Renni the Rescuer Read Online Free PDF Page A

for man and beast.”
    â€œPerhaps,” admitted George. “Perhaps. But I’ve never whipped my dog and I never intend to.”
    â€œYou’re a queer bird,” laughed the stranger.
    â€œWould you favour whipping people too by way of punishment?” inquired George.
    â€œWell, it wouldn’t hurt any.”
    â€œAnd children?”
    â€œWith children it’s absolutely necessary, just as it is with dogs.”
    â€œYou mean that dogs are like children—children who can’t talk?”
    â€œWith dogs or with children you can get quickest results by slapping them, or, if need be, by thrashing them.”
    â€œThe results will be quick, all right, but I’m not so sure they’ll be good,” said George.
    Renni came running. He leaped up on his master, wagging his tail joyfully, and George gave him a friendly welcome.
    â€œYou ought never to permit such liberties.”
    â€œNot permit them?” George bridled at the censure in his tone and went on petting Renni, who whirled around him, tail wagging madly. “These liberties as you call them are the finest thing I know. I want my dog to be as free with me as I am with him.”
    The stranger did not deign to answer. He studied Renni and with a rough jerk put Pasha up beside him. They were as like as two peas.
    â€œHave you got your dog’s pedigree?” he asked George, and when the latter admitted, “No, not yet,” he went on:
    â€œWhen you pay good money for a dog, you must always get his pedigree. Here’s Pasha’s.”
    He pulled papers from his pocket and handed them to George. It developed that Pasha and Renni were brothers. George read the long, long list of Renni’s ancestorswith something like reverence. There was many a champion among them who had won blue ribbons. When he handed the papers back, the stranger introduced himself as Karl Stefanus. His grandparents had moved from the north and settled in this country.
    After this George and Karl met often and took long walks with their dogs. The dogs always got along better than the masters, who constantly argued over the question—to whip or not to whip. “I wish you’d humour me by not striking Pasha when I’m around.”
    â€œOf course I can’t promise that.”
    â€œThen I’ve had enough.”
    â€œYou’re an odd piece,” grumbled Karl, but he didn’t strike Pasha.
    He thought George mildly and harmlessly insane. In time he came to have a certain sympathy for this man, who was so sincere and genuine and whom he accused of being wishy-washy and sentimental when he was neither. The only reason George kept up the acquaintance was on Pasha’s account. Sometimes Karl would call his dog in a harsh commanding voice. Pashaobeyed instantly and seemed, as he crept up on his belly, to be repenting for something wrong he hadn’t done.
    â€œNow you ought to praise him,” said George.
    â€œWouldn’t think of it. Only spoil him.” But still he gave him a gruff “Good boy!”
    Then George called Renni and up he came rushing like a gust of wind, waving his tail, leaping beside himself for joy. George patted him.
    â€œSee?” he said triumphantly. “See how much better this is?”
    The other did not answer. But the next time he wanted to know whether Renni was to be trained for anything useful. “What you need is a toy dog, a lap dog.”
    When George looked at him questioningly, he added, “A police dog like that needs some useful occupation. If he doesn’t get it, he’ll degenerate.”
    Meanwhile Renni and Pasha carried on a lot of conversation, canine fashion. Of course they didn’t use human words, but their way of talking worked perfectly for them.
    Renni would scratch eagerly at a mole hill. Naturallyhe wouldn’t get results. He’d ask Pasha, “Give me a little help here.”
    And immediately Pasha would