Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-07-10
A Nice Watch Dog.

One Hiram Ripley, of Detroit, a
teamster by profession, had been
thinking he ought to have a good
watch dog around the house and barn.
as his wife vas much of the time alone;
and as bad boys frequently raided his
barn for old junk. So the other day
when farmer came along with a big
brindle dog under his wagon and
wanted to sell him for FIVE dollars Rip
ley criticised the canine, inquired as to
his merits, and said it was a trade
He tied the dog up iu a WoOdshed; fed
him bountifully, and he went into the
country aftersa load of potatoes with
a light heart, believing that no human
being could come 70 oling around his
house and live long. He was gone
over night, and it was afternoon Fri
day before he returned homo. He
drove up to the barn and went in by
the door to throw open the big doors.
He bad just got on the main floor
when buzz saw began ripping up and
buzz saw, but it wasn't, it was that
Watchdog of his. Mrs Ripley, desir-
ing to go off to a relatives, had turn
cd the dog INTO the barn, and he was
watching, as was his business. Rip
ley yelled: "Oh! hokey to saltpeter,"
as he felt the grinding at his leg, and
he made long skip into corner, and
faced about and saw the dog The
old canine deliberately picked the
wooden and flesh out of his teeth, and
was then ready for business. His
eyes were fixed on Ripley's lower vest
button, his stump tail stood up
straight, and his fore legs had an un-
easy motion, as if they wanted to reach
out after something.
''Nice old fellowp' began Ripley,
thinking to beguile the dog; "good
doggy-nice doggy-don't you know
me!'
The dog seemed to have heard the
voice before, and he sat down and lost
a little of his fierce look. This en-
couraged Ripley, and he started to go
out, but he had taken but few steps
when the dog took half yard from
the back of his coat and brought away
piece of flesh. Ripley fell over the
peck measure, and the dog took anoth
er mouthful, but did not pursue to the
corner.
ooh! jewittaker to Jerusalem !"
groaned the dog buyer as he leaned up
against barrel and saw the dog calm
" Illuminating over the last mouthful.
The canine sat up again and smack
ed his lips, and uttered grewl which
reverbrated around the barn like thun-
der. He closed one eye and peered at
Ripley with the other, and then moved
his paws around with that reckless,
uneasy manner before mentioned
Ripley began yelling for help, but he
hadn't yelled more than three times
before that dog checked him with a
look that spoke volumes. Then he
went at the beguiling business again.
''Here, Tiger" he called, snapped his
fingers, mice Tiger-best dog in De-
troit-poor old doggy" Tiger utter
ed a whine and beat Ben Buffers,
Dream on the floor with hts stump mar
rative, while a tear of tender love
stole into each eye. The thing was
all right now, and Ripley started out
| again, keeping his back behind him
He had half crossed the floor when he
felt buzz saws, and red hot irons and
pitchforks jabbing him all over. He
went up and came down, turned hand
springs and jumped from the trapezes
and in a moment was back in his COR
ner and the old dog was sitting up as
before. Ripley couldn't sit down, and
he didn't feel like standing up, and so.
he leaned up against the barrel and
recklessly abused and insulted the
dog. He called him an old loafer,
ring thief, back salary stealer, a
carpet bagger and a Mormon and
then went on and abused all of the
canine relatives, back to ihe great
grandfather.
At length after being prisoner for
about three hours, some boys discOv-
cred the mans situation. BY his di-
rection they went for grocer, who
keeps a revolver, and the grocer came
and released the prisoner by shooting
the dog, Ripley came down town to
have his wounds dressed, and they
numbered twenty three different bites,
and were impartially distributed over
n large extent of territory. However,
there's nothing like keeping a family
watch dog