American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-03
VOL. XIV.


much safer. Mayn't l keep him?''
You see the breakfast was ready now
the coffee steamed out into the room sc
| pleasantly, the omlet was turned out suct
a beautiful brown; and the little woman
who bent over him and left a kiss to Greer
through the mustache which covered hi:
lips was SO altogether charming that if il had
| been an even dozen of dogs she had begged
| TO keep for company Uriah Click would
have said just what he said of the one pool
| fellow on the rug.
"Of course, if you really want to keer
him, get him well fattcncd, and he will be
a fine animal. If one must have a dog,
say have a nice one, and he is all of that. u
After that Ban" was as much of a pet
with Uriah as with Hottie. A few weeks
sufficed to heal entirely the wound in his
foot, and he soon proved that he was able
to make himself useful in many ways.
Hettie Click was a most devoted little
church woman, and had always been in
the habit of attending the weekly prayer
meetings held in the church which stood
only two squares from where they lived,
and after Ban came to them he used to
accompany her thither, wait patiently in
then walk close at her side all the way
home.
One night they had been to church and
had walked over one square and half
which lay between il and home when Ban
suddenly stopped and uttered a low growl,
SO low that Mrs. Click but just heard it,
and then he placed himself directly before
his mistress, so that she could not adj
vance single step. The street on which
the 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 be-
fore her, and, though very much fright
ened 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 in his mouth and pulled her
back the way they had just come. Grow
ing more frightened each moment, she at
length went willingly, following him from
one crossing to another until they came
into the lighted parts of the city and she
saw that he was leading the way to Small
wood, Odgen s. Co.'S where her husband
was keeping watch.
Once arrived there and the story of
Bans singular actions told, Uriah Clicks
curiosity and suspicion were ut once
aroused, and, giving signal common to
the police, he soon had the satisfaction of
relating the circumstances to two of his
brother officers, one of whom took his
place while he with the other betoOk them
selves to his little dwelling accompanied
by Ban, who seemed we'll pleased that his
mistress remained at the station house,
where they stopped to recruit their forces
until they numbered four strong.
Arrived 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 a cloak over his shoulders and
looked, to all appearance, in the very dim
light of the cloudy, mOOnless night, like a
-lo<ln IL r., H.
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
a sharp blow upon the head of the one
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? / expected she
would yell the minute you caught her
arms. She'll keep quiet while we secure
the chink; then let her raise thunder"
On through the dark sped the robber,
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 there a blow from Uriah
Clicks club caused 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
precautions had been taken with the ac-
complete, who soon recovered from the
effects of the blow; and when Uriah had
made light and turned its glare on the
man at the stair door he discovered in
him man wearing the blue uniform of
the police and belonging to the same sta
ton with the two men who had Joined
himself and friend on the mission which
had proved so pregnant with results as
tonishing to all and not only this, but a
man in whom he had rcpOsed the utmost
and the most unfortunate one
Of his having been made the unexpected
heir to a wIndfall of several thousand
dollars in gold, the hoardings of a misery
relation during years, who had recently
died and left the result of his savings to
his best loved relative, Uriah Click.
And this friend, this man who was a |
protector of life and property, had con |
ccivcd the idea of waylaying his friends |
wife on her way from prayer-meeting,
and rendering her scnscless during time |
sufficient for him TO secure the windfall |
for his own and accomplice's use, which |
purpose would have been accom- |
plished had it not been for the sagacity |
Of the noble dog which they had be- |
friended.
1t is needless to say that there was a |
in the police force to be filled the |
next day, and that Ban rose to the highest |
possible station of honor which a dog |
could I'LL; and that Uriah Clicks gold |
found Judgment in a bank instead OF his |
bed room from that time forth.