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Show allee time ebly time somebody wane, want tea, then go milkee, milkee!" But the doctor smiled, and answered, good-humoredly: good-humoredly: "You're quite right, Hong. The goats do have a good deal to endure, but there don't seem to be any other way, as we can't keep a cow here." He was by this 'time out In the corral, cor-ral, where lay the patient animals toward to-ward which Hong seemed, for once, to feel so kindly. At sight of their master mas-ter they all three rose briskly and bounded toward him. Two leaped with their forefeet to his shoulder, while the third responded docilely to Hong's immediate, im-mediate, if reluctant, demand upon her. Mateo eagerly lapped the rich, warm milk, went peacefully to sleep, and, after some hours, woke another dog. He promptly settled down, without seeming to bother himself about any from his neck and, raising the dish, held it at such an angle as would permit per-mit Mat's lapping Its contents with his parched tongue. And what a touching picture the two did make! An official announced that the train was ready to start. "Tell them to hold it!" called back Alfredo's father, who was quite as Interested In-terested as his son in the dog. And when a full half-hour later the train did start it carried a passenger for whose transportation no plans had been made In the planning of the party. Upon the velvet cushien at the side of the beaming boy lay poor, weary, faithful Mat, sleeping peacefully. The weakness of childhood had succeeded suc-ceeded where the vigor of experience had quite failed. Sidney Boyne in Ledger Monthly. none the less felt this breaking of more recent ties. A shrill shriek of the high-pitched English engine gave the final warning, and Doctor Anstey was about to turn back to the carriage after seeing Doctor Doc-tor Lane on the train, when a subdued sub-dued whine attracted his attention. There stood the conductor kicking Mat from the edge of the platform, whence he had evidently meant to leap after his departing master. How the faithful creature had made his way thither by' devious paths through the narrow crowded streets must ever remain a mystery. He gently placed the tired, panting dog in the cab and drove back to Mon-serrat, Mon-serrat, bidding an attendant care for him till his return the next day. He had, however, again reckoned without his host. For no sooner did Mat find himself once more at liberty ! MATEO I Doctor Lane lived away up In the Andies, more than twelve thousand feet above the sea. He was a New .Englander, who, with several others of his profession, had come to this distant land in order to care for ' the sick connected with the great railway rail-way fast stretching itself upward from the coast. His home was a little house, with a roof of corrugated iron, that rattled when the wind blew. Separated from this abode by a swing-lug swing-lug foot-bridge across the torrent, was a long, low hospital, where lay the " patients who were the doctor's espe cial care. The doctor was one day jogging along upon the back of Zamba, his mule. She was a beautiful creature, with her glossy, mouse-colored skin, her slender flanks and narrow, well-set well-set head. He suddenly heard hoof-beats behind. be-hind. He removed his pipe and turned about in his saddle to see quite a cavalcade pressing up toward him on former home or master. He adopted the whole household, but reserved always al-ways special devotion for Doctor Lane. " 'Mateo' is altogether too much of a mouthful for me," said the doctor, some days after the dog's arrival; "and If he is to remain here I shall curtail it at once. 'Mat,' you are, , sir, henceforth in thfs AKtnhUKhmpnt. " in me uttgsage-i uum man ne proceea-ed proceea-ed to lie down upon the doctor's outfit Nor would he permit the near approach ap-proach of even Doctor Anstey, while he settled himself over all that remained re-mained of one he so dearly loved. With his head between his paws, he remained hour after hour, till the time came for closine. Mat blinked his eyes and wagged his tail in assent to the change. He not only responded to the abbreviation, but seemed to understand the English constantly spoken about him. He slept at the doctor's feet and awakened awaken-ed him on the slightest disturbance or the approach of any of the attendants. attend-ants. ' Time passed, and no word came of Mat's old owner. But the doctor did learn, soon after the passage of the party, that they were on their way to Jauja (pronounced How-hah). They were seeking that far-famed, lovely valley in the hope that there the pale mother of all those ruddy children j would forget to cough. ' Some eighteen months later Doctor Lane received news which led him to give up his position and return to his own country. He was going over the hospital for the last time, with his assistant, who was to be his successor, when the latter lat-ter abruptly said: "I suppose you'll leave me Mat along with the other animals?" At mention of his name, the devoted dog looked up and whined. "J. really believe he knows I'm going," go-ing," remarked Doctor Lane. "He doesn't seem himself a bit today. Of course I'll leave him, and you will be