The Reformed Showman

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twenty of Boy the Wandering Dog. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
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Recording by Mary Maxwell. Boy the Wandering Dog by Marshall Saunders,
Chapter twenty. King Harry, as he said, had never been

(00:25):
trained as his grandmother was, for he had been stolen
when he was a puppy, but he inherited enough trailing
instinct to do pretty good amateur work, and we dogs
were always setting him tasks and were surprised at his
cleverness in picking up a trail. One night, shortly after
my conversation with him about his grandmother, we gave him
something to do for our owners. We thought at first

(00:47):
that there was going to be a serious case, but
in the long run it turned out more happily than
we thought it would. It was about ten o'clock on
a fine spring evening. There'd been a lot of cold
weather when suddenly this glory day burst upon us like
a harbinger of spring. Everybody had been out of doors
all day long, and Master and Mistress sat on the

(01:08):
front veranda, too contented to go to bed little stars
peeped timidly from a somewhat misty sky, and the river
babbled happily of even warmer days to come and summer
delights of flowers and songs. Where the birds were beginning
to return from King Harry's sunny south. Master sat in
a big chair, Mistress was swinging in a hammock. A

(01:29):
Mailla was cuddled in her arms. I lay under the hammock.
King Harry was sprawled on the gravel walk below, and Cannie,
the dandy dinmont terrier, had gone down to the river
to get a drink. We had steps down to the
pond near the house where the goldfishes were, but he
never would drink from the place where those yellow things lived,
as he called mistresses Japanese beauties. The night was very still,

(01:52):
and presently I heard Canny's soft patties coming back pit
a pat with excitement. King Harry didn't notice this. The
good dog depends more on his nose than his ears
and eyes. Perhaps from having been with human beings so much,
I see and hear more quickly than most dogs. Something
was the matter with Canny, that was one thing sure.
I ran down the veranda steps and put my muzzle

(02:14):
close to his. Lie down and out with it, I said.
He flopped on the gravel beside King Harry. Now our
heads were altogether the bloodhounds dome, my sloping head and
strong muscular jaws and Canny's hairy nose. Something's gone wrong,
he said, with his strong Scottish accent. I was wandering
down yond by the Alders, near the river when I

(02:35):
heard a furious noise of something being driven hard. It
was an automobile coming from New York Way. It stopped
short when it got near me and turned in among
the Alders. I scampered out of the way, and a
man hid it in off the road. Then he sprang
out and tore up across the turnip field toward Gringo's house.
I was too far off to smell him, but I

(02:56):
got a very uneasy impression. He stopped and bo dogs
looked at me. I had been with the Granton's longer
than they had, and they were waiting for my advice.
I was puzzled. If it were an ordinary case of
big country houses and rich people, I said, I would
imagine it an attempt at burglary. But you say the

(03:16):
man was alone, stark alone, said Canny, and he left
his car there. Yes, down yond, said the little dog,
nodding toward pleasant River. You see, I went on, Master
and Mistress, and the bonstones haven't anything worth stealing, but
grandfather's clocks and pianos and old furniture. They've given away
jewelry and silver and anything that would tempt their fellow men. However,

(03:39):
it's our duty to investigate. Lead on Canny. He galloped
ahead with King Henry, and I paused an instant and listened. Rudolf,
my mistress was just saying, I'm sleepy. I think I'll
go to bed. Very well, darling, he replied, and he
got up and helped her out of the hammock and
opened the screen door for her. I think I will

(04:00):
sit awhile longer, he said, as he kissed her. I
have a little business to plan out, and I have
been keeping you from it by my chattering. She said,
why did you not ask me to keep still? Because
I preferred pleasure to business, he said gallantly, and she
laughed and went to bed. That just suited me. She
would be out of the way if we wanted. Master

(04:21):
and he was sure to sit for a while, for
he was a most scrupulous man about keeping his word,
even to himself. I raced after my dog brothers. The
night did not seem as dark as to human beings.
Canny was on his hind legs peering into the car,
and King Harry was up on the seat, snuffing and
blowing over a pair of driving gloves. I stood and

(04:41):
listened for a minute. What an exquisite night. The lovely,
misty sky spread above us was serene and comforting. The
great dark earth was warm and palpitating. One could hear
things growing. Talk about the quiet of the country. This
country just talked when a dog had ears to hear.
The tiny growing leaves of the trees had one language,

