The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-01-04

Thomas tdmpCeli was q pdcue.of,
and living with his brother Duncan on
a farm which they had bought between
them. The place was known a. Craig
burn. Duncan was the elder of the
two sons; was married and had fam
ily. the eldest being almost full grown
man.
In those days, facilities in bank eI
changes were not as they now are, 81
that persons going to remote places in
the country took whatever cash they
might have along with them, in gold,
thus subjectiDg themselves to the risk
of robbery and probable murder.
Mr.. Campbell, in his last trip had
doubled the number of the largest herd
he had yet taken. An earger market
awaited him at Falkirk feir, where hi:
well known manly character and fail
dealing bad made him a desirable par
ty to a business transactions. Dispos
ing Of his stock to much advantage, hr
started home. He travelled, as usual
in those days, on horseback, csrryiDg
his cash in a portmanteau behind his
saddle. But Thomas Campbell never
reached home.
What became of him no one knew.
The country was searched; but
not the slightest trace could
be found of the drover and bis dog
The horse, too, was missing. If blood
had been split, the sharp drenching
rains of late autumn had washed it all
away. Being we'll known along the
route, he could be tracked to within
ten miles of Craigburn. There mystery
enveloped his fate in three fold dark
ness.
His brother had offered a reward of
five hundred pounds for the discovery
of his body should he be dead; and if
it appeared that he had been murder
ed, he promised the remaining part of
Thonas's fortune, including his share
of the farm, for the murderer. 70
this, the Duke added two hundred
pounds from his private purse.
Nearly a week had passed from the
date when the drover and the dog
were last seen; and Sabbath morning
found the afflicted Campbells mourn
ing over the fate of their lost relative.
The morning family service had pass
ed, and Duncan went out to ponder
over the terrible dispeDsation that had
stricken the strong man down in his
strength, and deprived him of broth
er. He had barely passel the outer
door when he observed an animal
slowly crawling up the lane leading TO
the house.
"What can it be, he said"
At first it struck him as something
stealing along to bounce upon some
stray domestic fowl. But on more
closely watching Its motions he saw
that its frequent stops suggested ex
baustion rather than caution; that its
movements partook too much of fee
bleness to be beast of prey-a wolf
for instance, or a large sized badger.
Calling to his son Douald, who stood
at the window, to come out, they ap
preached the strange looking animal
together. 1t had stopped and lay as
if incapable of drawing i:sels an inch
further; and seeing them it uttered a
low, plsintive whine, and slightly
moved its tail.
"Oh, father, it's FIngal." cried The
son. as he started with all his speed
coward the wretehed brute.
True enough it was Fingal; but so
emacisted by hunger and bodily suf-
fering as to be hardly recogniz able.
Raising the dog carefully up between
upou ii soft u.at III "A room adj lining
the kitchen. Donald, weeping He H
boy, sat down beside him, sud rails, d
his battered head on his lap. placed
close to his muzzle small pan of milk.
which he greedily bnt painfully Tapped
up.
There was not dry eye in the fami-
ly; each of the household. from the
''gud. man" to the farm servants, con-
doIing with the skinny, MANNED ami
NAL. Aud truly. the poor dog pre-
sented q mot pitiable condition. A
deep cash in his neck. partially healed,
told plainly enough he had been shot.
His head, too, was terribly maDgled, as
il il had been smashed with a very
heavy INSTRUMENT. Varicu. other
bruiies were found upon him. In ad-
1itior TO these revoltiug cruelties, he
was mere skeleton. bis bones actually
protruding from the skin.
My word for it, we'll have a clew
to the mystery now" said Mrs. Camp
bell, at which Fling feebly wagged his
tail, as if in acknowledgement of the
compliment to his ssgacity.
TAX ye nae heed, moo, MASTER
said the servant lass. There's prov
idence here; and be sure o. this,
when there's naebody else to TAX care
O. de doug, III be wi him."
Iu a short time a little milk was
again placed before him, which he
rsvenously, but with evident distress,
licked up.
Poor FiugI" was the exclamation
from all; and sympathy ruling the
hour. found Fling with attendants con-
stsntly a, his side. For three days and
nights was he so nursed. After that
he was enabled to sit, but looking wo-
fully "di.iaskit." (sfck and exhausted }
Fling, however, was convalescent, and
bade fair, at no distant day. to be as
much Of dog as ever.
About a month more had passed, and
a meeting Of neighoors was being held
at Craieburn. Fling. we'll recovered,
was actively trotting up and down the
lane. accompanying each visitor that
came. As many as a dozen persons
has assembled.
Over a glass of toddy-for in those
days the bottle presided at all deliber-
ations-they were discussing the great
mystery, and the possible chance of
the dogs return throwing light on the
subject. Fling was present. Sitting
on his launches. be seemed to lie TAX