New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24
"SET 4 ROC UE TO CATCH A BOG UE."
DEALER IN PET ANIMALS TELLS OF THE
FRANKS DE Ills STOCK IN TRADE.

DEALER IN PET ANIMALS TELLS OF THE
FRANKS OF HIS STOCK IN TRADE.
al find plenty Of amusement when business Is
dull said uptown dealer in pet animals the other
day, I'm watching the ways and habits OF my STOCK
I'm trade Many OF the most interesting exhibitions
of instinct that amount almost to reason would make
good reading If I could write them out but have
not time for that and they occur so continually
that 1 come to regard them everyday affairs and
forget most of them. That old william Totm there,
for instance" he added pointing TO fat eolhe OF
triiculent aspect but almost toothless jaws, has
stayed with mo from pup. Nobody would ever
buy him at my price when he was young, and now
that he's old and useless l have not the heart 10
turn him adrft for the dog cachers to kill.
He's as full of guile a Fourth Ward news
boy but had young terrier here last month that
was too sharp for Toby altogether. Tho old one
had become accustomed to doing in this warm
spot here behind the stove but he camo in from the
yard one day to find the young fellow in his favorite
retreat They had fght at once but we're so evenly
matched that Toby soon drew off, leaving the young
'un in possession.
"The old boy seemed hardly able to understand why
did not interfere in his behalf but as gave him no
encouragement he lay down little way off, evidently
thinking deeply. Suddenly, when the back door Of
the shop was opened for instant, he sprang up
with terrible yclp and out In full cry, raising
noise in the yard II ten burglars and half dozen
cats were loose there. The contagion spread and
every dog the place including the terrier followed
to share in the fun. The last fellows tall had barely
disappeared outside the door when old Toby lodged In
again, whisked into his warm bed behind the stove,
and left the Others and his rival to get what fun they
could out of the wholly imaginary cats.
You should have that terriers evident dds
gust when he came back and found Toby In his dis
putcd seat 1t was as near human could be. He
slilked around for time, and finally got tired oil
watching him, and made up my mind that he had
been licked. But later my attention was attracted
by the loud crunchng OF bone, and turned to see
the butcrrier attacking big beef bone, which he
held between his forepaws, with unusual vgor and
gnsto II long after the regular time for feeding
the dogs and wondered where he had got the meat
at that hour He lying just on the other side OF
the stove from Toby and kept his body well between
the old dog and the luscious mOrsel he was lick
ing his chops
several dogs attracted by the sound came near. but
grow from the terrier drove them off easily Toby
had his eye on the whole proceeding If any dog
got snack Of regular meal hours, it was always
he Should this upstart. who had tried 10 rob him OF
his corner be allowed to usurp another OF his vel.
established privileges No, by. Sirius he would fight
for his rights. With bound he was on the back Of
the PROSTATE and preoccupied terrier, and had a
death grip on end of that bone in a twinkling.
| looked for mighty fight for the mastery, and de-
termned to put stop to it before any damage was
done to either, but to my surprise there was no night
al all Tho terrier dropped the bone at once turned
tail ard ran leaving the old fellow in undisputed pos
session of the field and of tho spoils Toby gave me
one proud look. and l could not help saying: Well
DONE Old fellow there's nothing like settling who's
TO be the boss. at the very start
I" But Toby had not taken more than two good chews
on his big bone when he seemed to lose Interest In II
| that It a wclldried. thoroughly scrapef
| old fragment that every hungry dog in the shop hat
polished his worries time and again. Toby realized
about tho time, and we both looked straight
into the warm behind the stove. There lay
the terrier pretending to be asleep but keeping one
eye Toby all the time roared right out laugh
Ing and YOU dog look more sheepish Of
mcancr than Toby. His tail went down between his
legs like whipped ours, and he sneaked away never
TO sleep In the old hole again till the smart terrier
was sold for good price Wall Street stockbroker
who lives I'm the suburbs"