as good a master as I've tried to be to him. He'll soon come to care quite as much for you as he now does for me, and. like all .the rest of the world, in time will forget old friends. Won't you, old fellow? Poor old Mat! Poor There had been, apparently, no change when the station men sought him out in the morning. When touched by such display of devotion de-votion they tried to tempt his confidence confi-dence with food and drink, he again repeated his offensive demonstrations. "He's goin' to guard that outfit till the doctor comes to claim it! That's what he's got it in his head to do!" exclaimed ex-claimed the man to whom Doctor Anstey Ans-tey had entrusted him. "Well, I've got to get about my business," busi-ness," replied the doctor. "I have no choice but to go back up the road when this morning's train goes. I did hope to take the little fellow back with me." "Fact is," said the Yankee conductor, conduct-or, "the doctor ought to have taken the poor brute along with him. If he'd been mine, you wouldn't ever of ketched me leavin' such a lovin' friend behind, when the world ain't any too full of true friends at the best." Doctor Anstey made no audible reply re-ply to this remark, but in his heart he agreed with it Everybody about the station had become so interested in the case that they were glad to promise to look after the dog. : They assured Doctor Anstey, as he reluctantly departed, that the faithful creature would be made as comfortable as possible. But day after day passed with Mat obvious of surrounding events, except when threatened interference brought out a low growl from between the parphecMips Hp-wa3 becoming very thin from fasTingT" the bridle path. As, just here, this path made about all there was of level valley, with an almost vertical mountain moun-tain on one side and on the other the precipitous banks of the stream, the doctor perceived he must get on faster to avoid being perhaps crowded against the rocks or pushed over the verge. So he lightly pressed his jingling jin-gling spurs into the mule's sleek sides very lightly, you may be sure, for he loved the reliable animal and she at once responded by raising her head, shaking her long ears and breaking into a swinging pace. Without special guidance, Bhe turned into the smaller quebrada ,(as the people of those countries coun-tries call a mountain valley), where her rider abruptly wheeled about, bringing her to a full stop. Traveling was so difficult and expensive ex-pensive a matter that the few who did journey there were always regarded with the interest that even the smallest small-est event obtains in such an isolated community. So the doctor reined up his mule and waited for the riders behind. be-hind. It was a family party, doubtless bound across the summit to the country coun-try on the eastern and far more habitable habit-able slope of the Andes. There was the father, then the mother, and, behind be-hind them, came half a dozen children, all carefully mounted; while, still behind be-hind them, rode the attendants "necessary "neces-sary to suf h. a journey. Pack mules - -iM th luggage and mattresses, 1, ' other -co:nf)pts alwaxsl provided for mountain travel. Every 'one looked look-ed tired enough, but not half so tired ' ' as the small dog who limped at the aoggie! he continued. "It does seem a shame to leave you, but I can't take you with me all the same." "I'll take good care of him," said Doctor Anstey; "you may rest assured as-sured of that. But I doubt if it isn't a very long time before he gets to think even a quarter as much of me as he does of you." ( So saying, they passed out to mount their mules, for the ride of some miles, to the end of the track. "I didn't say good-bye to either the goats or Mat," confided the elder man to his companion, as they turned a bend in the road. "I really didn't have the courage. I got Hong to shut up the dog, so he shouldn't follow fol-low me. It would break me all up." Doctor Anstey turned in the saddle, but as far as he eould see there was no trace of a moving creature in the direction whence they had come. In front of the terminal station the little engine, La Favorita, with Its glass observation car, stood letting off steam. The officials whom it had brought up were inside the building, where they greeted the doctors with an invitation to accompany them down to Lima. Doctor Anstey happened to be the last of the party to leave La Favorita at Monserrat; the incoming trains on that road now run further down town, to Desemperados station, in Lima. As heturned he saw, to his great surprise, a little dog crawling from under a cushioned seat, his tail concealed between be-tween his hind legs and his head hanging hang-ing in shame-faced abasement. tie ii die at his post," said the man especially interested in him. Then a strange thing happened. ' A gentleman, one of the managers of the road, had organized an expedition in honor of a world-famous singer, then in the country for the first time. Like every other tourist, she wanted to see the wonderful railway built above the clouds. The manager, in order to make the trip a thoroughly enjoyable one, had invited a select party to accompany her, and their special train