The years rolled on. At last the children were grown and ready for
college, and in the fall Ralph was to go to a university. Mabel was to
attend another school.
Pete was conscious that something was about to happen. His master would
pat him lovingly on the head, and then slip an arm around his neck.
Then he would begin talking about going away, saying, “Well, old pal,
how are we going to stand this? Do you think you will miss me?”
Pete would kiss his young master, dog-fashion; then he would lie down
at his feet in the most devoted way.
The university to which Ralph was going was not a great distance, sixty
miles or a little further, from his home. A trip was taken to make
arrangements about entering. Peter, much to his delight, was allowed to
go with his master in the automobile.
He took an inventory of the place where they went. Nothing escaped
him. There seemed to be some dogs at this school. At least, he saw
several following the young men students, and it certainly was an ideal
place for a dog to be. Storing all these things in his mind, Pete
returned to his home, somewhat more reconciled to have Ralph go from
him, as he concluded that all was for the best.
Soon preparations were completed, and Ralph was ready to leave, this
time by train. Peter went to the depot with the rest of the family to
see his master off. Ralph was very brave, for he wanted to show that
he was now a man, and he thought any show of emotion was womanish. He
bade everyone farewell. Last of all, he patted his dog affectionately,
saying, “Well, good-by, old pal.”
All went well for a month or so. Pete would wander around as if looking
for something, but he seemed to be taking his loss in a sensible way.
Then, one morning, he was missing. Nowhere could he be found. Search
and the offer of rewards failed to bring him back. He was given up
as lost. The family came to the conclusion that Pete had either been
stolen or struck by an automobile. Then a letter came from Ralph, in
which he wrote: “Whom should I see on the campus one day, when I was
returning from class, but good old Pete?”
Maybe you think that was not a joyous meeting! Ralph did not tell
all in his letter, but his mother read between the lines, and knew
there were some tears shed. Ralph was feeling some of the pangs of
homesickness that a certain little puppy once had felt, and the dog
understood and sympathized.
Ralph by this time was comfortably established in a fraternity house,
where there were other boys with their dogs, and Peter was at once made
a member of the group. Almost any day Ralph could be seen crossing the
campus, his arms full of books, with Pete trotting along at his heels.
These were happy days for the dog. The boy, too, seemed to be perfectly
contented, now that his faithful friend was with him.
Pete seemed to understand that his remaining at college all depended
upon his good behavior, so he carried himself with dignity. He never
chased squirrels and never frightened the children who came on the
campus to play. He was polite, and moved off the sidewalk to let the
ladies pass, showing in many ways that he had come from a good home,
where the training had been of the right kind.
Ralph was elected to play on the ball team. Pete had not forgotten the
times back home on the sand lot, when he had helped his master win many
a game, so he was on hand to do his bit on these occasions. However, he
was not so young as he used to be and he was not so agile in bringing
back the ball. As the other members of the team who had dogs thought
they could get along without his help, Pete had to be tied up when a
game was on, much to his chagrin.
Ralph, who had been one of the best players on the high school squad,
was given a place on the team when the football season commenced. All
went well until one day, when there was a close game with another
university, Ralph was injured. The track was wet and slippery, and
Ralph’s ankle turned, throwing him and wrenching his back.
This unfortunate accident kept Ralph confined to his room, and on his
back for some time. But for Peter, he would have spent many lonely
hours before he could again go to classes. The dog would lie on the rug
in front of the gas stove, where he could keep one eye on his beloved
master.
On the night of the oratorical contest all of the boys were gone, and
Ralph and Pete were alone in the house. Having read until he was tired,
Ralph closed his eyes, and soon he was sound asleep. Pete was lying in
his customary place before the stove. The door leading out into the
corridor was open; also one leading onto the fire escape. Suddenly
Peter began barking and pulling at the covering on Ralph, who awakened
to find himself nearly suffocated by smoke that filled the house.
Ralph realized that the house was on fire, and felt his helplessness,
as he was not yet able to walk since his accident; but something must
be done, and quickly. Dragging himself off the couch, he managed to get
his arm around the dog’s neck, and in this way the two of them made
their way through the smoke to the fire escape. From there, Ralph gave
the alarm and was rescued, just as the walls crumbled. The fire had
made such headway that nothing could save the house. Had it not been
for this prince among dogs, Ralph’s life would have gone out while he
slept. Susie and Shep had sown good seed when they taught Peter that
bravery was a good trait for a dog to have.
Peter was growing old. There was no doubt about it; he was getting
stiff in his joints, and his hearing was not so good. When he was
alone, he found it difficult to keep from being struck by the
automobiles, whose careless drivers had no regard for life of either
dog or child, but would come tearing along at reckless speed.
One day Pete was crossing to the campus, when a car came in sight. It
was one of those that college boys seem to enjoy driving more than any
other kind, a rickety old bus, without top and not much else but wheels
and an engine. In this semblance of a car were as many boys as it would
hold. They were having a hilarious time, returning from a game.
There was so much noise, as they went zig-zagging through the street,
that poor Pete became confused and was caught under the wheels of
this death trap. Thus a precious life went out. This was the closing
of a career of one of the most faithful of God’s creatures in the
animal kingdom. He was one who laid no claim to anything but ordinary
ability, natural instincts, and a reaction to kind treatment that paid
a hundredfold.
Ralph felt his loss so keenly that, after laying Peter’s broken body
away, he conceived the idea of writing a book about dogs. He would
depict only the good qualities or instincts, which, if developed,
would make even yellow mongrels into decent dogs. To the memory of
his beloved Peter he would dedicate a collection of really good and
true stories, with the hope that other boys would derive, from the
companionship and knowledge of dogs, such inspiration as had helped
to develop his own character, making him an ardent defender of all
faithful creatures.
So this is how _The Tattlers_ came to be written.
[Illustration: Pixie and Bob]