The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-03-06
HE OWNED HIS MASTER.
A Hunting Dog With Preference
For Human Game.
An Editors Experience-He Thoughtless
ly Accepts IL Gift and Gets Into
Trouble-He Finally Returns
1t Without Thanks.

Years ago, when I was employed on
the Pittsburgh Chronicle, Mr.. w. A.
Collins, one of the proprietors of the
paper, was the editor-in-chief. He was
pleasant, kindly man, with nervous
temperament and poetic tastes, very
social and exceedingly fond of hunt
ng Every autumn he used to go away
off to Michigan, Illinois or Missouri
on cunning expeditions, accompanied
by his father-in-law, an estimable gen.
tleman named Shields, and to both OF
them the two or three weeks thus an
nually spent with dog and gun were as
an oasis in the desert of life.
One time the chief of police oil
Cleveland, o., came over to Pittsburgh
on some business and by means of a
letter of introduction from mu tual
friend, formed Mr.. Collins acquaint-
ance. During the three or four days
that the official remained in the then
"Smoky City," the editor did all that
was in his power to render the visitors
stay enjoyable and even merry. A
chance remark in conversation, the
night before the chiefs return to
Cleveland, led to somewhat enthusi-
astic expression by Mr.. Collins of his
fondness for the delights of hunting.
The Ohio man asked him if he had a
good dog. No, Mr. Collins said, he
had not been so fortunate as to own a
hunting dog for several years, but felt
the deprivation less since he had al
ways during that time, had the privi-
lege Of shooting over Mr.. Shields
dogs.
''Well," responded the chief. "when
get back to Cleveland I'll send you
hunting dog, one that you won't be
likely to trade for any dog of Mr..
Shields"
Mr. Collins, overwhelmed by the
generous proposition, hesitated to take
advantage of his new friends liberal
ity, and said that while he would be
reioiced to have good hunting dog of
his own, he could not think of depriv-
ing the chief of such q treasure. But
the chief said it didn't matter at all;
that really he never got any time to go
hunting, and living as he did, the dog
was more bother than good, and Mr..
Collins might just as well have him.
So it was finally settled that the gift
would be accepted with pride and
pleasure.
About two weeks afterward a man
came up into the editorial room one
afternoon and demanded:
us there any body here named Col
lins?"
eyes," answered the editor. looking
up from his work; I'm Collins.",
''Well, there's a dog down at the ex-
press Office for you"
"Ah! Yes, expected him. A hunt
ing dog. just bring him up here"
The man looked hard at Collins for
a few seconds, and then said:
You'd better come down and get
him yourself, and you'd better come
soon before he gets loose and eats
somebody up.''
EATS somebody! Why, he's hunt
ing dog, tell you, and hunting dogs
are not vicious.
"Oh, they ain'tp Well, be that as It
may, we want to move some of the
freight that is built up into barri-
cade around that hunting dog. and you
want to come right down and get him. "
very extraordinary? The idea of
being afraid of hunting dog! I'll go
down with you at once" exclaimed
Collins, putting on his hat and starting
out with the man.
1t didn't seem so extraordinary when
ne came to look at the dog. The brute
was big, OF a dirty brown and white
color, with disreputable looking dark
patch surrounding one eye. His chest
was broad, his forelegs bowed, his eyes
oioodshot, his ,.ears cropped short and
MS TAIL a stub. From between his
long, cleaning fangs rumbled a con-
slant hoarse growl, and he was cbok-
ing himself with futile efforts tn bre,L
the inch rope that held him and not at
the legs of the awe-stricken men. who
stood afar off and stared at him.
Very strange" unused Collins.
thinking aloud. Il never before saw
a hunting dog that looked like that or
acted so.
Hunting dogr sneered one of the
expressmen. He looks to me like a
mongrel, with a good deal of bull in
him, and too cussed to live
Nonsense. The chief of police of
Cleveland, who sent him to me, said
that he was magnificent hunting dog.
admit that l don't recognize the
strain. but I'm sure he would not have
told me what was not true. The poor
animal is no doubt nervous and high
strung, and has been excited by travel.
aeil be all right when he's soothed
doggy" ''ssS pooi
~, Inc poor doggy" just missed by an
A seizing the friendly hand out