The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-08-19
n marched Sam, holding chicken by

Every one in that room was dumb.
founded, for they had no idea that the
cat would accomplish the bidding of his
master.
"Sam, one is not enough we must
have another. BE good fellow and
get it for u.s." said the stranger, as he
again opened the door for the cat to go
out.
The company had not been done ex-
pressing their astonishment at the
wonderful knowledge of the feline, ere
he returned once more with another fine
pullet.
"You are 3 noble fellow, and deserve
something, and blame if you shan't
have the heads of both them birds. In
the meantime, you had better lay down
in front of the fire and dry yourself, or
you will have a bad cold in the morn
ing"
The cat walked to the hearth corner
and quietly coiled himself up and was
soon fast asleep. The stealing of the
Colonefs chickens evidently pleased the
landlord greatly, for he Immediately
brought out his jug and brewed large
pitcher of punch and invited us all to
partake of it. We drank punch, told
stories and sung songs for two or three
hours, and then went to bed, and when
we separated, the stranger took his cat
with him. The chickens were given to
the cook, who served them up the next
morning for breakfast, being careful to
burn the feathers and such portions as
could not be cooked to prevent detec-
ton, should guard be sent around for
the purpose Of hunting for the thieves.
AT the time | write of, the soldiers had
but recently been paid off, and every
house in the town was gambling house
and liquor saloon, and three-fourths of
those in or about the town were gam
bler5 by profession. Entering one of
these saloons the afternoon following
the eve as above narrated, | found the
! stranger seated behind table, upon
which was piled several hundred dol
lars in gold and silver coin, a number
Of packs Of cards, and by them was ly-
ing the cat. l invited the stranger to
take drink, anu he got up and accom-
panied me to the bar, but AS he did so,
he said:
"Sam, keep a sharp lookout, or some
of the cash will be nipped."
We stood at the bar some minutes,
waiting our turn to be served, when we
were suddenly startled by yell of ag-
ony. Turning around, we observed a
soldier dancing around the room with
the cat clinging to his hand. The stran
ger jumped forward, and catching the
soldier by the throat, said:
"fou have been trying to steal same
thing from my table"
"No, haven't" was the dogged re-
ply.
"You can't deceive me. What is that
you have in your hand. A twenty dol
lar piece, as sure as live. Give it up, -
and he took double eagle from the SOL
dier's hand, and giving him kick, sent
him headlong into the street.
at won't do to try to steal anything
from me while Sam is on guard. We
do all the stealing that is done, don't
to the bar to obtain the drink which
had been compounded for him, while
the cat jumped on the table and resumed
his position rs guard over his masters
| treasure.
Having taken his drink, the stranger
| l.; lnI, III col Ia MI
very quickly began to deal monte to a
crowd who collected around him
Several days passed away before | saw
the stranger again, although | heard of
fact, Sam and his tricks had become the
top pic of conversation in camp. He was
as faithful as dog, and followed his
master wherever he went. The dogs at
first manifested disposition to pitch
into him, but, unlike other cats, he
would not run, and he had a trick of
leaping upon their backs and seizing
! hold of them with his teeth, and reach
ing for their eyes with his sharp claws.
He would whip the largest dog in the
camp in less time than it takes to say
Jack Robinson, and after he had de.
feated several of the largest and tlercest
he was let alone and given a wide berth
by the remainder of the CANNES.
This cat was a strange fellow. lie
would pay no attention to any one but
his master, whom he would follow like
a spaniel. He would suffer anybody to
to stroke his back, but it was utterly i'm
possible to get him to recognize any act
whatever. He was always at the gamb-
ling table, apparently acting as "look-
out" for If any one attempted to- pick
up what was known among gamblers as
q "sleeper," he would pounce upon and
give them tas te Of the quality of his
teeth, but if they attended to their own
money, Sam was perfectly quiet.
Some three months after the first APP
pearance of the gambler at the camp,
with his cat, an awful tragedy took
place. The gambler had been having a
remarkable run of good luck, and had
won somewhere between twenty-five
and thirty thousand dollars. This he
had changed from coin into demands
on the United States Treasury, for con.
venience, and declared that he was so,
ing to leave the country. Times were
getting dull. The soldiers had spent all
the money they had, and it had gradu.
ally found its way into the hands of q
few persons, and they were not going to
run the risk Of losing it at the gambling
table; therefore, the gamblers werC
having rough times, and one by one
they were leaving and seeking other re
gions. The owner of the cat announced
his intention of going to Pixies Peak
where there was prospect of lively