The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-06-02
SERGEANT BANJO.
The Policeman With the Silver Collar, and
How lie Caught u Burglar,

'@sN' AAG Saehkut HuEktNFN
=" Yes, the breaking up of tho old
Sixth precinct station house did come
pretty hard on some of tho men who
Ind been there for years, md Ind kind O
got used to the place, you know" said
nn old policeman to n New York World
reporter, "but none of EN- took it 80
much to heart rs Banjo"
" Banjo |" exclaimed the visitor ;
"what curious nnmc for MI officer"
"Well, us to the name, it il little
curious, mint it But ms to BaniU's
BON MI officer, you see he amt Just on
the rcg'INr force, although We calls
him II sergeant, still il would be sayin'
lcetlc too much to say he was police
maa."
"And If lie is not policeman, pray
what is he?"
He's dog, sir"
"a dog |"
Eyes, sir, and he's been on tho force
morn Hdozen year. Hc used to be down
Mt the Sixth, You know, and when That
precinct was abolished and part of the
men sent to the Fourth and part to the
Fourteenth, I tell yOn there was row
as to where Banjo should go. But Banjo
decided not to go anywhere. Some Of
the men said tint lie didn't want to
offend my Of his old friends by goin'
with either party, but I don't believe
thNt; think il wns lOvo for the old
place. Anyhow, there OH the steps OF
tho Sixth, Banjo stayed, and nothin'
could get him away. I used to go by
there every evcnin' on my why to the
Fourteenth, and I was sure to SEQ him
lynn on the steps Of the station house.
He always appeared glad TO sec me, and
would walk Up town with INC rs far as
CanGl street, and then he would turn
round and be olflikc Ashot. This thing
went OH for ncNrly II month, mud Banjo
began to look sad and down-hcarted like,
aud I couldn't stand it no longer, 20 one
evening I conxed him up to me, and
takn' him into my arms brought him
-howlin', sir, and mad rs blazcs when
he saw hO wns above Canal strcet-up
hero to tho Fourteenth. When I put
him down inside the door, lie looked
around minute aud then walked into
the gIlNril.room md made himself 10
home, and he's staid here ever since.
Would you like to sec Banio?"
e Should, indeed"
Here, Banjo; here, BanjO-Sergcant
Banjo" called the old policeman.
A small rOly-poly OF u dog, with
black and white spots, mud with q
lazy swasgcr III his walk, stepped into
the room.
snow, Toby" sail The policeman, Sc.
ycrely, "who asked YOU to come in !?
That's not Banjo" explained the officer;
" he must be OFT gu patrol duty. That's
Captain Toby. We calls i'm Captain,
you know. He's lazy anil fat, and stays
around the station house most OF the
time. hut Banjo is great fellow for
patrolling. Shall tell you story how
Banjo caught burglar? Well, it was
one dark, rainy night two-nO, three
years ago come June, when was out On
my beat, and Banjo was trudging along
beside me. Suddenly Banjo stopped
before n store and growlcl. I knowctl
something must bo up, or lie wouldn't
have acted SO, and crept mp and pecked
\ through the shutters. There WINS 4
Teller R.craclin' the crib rs cool rs i Gu
cumber."
mAh my boy, I've got you, says I,
rs I slipped in through the door, which
he had left unfastencd; but Ihad crowcd
before I was out Of the woods, for the
clap heard inc comm, mud quick rs
lightning lis lantern was out, and I felt
blow on my head that knocked me
nearly sensible, lnd the fellow rushed
past. me into the street. Goodbye,
says I to myself, don't expect you'll
wait for INC to come out and catch yOu;'
but here again I was mistaken, for the
.fcllCr was waitiu' for me, though much
against his will. Banjo had quietly
taken grip III the slack of the gentle.
mans trousers and then seated himself
on the curbstone. It warn't 10 use fer
the Teller to swear and kick; Banjo held
on like grim death until l come up and
relieved him.
cts nearly timc Banjo come i'll from
his rounds. Oh here he is. How ure
you, sergeant? IEe ain't really SER
geant, you know" whispered the officer,
"but it kind Of lattcrs him to call him
One."
Banjo wRggcd his stump OF tail Mt
the officer, and walked gravcly over
to inspect the visitor. He gave him
cold, scrutinizing glance out Of Pair Of
clear, brown eyes, and apparently took
few mental notes for future reference;
then he went over 10 the officer for few
minutes conversation.
Banjo is not large dog; he is Of Il
square aud rugged build, covered with
II rough brown coat Of hair slightly
tiugcd with gnly-for he is growing to
he quite veterau-he has no ears or
tIl to speak Of, and has n shrcwd, in
quisitive, but strictly honest air. He
wore new silver collAr, md seemed n
little vain OF this ornament.
"That collar" said the officer, "was
bought for him yesterday, when wo got
license for him. This is the first dry
lie Inns worn it. Well, Banjo, 1 suppose
yon want to turn inf you would only
take Pipe, my boy, it would rest you
ever so mucll-but We never could learn
him to smoke"
Banjo nodded, Nnd walked sedately of
to bed.
A BCsgar With II Bank Account.