The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1885-01-31
THE STOLEN DOG.
Mr.. Jones Mistake, and tho
Trouble It Caused Him.

1t is truthful saying that we never
know what we may come TO. If any
one should have told me fortnight ago
that | should steal dog. | should have
repealed the assertion with scorn. In
deed. if the size of the person making
it had permitted, I'm afraid | should
have kicked him. And yet it's a fact,
! have stolen dog, and there he sits,
wagging his tail and looking up at me
with complacent twinkle in his eye, as
If enjoying my agony of remorse.
But-and here is the especial terror
of my POSITION don't know which he
is!
But / will tell my story. Three weeks
ago | had occasion to go from London
to Manchester to introduce an impor-
tant invention to some Of the leading
manufacturers. As / knew should not
be more than two days absent l took
for luggage only q light nd-bag, with
which walked from my house to the
station.
Just as reached it, heard famil-
lar bark behind me, and turning round,
found that Mingo, my favorite pug-dog,
had managed to follow me, and was
dancing round my feet, tlourishing his
tail in self-satistied way, as if expect
ing to be complimented on his achieve
ment
You bad dogr' 1 exclaimed, show
uare you follow me like this?"
1le tail dropped, but continued TO
way. saying In the plainest Of dog Ian
gusge: Please take me with you
| was extremely unwilling to do so.
but there was no help for it, for / had
barely three minutes left to purchase
my ticket and take my seat So picked
up Mingo, tucked him under my arm,
and made for the ticket-oflice.
Neatly done, old PAL" said a
rough-looking fellow. "a Hand US the
price of drink, and I'll blarney the
old man.
/ glanced back, and saw a stout old
lady putting toward US in the distance,
and wildly waving an umbrella. The
man, no doubt, imagined her excited
gestures had something to do with me.
have no occasion for your services. -
"Oh, you haven't, haven't yer?' he
said. Then, blow me, if / dom
spoil your little game!'
| paid no further attention to him,
but rushed into the ticket-oflice.
% Six and six more, for dog" said
the clerk, as put down my money.
paid the additional charge, inward
1y matchmaking Mingo for putting
me to the unnecessary expense, and
took my seat.
The guard came up to the window
Very sorry. SIR" he said, but
dog II have to 90 in the locker. Dogs
amt allowed in the carrihges--unless
so be as a gent makes special pint of
it, he said, with meaning smile.
| could not reconcile myself to the
idea of putting Mingo in dirty locker
possibly to be treated brutally by who
ever might be there, so | made the best
of it, and gave the guard n shilling
that he might do so likewise.
At one of our stopping places, an
official with gold band round his cap,
whom | took to be the station-maStcr.
looked into the carriage, and then
spoke in low voice TO the guard. /
could not hear what he said, but |
heard the reply.
" Dog-stealer! Get along with you!
No more'n yOu are. Dog-stealers don't
travel first-class. There's some mis-
take, or somebody's havin' a game with
YOU"
"Oh, are theyp" said the station
master. I'm too old a bird to be
caught with that Sort of chat, but |
must first say word to the gentle
man."
Accordingly, he came to the window,
and touching his cap, said: BEG par
don, sir, but they've Just wired from
the London end that lady has lost her
pug dog. / suppose you don't happen
to know anything about it?"
81 certainly do not" l replied "l
know nothing about any dog but my
own. Here is my card and here is my
dog-license" (Which happened 10 havs
IN my pocket-book).
The man was satisfied. you'll eR-
cuse me askin' the question, sir. 4
knew well enough there must be some
mistake, but when they wires from tho
head Office, we've no choice but TO obe5
instructions"
SO saying. he departed, and ] saw him
looking into the other carriages. Mingo
had strongly resented his intrusion, and
even got on the seat to give him final
piece Of his mind when he LETT the WIN
dow.
In due course the train arrived at
Manchester, and / began to transact
my business, which involved calling on