Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-07-23

and the little woman who bent owe
him and left kiss to creep through
the moustache which covered his lips
was SO altogether charming that if i
had been an even dozen of dogs sht
had begged to keep for company
Uriah Click would have said just
what he said of the one poor fellow
on the rug.
"Of course, if you really want te
keep him, get him well fattened, and
he will be fine animal. If one must
have a dog, l say have a nice one
and he is all of that"
After that ''Ban" was as much of ;
pet with Uriah as with Hcttie. A
few weeks sufficed to heal entirely
the wound in his foot, and he soon
proved that he was able to make him
self useful in various ways.
Hettie Click was a most devoted
little church woman, and had always
been in the habit of attending the
weekly praycr-meetings held in the
church, which stood only two squares
from where they lived, and after Bar
came to them he used to accompany
her thither, wait patiently in the yes
tibule until the meeting closed, and
then walk close at her side all the
way home.
One night they had been to church
and had walked over one square and
a half which lay between it and home
when Ban suddenly stopped and ut
tered q low growl, SO low that Mrs
Click just heard it, and then he
placed himself directly before his
mistress, so that she could not ad
vance a single step. The street on
which they lived was not lighted with
street-lamps, and it was in the dark
of the moon, SO that Mrs. Click, strive
as hard as she might, could not make
out anything before her, and, though
very much frightened by the unusual
manner of her old friend Ban, felt
inclined to go on, and tried to push
him away, but Ban caught her dress
III his mouth and pulled her back the
way they had just come. Growing
more frightened each moment, she
at length went willingly, following
him from one crossing to another un-
til they came into the lighted parts
of the city and she saw that he was
leading the way to Smallwood, Cd
gen & Co.'S, where her husband was
keeping watch.
Once arrived there and the story
of Bans singular actions told, Uriah
Clicks curiosity and suspicious were
at once aroused, and, giving signal
common to the police, he soon had
the satisfaction of relating the cir
cumstances to two of his brother Off
GERS, one of whom took his place
while he with the other betook them
selves to his little dwelling accom-
panied by Ban, who seemed well
pleased that his mistress remained at
the station-house, where they stopped
to recruit their forces until they num-
bercd four strong.
Arriving at the gate before the
house, Ban again gave low growl
of warning and then trotted along
the walk, followed by the shortest
man in the crowd, who had thrown Il
cloak over his shoulders and looked
to all appearances, in the very dim
light of the cloudy, moonless night,
like a lady. The rest crawled along
behind him close to the brick of the
walk.
With brisk step the little man
sprang up on the porch, tripped across
it to the door, applied the key to the
lock, and, as he did so, felt his arms
caught by some one from behind and
himself drawn swiftly aside, while
another form passed quickly by them
into the house.
In another instant he heard the
thud of Il sharp blow upon the head
of the one who pinoned his arms,
and felt the hold upon them instantly
relax as the man sank to the floor.
Springing into the house, Uriah
Click heard the words: "Come on,
Hal! you laid her out, didn't you? l
expected she would yell the moment
you caught her arms. She'll keep
quiet while we secure the chink; then
let her raise thunder"
On through the dark sped the rob-
Der, as if acquainted with each foot
Of the house, through the little parlor
and sitting-room to the door that
opened upon the stairway, and then
blow from Uriah Clicks club caus-
ed him to pause until his hands were
securely fastened and his belt emptied
of the pistols and knife it carried
Outside on the porch similar precau-
tons had been taken with the accom-
plice, who soon recovered from the
effects of the blow; and when Uriah
had made u light and turned its glare
Oh the face Of the man at the stair
door, he discovered III him 4 man
wearing the blue uniform of the po-
lice, and belonging to the same sta
ton with the two men who had join
ed himself and friend on the mission
which had proved so repugnant with
results astonishing to all; and not
only this, but man in whom he had
reposed the utmost confidence, and
the most unfortunate one of his hav-
ing been made the unexpected heir
to a wndfall of several thousand
dollars in gold, the hoardings Of a
miserly relation during years, who
had recently died and lett the result
of his savings to his best beloved
relative, Uriah Click.
And this friend, this man who was
u protector of life and property, had
conceived the idea of waylaying his
friends wife on her way from prayer
meeting, and rendering her senseless
during time sufficient for him to
secure the windfall for his own and
accomplice's use, which tiendish pur-
pose would have been accomplished
had it not been for the sagacity of the
noble dog which they had betriended.
1t is needless to say that there was
vacancy in the police force to be
filled next day, and that Ban rose to
the highest possible station of honor
which dog could fill; and that
Uriah's gold found lodgment in a
bank instead of his own bedroom