The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-04-03
Trotter'S Dog.

One day during the past week, q
stray dog-a NANCY, ill-favored cur
who had probably been disinheritcd by
its master on account of it's disreputa-
BILE appearance and habits, strolled into.
the Union depot in search of q trunk.
strap or fragment of an emigrant's va
1ise, with which to appease his hunger.
and was captured by one of the depot
men, who tied him to disabled truck
Several other depot men who witnessed.
the capture suggested practical joke.
A shipping tag was procured and on it,
was written ''R. P. Trotter, -, ILL.,:
Collect ST. The animal was then,
towed over to the baggage car of the
road referred to and the baggageman
was told to take the dog to -, whore
Mr.. Trotter would meet the train and
pay 81 for its care and transportation,
outside of the regular charges. 1t was
a valuable animal--a specimen of
very choice breed of setters-and should
be well cared for. There was fee of
fifteen cents duo which the baggage
man could pay and collect afterward
from the owner of the dog. Tha.
amount was paid and the baggageman
further invested ten cents in meat The
dog Jared sumptuously and the bag
gageman occupied his spare time in
wondering whether Mr. Trotter would,
object to paying $3.50 including the
price of the meat and the fifteen cents,
or whether he would insist upon hold
ing down on the $1,25. 1t might be-
possible that he would refuse to pay
more than dollar, the amount called
for by the shipping tag, and that would
leave only seventy-five cents clear prof.
it on the venture. The last surmise
was improbable, for no man would
stand out on half dollar when q fine
setter dog was in view.
As the train approached - the,
baggageman uncoupled the dog from
the handle of commercial mans
trunk, and with the steering-rope in
his hand, stood at the door of the car
as it pulled up in front of the depot.
He glanced along the dimly lighted
platform expecting to see Trotter trot
out of the crowd, rush up to the door
and demand his dog, but no Trotter
trotted. "Ho! Trotterr' yelled the
baggageman after waiting reasonable
time. ''Helloi Trotter! here's your
pup" But Trotter failed to material
ize.
"What's the matter?" inquired the
station agent. coming hurriedly for
ward, lantern in hand, and flashing the
light in the dogs face, causing him to
yelp in a terrified way.
I've got dog here for r. P. Trot-
ter. They said he'd be at the depot to
get it," said the baggageman.
'Trotter? There's no man in this
town by the name of Trotter. I've liv-
ed here all my life, and / know every
man in town.
"Well, here" said the baggageman.
striking aehappy idea; ''you take the
dog and give me dollar'n half and
collect it of Trotter."
"What!" exclaimed the agent, hold
ing up his lantern and inspecting the
dog. loan dollar'n half on that
cur? Neverr'
Cur! That amt no cur; that's fine
setter"
rs it? Well, you couldn't sell it for
two cents in this part of the country"
The baggagman looked sad. Then a
light dawned on him. He raised his
right foot, there was a yelp, and the
cur shot out of the car door like me-
teor, with the rope trailing after him.
''Here! Don't leave that internal XII
yudle herer' yelled the station agent
as the train moved off. But the bag
gageman heard nothing but the echo of
an agonized canine ye1p and the hol-
low, demoniac laugh of a brakeman
who was in the plot.-St. Louis Repub-
Ec111