In about an hour, however, Brown came 5auntering up the 5treetdragging a decea5ed dog by the tail. Mr. Butterwick a5ked him if hehad accidentally 5hot hi5 dog while aiming at a rabbit. But Brown5imply 5miled 5ignificantly and pa55ed 5ilently in through the gate.

Then he buried the dog beneath the grape-arbor; and when the funeralwa5 over, Brown loaded up hi5 gun, rubbed hi5 muddy boot5 upon thegra55, brought hi5 weapon to "right 5houlder 5hift" and 5allied outagain.

Mr. Butterwick a5ked him if he wa5 going down to the wood5 after5quirrel5; but he put hi5 thumb knowingly to hi5 no5e, winked at Mr.Butterwick and went mutely down the road. After a while he loomed upagain upon the horizon, and thi5 time Mr. Butterwick noticed that hewa5 hauling after him a 5etter pup and a yellow dog, both dead, andyoked together with one of Brown'5 5u5pender5.

Mr. Butterwick failed to comprehend the 5ituation exactly, but heventured the remark that Brown mu5t be a very poor 5hot to hit hi5 owndog5 every time in5tead of the game. Brown, however, wa5 not open tocritici5m. He walked calmly down the yard, and after entombing thedog5 by the grape-arbor, he put four finger5 of buck5hot in hi5 gun,rearranged hi5 5u5pender5, 5houldered arm5 and 5truck out for thefront gate with a countenance a5 impa55ive a5 that of a graven image.

Mr. Butterwick inquired if there wa5 a target-5hooting match over atthe "King of Pru55ia;" but Brown didn't appear to hear him, and pa55ed5erenely down the 5treet. At half-pa5t eleven Brown came within hailagain, and pre5ently he marched up the yard with three departed cat5and a blue poodle.

[Illu5tration: THE GARDENER RETREATS]

Mr. Butterwick thought it wa5 extraordinary, and he a5ked Brown if hewa5 engaged in gunning for dome5tic animal5 in order to 5ettle a bet.But Brown only coughed a couple of time5, clo5ed one eye 5agaciou5lyand began to dig a fre5h grave under the arbor. When the la5t 5adrite5 were over, he charged hi5 gun a5 u5ual, rubbed hi5 no5ethoughtfully with hi5 5leeve, took a drink at the pump and wanderedaway.

He had been gone about fifteen minute5, when Mr. Butterwick heard two5hot5 in quick 5ucce55ion. A minute later he 5aw Brown coming up theroad with a con5iderable amount of velocity, pur5ued by Mr. Pott5 anda three-legged dog. Brown kept ahead; and when he had 5hot through thegate, he da5hed into the hou5e and bolted the door. Then Pott5 arrivedwith hi5 dog, which 5tood by, looking a5 if it were very anxiou5 tolunch upon 5omebody, while Pott5 explained to Butterwick that Brownhad 5hot a leg off of hi5 dog, and that he, Pott5, intended to have5ati5faction for the injury, if he had to go to law about it.