was to make stops at every ev-ery point of interest along the route. Among the company gathered at Monserrat awaiting the making up of the picnic train, was a little boy, a very little boy, the invalid only son of the manager, who had been Included In-cluded In the party because he had never yet seen the great work that demanded de-manded so much of his father's time and attention, and because the easy stages of this particular journey afforded af-forded an opportunity of sight-seeing without fatigue. "Oh, father, please let me see Mateo, if there is time?" Alfredo said. You see, everybody in Lima already knew about Mat His story had even got into the papers of that date. The father led the way to the baggage-room. "Oh!" uttered Alfredo softly, limping limp-ing at his father's hand, as he caught sight of the little animal, looking smaller than ever, in his now wasted condition. The tears stood in the blue eyes that had remained dry in the midst of his own suffering. He reached rear or tne wnoie party. When the last mule had passed this dog stopped, looked up and whined dismally. dis-mally. An arriero (mule driver) sharply called out to him: "Ven acay, Mateo! Oe, ven'aca!" But the animal, instead of obeying, lay down near Doctor Lane's mule, showed his double row of teeth to the Indian, and refused to budge. The arriero spoke even more crossly than before, then tried the opposite tactics by addressing him in a kind of coaxing coax-ing tone. This, however, succeeded no better. "Carramba! I'll leave him, then, to come along when he pleases, the brute!" He spurred his animal and galloped rapidly away. "That's a fine way to treat a poor, dumb beast, and a foot-sore one at that!" was the doctor's indignant comment, com-ment, as he dismounted. The man called him Mateo. "Come here, Mateo; come here, poor fellow!" But though his tone was kind the poor dog never stirred. The doctor smiled and said:, "Of course, he don't mind, because he can't understand me. I'll try the Spanish now and see if I have any better success. Ven aca, Mateo; por-recito;" por-recito;" Ah! Now Mateo feebly wagged his tumpy tail and wriggled an inch or so nearer his new friend. The latter met the prompt though weak advance by himself advancing and stooping to pat him on the head. "He's quite done up!" he muttered, as the dog made a perceptibly great effort to lick hlaf extended hand. He ' , "Why, Mat, how did you get out and follow us, and secrete yourself here, I'd like to know? But what can I do with you now?" said the doctor quickly. quick-ly. "Poor Mat! But your master can't stay with you, all the same, poor, naughty doggie!" He turned to give some instructions about the disposition of his saddle and trappings, which a station employe was to care for until they could be sold. As he spoke he saw Doctor Anstey quietly lift the little animal up and bestow him in the agent's inner room doubtless with the intention of coming back to claim him, when he should start in the morning on his return re-turn trip up the road. All arrangements once completed, Dr. Lane was driven rapidly across the city to the train that was to bear him to Callao, the port of embarkation, eight miles away. His heart was full, for, though he looked forward with 1 keen pleasure as who does not? to again seeing friends of his youth, he ' out nis hand to pat the dog when some one spoke up quickly from behind: "Don't let him touch the creature." "The poor, wee beast is too weak to try to bite now, sir!" quickly replied re-plied the employe. Alfredo's father, who could not resist re-sist any reasonable wish of his afflicted af-flicted child, lifted him nearer still, so that he might creep in between Mat's paws. The boy lightly laid his fair, curly head upon the poor, tired dog's back. Everybody held his breath, for, in spite of the stationman's reassurance, many felt i a dangerous experiment. Presently, to their surprise, the dry lips opened, not to snap or snarl, but to softly lick the tender hand caressing them. Then the tail wagged feebly, and Alfredo called out: "Bring some milk, quickly!" Wonder of wonders! When the saucer sau-cer appeared Mat made two Ineffectual efforts to rise. Then he thrust out his head toward the drink before him. Alfredo promptly detached his arms iooKea up, to perceive Zamba making off at the top of her speed for the house so tantalizingly near. "Nobody seems to miss the dog, at least nobody seems to be coming back for him," pursued Doctor Lane, shad-v shad-v lng his eyes from the piercing sunshine, sun-shine, as he gazed up along the road. "I cannot leave the poor brute here to die, as he seems more than likely to do. I'll take him myself, and if he lives and is ever hunted up, why, I'll restore the stolen property right off." So saying, he gently lifted the suffering suf-fering creature and carried him home. Mateo seemed to grasp the situation at once, even trying to curlj himself up in comfortable dog-fashion, when deposited on the foot of the doctor's own bed. Hong, at once the doctor's cook and tyrant, grumbled, In Chinese, as he aw this performance. And when asked for a dish of milk for the new arrival, he grunted and mumbled OBMthing about "the goats milkee |