(05:03):
the grass had another. There was no mistake about the
joy of the frogs. They were simply yelling with delight
to think that summer was coming just here. King Harry
jumped down. I needn't have stayed so long, he said,
but I wanted to do some fine work. What have
you found out, I asked, Your eyes are blazing. It's
that demon Fife's son, he said. No trouble to find

(05:25):
his scent. But I wish to know whether he's after
good or evil. I hear. He's reformed, I said, and
is doing well in a garage on Broadway. I hate him,
said King Harry. I suppose it's wrong, but it will
take years for me to get over my resentment toward him.
He never hurt me much. I had simply to draw
a wagon on the stage, but it used to make
my blood boil to see him flog that small amarilla.

(05:47):
Never mind that, now, old man, I said, tell us
what you've discovered. When a man is in a furious
rage and about to commit a crime, said the hound,
A strong acrid smell emanates from him. Those are damp
and excited as to scent, but not criminal. I guess
Fife's in this here on business. Maybe it's good business,

(06:08):
I said, We cannot tell, said the little Scotch dog, cautiously.
For what did he hide its car? I suspicioned who
it was, but didn't care to tell till I was sure.
Come on, I said, let's follow him. King Harry put
his old muzzle to the ground, but before he did so,
he said, of course i'll follow mute. I nodded my head,

(06:29):
and we started off up the road, going not very fast,
as King Harry was not an expert trailer. He nosed
to and fro and Canny said, impatiently, I tell you, man,
he crossed the turnip field. I'm not going to be lifted,
said King Harry, stubbornly. You never indicate to a hound
the direction in which his quarry has gone. I'm doing
this anyway. Kindly hold your tongue. The abashed Canny slumped

(06:54):
behind me, and we went up across the turnip field
in King Harry's good time, down to the hollow where
the long meadow grass grew across it, through the pine
wood belonging to us, and into the pasture belonging to
mister Bonstone. The sweet wild grass was soft to our paws,
and we skipped over the many rocks sticking their ribs
up through the ground. We cantered easily along, and King

(07:15):
Harry took us to a path leading to the young
orchard at Green Hill, then to an asphalt walk that
ran from the house down to the electric car track
in the road. This walk was for the convenience of
the farm hands when they wanted to take the car
to the city. The men would start out from their
rooms over the stables with nicely blackened shoes, and Missus
Bonstone had suggested that this walk be made so they

(07:36):
could arrive in the city with smart looking feet. Well,
King Harry soon had us in the vicinity of the stables.
This meant that all the Bonstone tribe of dogs had
to have a muzzle in the affair, though we would
just as soon have worked the thing alone. Sir Walter
Scott was the first to challenge us. Woo wooh, we
heard in his deep growl as he lay crouched behind

(07:57):
an outm tree. As quick as a flash, his tone changed.
Our scent had been borne on the night air. You
ran to meet us, nosing hurriedly to find out what
this late visit meant. While wow came from the stables
in Yegi's sharp voice, and without waiting for Joe to
wake and let him out, he took a flying leap
through the open window to the roof of the harness
room and came limping to greet us. Shut up, I said, irritably,

(08:22):
why don't you wait and think before you bark? YEGI
always barks first and thinks afterwards, said the little dog,
And he licked my ears so humbly that I had
to forgive him. Tsareena came among us like a silent shadow,
and perked her long muzzle at me. What's the matter,
she said, Good London, he's off, I replied inelegantly. All
the King's horses and all the King's men can't turn

(08:44):
King Harry from his trail. Now we've got to trail him,
said Sarina, for he's out of sight, and she put
her muzzle to the ground. I think I'll stay with
the hens, said Sir Walter, sitting down outside his kennel.
Betsy's in there, and she's fussing, for she can't see
well at night dark. If you want me, what's up?
Asked weary Weennie sleepily. She was always the last to arrive,

(09:06):
and now she stood blinking drowsily at us and wrinkling
her nose more than ever. We're man trailing, I said,
come on, youngster, and off I started. By this time
every dog had caught the scent of Kifesen, and they
were a mad looking lot. If they had followed the
natural impulses of their plain dog hearts, I think they
would have liked to tear that man to pieces that

(09:26):
quiet summer night. But they were trained animals, and each
one knew if they dared hurt so much as a
hair of his wicked head, they would be severely called
to account by mister Bonstone. So merely growling unutterable things
they all pressed on. Suddenly we brought up short near
the house. There had been an old well in the
place for a long time, it was strange to say,

(09:48):
close to the front door of the present house, which
was built in a slightly different place from the old farmhouse.
The well had been built over, and a bird's bath
tub was on the top of it, surrounded by a
clump of ringe of bushes, so the pretty feathered things
could bathe in the privacy that they love as much
as human beings. The brutes in there hissed, canning between
the two broken off teeth knocked out by the amiable Pifsen.

