River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-08-01

ment, but he kept his wits about him.
The Iil-lOoking fellow caught his eyes.
and instantly dragged forward the col
iie-for collie it was-into a more
prominent position.
want to buy a dog. sir?" he began
Obsequiously. Brought i'm up from
the country this very mornin' as ever
was. Reared i'm myself; knows all
about i'm; shall ave i'm real bar
gain, sir; too many about our place,
else | wouldn't part with i'm for no
price. and that's the gospel truth"
The dog looked at Mr.. Dornley; Mr..
Dornley looked at the dog. He (Mr.
DOrnley) had hard work to control
himself. Don! my old Donalr' was
on the tip OF his tongue, but he must
be cautious.
HE hasn't recognized me yet" he
said to himself. ''and If he did the man
might make off with him"
What do you want for him?" he
asked. CURLY. speaking rather low.
for fear of Donars hearing his voice,
while with the tail of his eye. greatly
to his satisfaction, he deserted the
portly form Of a policeman looming
near.
The man scratched his head.
We'll, now. SIR" he began, 'if
was to say flyer, it 'ud be givin' i'm
away, it would. just you see ere.
sir" and he stopped to drag apart the
collie's jaws; the dog. only opening
his mouth to snarl, shut it again more
firmly. Mr. Dornley meanwhile had
seized his opportunity. A Geographic
signal, and the policeman was at his
side, unperceived by the loafer. still
struggling with the dogs mouth.
Then came voice of thunder.
drop that, will you? A flyer, in
deed! You shall have five years if
can get it you. He is my dog; you
have stolen him."
The man glanced up, gave one gasp.
and then -; he was too quick for
them. He turned and fled, leaving
the dog there and then, and before
either Mr.. Dornley or the policeman
had quite taken it all in, they found
themselves alone on the pavement,
the collie between them. There was
no use in giving chase; the thief was
as nimble as only "a thief can be; the
policeman was ponderous.
After moment Mr.. Dornley decided
to make the best of it. Catching the
dog by the chain-not, of course. that
that was necessary with Donal-he
looked up with a laugh.
"'Pon my word" he said. ''that was
quick work"
Your dog. sir?" said No. Something,
laconically.
my dog" he replied.
.'Stolen?"
"Of course he was stolen. Didn't
you see the fellows face, and how he
made off when taxed him with it?"
The policeman stared down the street
whence long ago the fugitive had dis
appeared. 1t was peculiar state of
matters; he did not quite know how to
meet it.
well. sir, / suppose you d best keep
him now you've got him. But if it's
all one to you, sir, I'd be ooILged by
your name and address"
Certainly" said Nh. Dornisy talk
ing out his card-case. with touch of
hauteur. You'll find it in most OF
your police stations. I've been adver-
Using for this dog for the last four
months. spent no end of money. and
all the time he's been in the hands of
a noted dog-stealer; at least. the fellow
looks like it. / thought you knew that
sort by sight"
The policeman looked mysterious.
He found it convenie.ls to turn his at
tention to the dog.
Doesn't seem so very friendly with
you, SIR he said, and indeed the
collie's melancholy eyes had no bright
ening in them, even when Mr.. Dorm
ley patted his head and murmured
fondly:
My good old ID onalr -
"Poor fellow" he said aloud. "he
has been SO neglected and bullied that
he's lost his spirit He'll be all right
when | get him home"
But crowd was beginning to gath
er. and this. DOn's master did not de-
sire. With a nod to the policeman,
and firmly clutching the chain, he
turned. retracing his steps 10 the sta
tion he had left lot twenty minutes
ago.
I'll catch the 11:4j back" he said
to himself They'll all be so delight
ed. and it's best to take him straight
home. That fellow may have con-
federates."
II was net Gar to the station. fortu-
nately, for the dog pulled beal1 a good
deal. making his new master feel hot
and uncomfortable.
He'll make me look like a dog
stealer myself" he thought. Dear
me! what few weeks ill-usage will
do, DOnal. who would have followed
me with silken thread or with no
thread at all! He doesn't look in such
bad condition, either. Oh, it will be
all right when he gets HON e and sees
all his old haunts again.
1t was not a crowded time Of day,
and Mr.. Dornley was well known on
the line. No difficulty was made as TO
the dogs sharing his masters COM
partment, but he still looked depressed
and almost sulky, crOuching in a cor
ner as If he had not a friend on earth.
Mr.. DOrnley's caresses were in vain.
Good Donali dear old fellowm pats
and stockings, had no effect. The col
lie was gentle enough. Once or twice
he tried a feeble wag of the tail. but he
was evidently strange and feeling quite
depayse. II was very disappointing;
and at UnderbroOke station. the near
est railway point to Upperbrooke viii
lage, Mr.. DOrnley. who had been rath-
er looking forward to a sort of tri-
umphal reception of the truant, was on
the whole not sorry that there was no
one about save a stOlid and recently
imported porter. who knew not DOnal.
1t was hot and tiresome walk home.
There was no question of loosiug the
dog and letting him follow. he had so
very little look of following" about
him. Mr.. DOrnley felt both distressed
and mortified; he could have staked
his life on Donal's intelligence and
fidelity, But still "a day or two will
make him all right" he repeated. as he