The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-28
How Trotter's Dog Came to Grief.

Ono day during the past week q stray
dog-emangy, ill-favored cur-who had
probably been disinherited by its mas
ter on account of its disreputabIe ap-
pearance and habits, strolled into the
Union Depot in search of a trunk-strap
Or fragment of an emigrant's valise
with which to appease his hunger, and
vas captured by one of the depot men,
who tied him to a disabled truck. Sew
eral other depot men who witnessed
the capture suggested practical joke.
A shipping tag was procured and on it
was written ar. P. Trotter, -, Ill.
Collect 81" The animal was then
towed over to the baggageman of the
road referred to and the baggageman
was told to take the dog to -, where
Mr.. Trotter would meet the train and
pay one dollar for its care and trans
portation, outside of its regular charges.
| 1t was valuable ANIMAL specimen
of very choice breed of setters-and
should be well cared for. There was a
fee of fifteen cents due which the bag
gageman could pay and collect after
ward from the owner Of the dog. The
amount was paid and the baggageman
further invested ten cents in meat.
The dog Jared sumptuously, and the
baggageman occupied his spare time
wondering whether Mr.. Trotter would
object to paving $3.50 including the
price of the meat and the fifteen cents,
or whether he would insist on holding
down on the S1.25. 1t might be posi-
BILE that he would refuse to pay more
than one dollar, the amount called for
by the shipping-tag, and that would
leave only seventy-five cents clear profit
on the venture. The last surmise was
improbable, for no man would stand
out on half dollar when fine setter
dog was in view.
As the train approached -, the
baggagcman uncoupled the dog from
the handle of q commercial mans
trunk. aud, 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. Trotter." yelled the
baggageman, after waiting reason
able time. Hello, TrOtter, here's
your pup" But Trotter failed to ma
terialize.
whats the NATTER" inquired the
station-agent, coming hurriedly for
ward, lantern in hand. and flashisg
the light in the dogs face, causing him
to yelp in terrified way.
"Tve got dog here for r. P. Trotter,
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 lived
here all my life, and 1 know every man
in town."
"Well, here" said the baggageman,
striking happy idea; '.you take the
dog and give me q dollar 'n-a-haf and
collect it of Trotter.'
''What?' exclaimed the agent, hold
ing up his lantern and inspecting the
dog. .Loan dollar n-a-half on that
cur? Never!"
Cur! That amt no cur; that's a
fine setter"
'.Is it? Well, you couldn't sell it for
two cents in this part of the country"
The baggageman 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 a
meteor. with the rope trailing after
him.
Here! Don't leave that Internal
kiyudle herer' yelled the station-agent
as the train moved off. But the bag
gageman heard nothing but the echo of
an agonized canine yelp and the hollow,
damopiac laurh IF n hra Ganop uhn
was in the plot.-St. Louis Republican.