(10:12):
At that instant, I felt a soft impact against my throat,
and mighty glad I was that I stood on good
terms with Gringo. The old fellow had slipped down from
his master's bedroom by the winding staircase that led from
an upper to a lower veranda. Mister Bonstone never shut
up by night or by day. The best friend he had.
He was at liberty to roam all over the farm

(10:33):
if he wished. Gringo's old lay back nose wasn't as
good as mine, but he felt that friends were abroad,
and he was right on the spot to help us
if necessary. Is Feifsen, I said, I might have known
he was near, for Amilla has been trembling all day.
She's as sensitive as a baby. What's up with Fifson,
asked Ringo. I guess he's all right, I said, but

(10:54):
we're watching he's in that syringe bush. Well. There we
sat for a short time, King Han, Gringo, Czarina, Canny yedgy, weary,
winny in myself the Frenchman didn't turn out. The air
was so clear that we could hear every word spoken
on the veranda. Though it was late. A neighbor and
his wife were calling on the bonstones, and we could
hear the clink of glass as bottles and glasses touched

(11:16):
each other. A shudder ran through the Fifes and dogs.
They all hated the sight and sound of a bottle,
for it was when their master was drunk that he
beat them most. A thought came to me, I whispered
to Canny, come on home with me, and followed by him,
and taking the shortest cut known to us dogs, we
just galloped back to the Pleasant River house. Master was

(11:38):
still dreaming on the veranda. Stay here and watch the house.
I said to Canny, I'm going to take him back
with me. It was the work of an instant to
spring at Master's arm and look at him with my
most burning glance. All right, old fellow, he said, I'll
go with you. He turned round, glanced at Kenny, who
was sitting close to the door, not very well pleased
at being left out of the fun. Then ran, actually

(12:01):
ran to the garage with me, for he saw the
occasion required haste, and got out his new French racing car.
I sprang to the seat, barked in the direction of Greenhill,
and in a few minutes we streaked up in front
of the Bonstone's house. The callers departed when Master arrived.
Gringo said they had been there for an age. Master
sat down, and the Bonstones began talking to him, but

(12:23):
he didn't say much. He kept looking at me, and
presently I led the way to the syringe of bushes.
He saw the dogs sitting round and said in a
low voice Hello, Hello, there, come out, whoever you are,
I thought to myself, Master is a clever man. The
Bonstones are clever people. But not one of them knows

(12:43):
what we dogs have since, namely that there is a
man in the bushes, and we know all about him
except his business here, which, however, we are sure is
of a pacific nature and not criminal. And some people
say dogs are not clever. The bushes parted and Fifeson
came out, looking very hot and sticky. He is a
weasel faced little man with that appearance. I don't see

(13:06):
how he can be a decent chap, but he's making
a brave fight for it. I hated him almost as
much as the other dogs, and with a growl, I
stepped aside for him to pass me. I did not
want the brute to touch me. Keeping close at Master's heels,
I listened to hear what Pifson had to say. For himself.
I say, sir, he said, in a low, almost agonized voice,

(13:26):
for heaven's sake, send mister Bonstone down here, and don't
tell his wife who it is. It might cost me
my life, sir, it might all right, said my master.
Don't be scared. Only the dogs know and they won't peach.
Pifson had seen us. He knew that though the dogs
hated him, they would not hurt him. He had been
their master, even in the midst of his perturbations. He

(13:48):
clicked his dry tongue and snapped his fingers at his
old victims. Not one of them would go near him.
Weary Winnie made a kind of shuffle toward him, but
Gringo growled at her and kept her from carrying out
her impulse. The dogs wouldn't hurt him, but they wouldn't
forgive him. I ran after Master to the veranda. Norman,
he said carelessly to his friend, a man has come

