case, in the papers. I bad to come, Tony. You fought so bravely. 1 was so sorry for yon there, alone, in your old clothes, among all those welldressed people.” Hoc tears stopped her. “Won't you let me help? AfLcr all. I am still your wife, Tony!” The simple sincerity of her pleading broke down iiis icy barrier. Marjorie Talbot was fighting for more than the. life of a dog. File ached to wipe away the petty misunderstanding born when their bloods were young an 1 hot. Her money brought the essential evidence. The, appeal won. In his overwhelming gratitude Talbot brought tiie dog lo her. He. had forgotten many bitter tilings lie never should have remembered. They dined together in celebration of Urn victory in tin: hotel. Bain was falling heavily but afterwards they went out into Hie night. The dog trotting beside them, they walked in silence Lo where a eoki wind rustled across the downs. In tlie thick darkness they stood side by side, in ttic rain. Talbot hold iiis wiles hand. “I was 100 hasty, Marjorie. Unfair.” “I should have believed you. I was hasty 100. If my faith had been a little stronger, all, all these empty years would not have been wasted.” “‘I was 100 angry, to explain. L did not see your side of it. But it is not too late—now—” Bain beat down on their white faces, but tlie romance of llieir youth glowed afresh. The great, black world about them stood slid. Talbot drew Tatters nearer with one hand. The other encircled his wife, lie drew her 10 him. From far back in the years they conjured memories—golden memories—and before them they saw Hie fragrimt glory of tlie days to come. A raindrop fell —plunk. 11 hit Tatters on the nose. He drew nearer Lo iiis master’s side and —cogitated.