Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-10-24

Il
sEsswery I'D ease, sir,"said m
Iguide, ans III b glad when it's q
lover; for, although he Was . great pe
with Us Ill, an that fond Of the kids 70
never see, it's awful to zee i'm not kno,
any of us, but when We goes near i'm Z
have i'm come . fsing ct us. Thin
what dreadful nuisance she must fin,
I! I couldn't drudge that way"
"She says she likes II. !"
| "She'd make nice wife for q boo
man, wouldn't she?". said the secon,
speaker. Although no one who saw he
ell suffer much? There e goes, 'er,
i'm. All day long e owls like that"
assured him it would coon be owe
without much pain, and descending
some steps we passed through room u
the basement that was dimly lit by {
small and grimy window.
Cases of wines and spirits were ranged
against the walls, and we could hear The
tramp of the thickly shod customers II
the bar or tap room just above our heads
Opening door we passed into anoth
er room; this was lighted only by thu
small window in the room we had jus
left, as it shone through the now opeI
door.
"He is in there" said the boy, point
ing to another door in the wall oppo-
site.
Thinking there was q window in the
room, pushed the door open, and inn
mediately heard the rattle of chain and
the hoarse half howl, half growl of the
poor beast, whose eyes l could see against
the far wall, cleaning through the dark.
Window there was none.
"Wy on earth didn't you bring a light, ("
asked, angrily; "you don't suppose
can poison him in the dark"
"Thoug bit I lad match" said the boy,
fumbling in his pockets; there's gas
jet just inside the door"
I had no matches, so I sent him up
stairs to get some, and, awaiting his re-
turn, sat down on an empty keg near the
door.
The dog seemed uneasy, and, fancying
the light through the doorway annoyed
and distressed him, pushed it to with
my hand. The boy was some time gone
q found afterward he had been to ask
his mistress ifshe would like to have q
last look at the old dog, and I sat there
thinking over the job. The air of the
cellar was close, and the smell of the
wet sawdust on the floor was most un-
pleasant. Clank went the dogs chain
against the wall or the floor, as he moved
uneasily about, wondering, I dare say,
what was my errand there. Then the
movement ceased for time, or, partly
absorbed in my thoughts, failed to no.
tice it. The next minute started, feel
ing some thing rub against my leg
Looking down, / saw two glazing eyes
just at my knee. The dog was loose, the
staple having worked its way out of the
damp and yielding mortar.
For a second or two nearly lost con-
seriousness. My heart seemed to stand
still, but by an effort, ! kept from going
off into faint. I shall never forget the
next few minutes, as long as I live. 1
was alone in the dark, with this rabid
beast rubbing about my legs-irst one
and then the other, as if he were trying
to find out who 1 was. Then he rested
his nose on my knees and looked straight
up into my face. I sat like a status,
knowing that at the slightest movement
he would probably sieze me, and know
ing (who better?) that such a bite in his
advanced state of disease, was almost
certain death, and horrible death too.
Nerving myself, sat perfectly still, cal
culating as well as could my chances of
escape. Presently the dog put first one
paw, then the other, ON my knee, and
standing on his hind legs, gently rubbed
bis head against my breast, then over
my arms, and then commenced to ex-
plore my face. l shut my eyes, and felt
his nose pass several times across my
face, covering it with saliva. Yet dared
not move. I expected every instant he
would sieze me; the very bsating of my
heart might disturb and annoy him; and
[ felt that, come what might, / must
ding him off and make a dash for the
door.
Suddenly he ceased rubbing against
ne, and appeared to be listening. He
could hear the steps of the pot boy de-
the ladder. I also could hear
it, and knew not whether to call to him
or keep silent. The dog now dropped
Down to my knees again, still listening,
and as the light of y candle streamed
through the crevices of the badly fitting
loor, he crept into the far corner of the
cellar, evidently dreading being put upon
he chain again. Then made dash at
he door, swung it open, and, banging it
behind me, sank, more dead than alive,
IN q case near the wall. Seeing my state,
he man brought me quickly nip of
brandy, and l pulled myself. together.
All this time the dog was growing furi-
,usly on the other side of the door, and
earring at it in his mad endeavor to get
It us. Steadying myself as well as
could, placed the light on pile of cases,
and, filling my syringe with acid, opened
he door about two inches. As I expect
I'd, the infuriated beast rushed at the
opening, and as he did 80, I discharged
The contents of the syringe Into his open
mouth. In few seconds all was over.
When I vent up stairs, I found my
vest, coat, hands and face COW
cred with the saliva from his mouth. I
selt sick and faint, and looked-so the
people said-white as q ghost; in fact, l
could hardly stand.
The dog I had killed was bitten by the
mad dog that ran down Piccadilly some
three weeks since, and had only showed
symptoms ofmadness during the last few
days. w. PoCKL1NGToN.
Wichita Eagle: The beautiful banner
that designated the seats of the Kansas
at Portland, Me-, at the ma
ional reunion, and brought back by the
L. - Il