The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-12-07
WHY HE SHOT THE cANINE


How a caiifofnia Boy Fooled His
Father and Disposed of His Pet
Dog.
'.Do you see that young fellow just
going on board?" asked Sergt. Lang
ford of San Francisco Call reporter
as the two stood watching the passen-
gers bound tor Stockton and the Pied
mont. At the same time he pointed to
tall, well dressed youth of about Is,
who looked as if he had been up all
night.
"Yes, 1 see him, of course. What
about hims''
swell, he lives at Livermore, and
the story l heard told to-day by a
friend of his from up there is one OF the
most comical ever heard, if it's true,
and think it is, as the man that told
me is perfectly reliable. George, that's
his name; is; next to a reporter know,
the most coloss. preVaricator this
side Of the BG -"
Lets he's story, sergeant"
''WelY ~ if you won't mention
"y2Eht, go ahead"
,A@ see, Georges father is a large
EAer aud vineyardist near Liver
1gore. He is getting pretty old now,
pand George is too fly for him, as the
saying is: The family consists of the
father and mother. the son George;
and his two sisters. For the latter
the old gentleman employs a gov
erness: The old man is fond of dogs,
and about three months ago had one, a
Newfoundland, Of which he was par
ticularly fond. 1t was so intelligent it
seemed almost human. One day
George told his father about piece he
read id the Call of two dogs down in
the city that had been taught to talk,
and suggested that he take Don down
to the bay, and see if he could not be
made to talk, too: The old man pom
dered awhile, and then told George
that if he thought he could find Col.
human and Jim Comfort, the teachers
of the other dogs, he might take Don
down. He gave him some money, and
he started for the city.
'When George got to Oakland he
met some old churns he used to know
at the university. He sold the dog
for $50 and then had a high old time.
When he went home he told his
father the dog was all right; and Com
fort thought he would have no difficulty
in teaching it to speak. The old man
was delighted. A month ago he gave
the boy some money and told him to
come down and see how the dog was
progressing. George came down and
had good time for two days and then
returned. In answer to the old gents
queries he said: The dogs all right,
father; he can say few words, and in
two weeks more, when the wound
made where little silver diaphragm
was inserted is healed up, they say he
will be able to talk as well as you and
me- The old man was tickled 10
death.
Two weeks ago he insisted that
George should come down to the city
and bring the dog back with him,
speak or no speak. George was in q
quandary. He me down, staid over
night, and went back next day. He
went back without the dog, and the
governor met him at the depot.
Where's Don, George?' was the
first question.
al havn't got him, father.
'How's that, you rascalp How
dare you come home without him?'
"'Father, hate to tell you, he's dead.
| shot him.
'You-shot-hi said the cid gen.
tleman, greatly excited.
Yes, father; don't be angry. pll
tell you how it was, and a tear came
in his eye as he spoke. You see when
/ got to the city l went to the hut
where Don was kept in training and
told him we were going home. He
seemed pleased to see me and could
talk like anything. He asked how you
were and ma and the girls and how
Livermore looked, and then no got
confidential and began to tell me a
little story about you and the COVER
ness. knew it was untrue, father;
blur came over my eyes. pulled my
revolver and shot Don dead Father,
forgive me-
Il do forgive you, my noble boy.
Don't say anything about it to your
mother Here's $50. You can take q
few days holiday and go and see tho
soldiers camp at Santa Cruz
George has been there or some
where else and is just returning home"