(14:08):
from New York to see you on special business. He
doesn't want his presence known. Just step down to the
syringes and speak to him. Missus Bonstone is a very
clever woman. She gave Master a quick look, and, catching
up her little silk wrap, said good night. I'm going
to bed. As soon as she was gone, mister Bonstone
brought Pifeson up on the veranda and gave him something

(14:29):
to drink. He gulped down his ginger ale in a
flash and said a few hasty words. His breath was
nearly all gone for the night was warm, and he
had rushed up hill part of the way. However, he
had had time to recover himself in the bushes. I
think perhaps it was fear that made him hot. You
know Jones's big jewelry store down town, he said to

(14:49):
mister Bonstone in a low voice. Mister Bonstone nodded. Fifeson
pulled his chair further in the shadow of the wall.
I say, turn out some of the lights, won't you.
Master jumped up and turned out every one, while the
man went on whispering to mister Bonstone, it's going to
be broken into at two o'clock to night. I believe
you set Jones up after he failed. Mister Bonstone nodded again.

(15:13):
I knew you had big money in it. Phifes gasped.
Get to town quick, get a friend to make the
police wise, don't go to headquarters yourself. You did me
a good turn. I thought i'd stand by you. Thanks,
said mister Bonstone briefly. Shall I go back in your car?
Oh lord no, said the poor wretched in agony. I
may get shot for this anyway. He was breaking away

(15:36):
when mister Bonstone caught him. How did you find out
was in the garage under a car. Two gangsters came
in to hire an auto. I caught a clue and
followed it up. He paused, in some embarrassment. Mister Bonstone said,
all right, go, I'm the blog. Fifeson shot out into
the night, and not a dog followed him this time.

(15:56):
Mister Bonstone turned to my master. Fifson has had dealings
with the underworld that he doesn't want to reveal. Now,
how am I to get to town? I'll take him
in the racer, said Master, pointing to his French car.
I'll say a word to Stana, said mister Bonstone, and
he was leaping upstairs, calling over his shoulder Czarina. Czarina
told me afterward that mister Bonstone shot into his wife's

(16:18):
bedroom exclaimed, I'm going to town. We'll explain later. Keep
the hen with you for company. Everything's all right, but
dress yourself and telephone Thomas to take you over to Claudia.
Tell her Rudolph is with me. I'll be back in
a few hours. Not a word to a soul about
the man who was here, Czarina said. Missus Bonstone smiled brightly,

(16:38):
never asked a question. Motored over to my dear Mistress's
house told her the two men had gone off to
the city, probably on one of their errands of mercy.
I think Mistress was a little worried, for Czarina says.
She called for Canny, King Harry and myself to watch
in the house till Master returned. She got King Harry
and Canny, but not your humble servant, for I had

(17:00):
first in the car and was flying to New York
on the wings of the wind. The car is a beauty,
and as there were few machines on the road, Master
didn't trouble about the speed limit. We didn't go quite
into the city. We stopped at the Johnson's, where Louis
and I had had the adventure in saving Lady Serena
Glandensen from drowning. Mister Johnson, fortunately was just getting home

(17:21):
from his club in his own car. A few words
to him from Master, and he went back to the
city to put detectives on the track of the wicked
young burglars who were going to steal mister Johnson's diamonds.
The burglary didn't come off, two men were caught and
sent to sing sing, though one escaped, and best of all,
Phison's connection with the affair was never suspected, as if
he had been managed in such a roundabout way. Phipson

(17:45):
went on from better to best, and now he is
chauffeur for a millionaire, and we dogs often seen driving
about in a smart maroon livery and with a smile
of smug respectability on his weezel face. I hear he
has just married a very respectable Norwegian girl. I don't
believe he told her his past. The millionaire's dog told
Gringo that if any woman could keep a man straight,

(18:06):
it would be that light haired Norwegian Anna. Women seem
to have a great deal of influence over men. I
suppose if all the women in the world were good,
there would be no bad men. I heard Mistress talking
to Master about his hurried trip that night, and she
was gently trying to find out what it had all
been about. I can't tell you names, dearest, He said,

(18:26):
it might cost a man his life. I will merely
say that a man whom I began to help and
who was taken hold of by Bonstone, later did him
a good turn and saved him some money. Everybody seems
to be half good and half bad, said missus Granton
with a puzzled face. Every One said Master emphatically, and
it goes to prove that we should all go through

(18:47):
life with an infinite pity for everyone, including ourselves. End
of chapter twenty