The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-09
THE STOLEN DOG.
Mr.. Jones Mistake, and the
Trouble It Caused Him.

1t is a truthful saying that we never
know what we may come to. If any
one should have told me a fortnight ago
that should steal dog, 1 should have
repealed the assertion with scorn. In
deed, if the size of the person making
it had permitted, I'm afraid 1 should
have kicked him. And yet it's fact.
have stolen a 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-I don't know which he
is!
But l 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 l should not
be more than two days absent l took
for luggage only light handbag, with
which walked from my house to the
station.
Just as l 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, flourishing his
tail in a self-satisfied way, as if expect
ing to be complimented on his achieve
ment.
''You bad dog" I exclaimed, show
dare you follow me like this?'
The tail dropped, but continued to
wag, saying In the plainest of dog Ian
guage: ''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-office
Neatly done, old pal" said a
rough-looking fellow. ssHand us the
price of drink, and I'll blarney the
old man."
/ glanced back, and saw 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.
g Thank you, my man." l replied.
~ have no occasion for your services"
''Oh, you haven't, haven't yer?" he
said. Then, blow me, if l don't
spoil your little camel"
1 paid no further attention to him,
but rushed into the ticket-office
% Six and six more, for dog" said
the clerk, as put down my money
paid the additional charge, inward
II matchmaking Mingo for putting
me- to the unnecessary expense, and
took my seat.
The guard came up to the window.
Sc Very sorry, SIR" he said, :. but
dog II have to 60 in the locker. Dogs
amt allowed in the carriages-unless
so be as gent makes special pint of
it." he said. with meaning smile.
/ could not reconcile myself to the
idea of putting Mingo in a dirty locker,
possibly to be treated brutally by who
ever might be there, so made the best
of it, and gave the guard a shilling
that he might do so likewise.
AT one of our stopping-places, an
official with gold band round his cap,
whom l took to be the station-master,
looked into the carriage, and then
spoke in a low voice to the guard. 1
could not hear what he said, but l
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' game with
YOU"
.'Oh, are they?" said the station
master. I'm too old a bird to be
caught with that sort of chaff, but l
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?"
Il certainly do not" replied. 81
know nothing about any dog but my
own. Here is my card and here Is my
dog-icense" (Which happened to have
in my pocket-book).
The man was satisfied. you'll ex-
cuse me askin' the question, sir. 1
knew well enough there must be some
ti4StdhSs DuS I" nCh euOl WllCs tift
head Office, we've no choice but to obey
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 a final
piece of his mind when he left the win
dow.
In due course the train arrived at
Manchester, AID began to transact
nv business. which involved calling on
people in various quarters of the town.
] found Mingo an unmitigated nuisance.
He would not follow me as he usually
had done, but went shifting round cor
hers, plunging down by-streets and
striking up-promiscuous friendships
with other dogs.
Three times he took me consider
able distance out of my way. and twice
got me nearly run over.
/ supposed it was the being in a
strange place that had demoralized him.
for had never known him to behave
so indiscreetly before. At last, after
chasing and capturing him for the third
time, / tucked him under my arm.
thinking il would be less trouble to