Evening star., 1896-01-25
WAS SURE TO COME BACK.
The Dog Brought His Owner q Small
but Certain Income.


The Dog Brought His Owner Small
but Certain Income.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Henry B. Gross. the manufacturer. had
some time ago a very peculiar experience
with dog-a red'n&g-a red setter dog
His business took him to Elkton, Mo.
There in front Of a drug store he saw what
he thought was 2 very handsome and nne
dog. although heLdbes not profess to De a
judge of the canine race The tnought
came to his mind that his wife was very
anxious to possess ,an animal of that char.
acter, and SO he Inquired of the man of
drugs If he would part with his four-footed
belonging. Thee country Galen said; II
dunno. Purity good dog, that. Wouidnt
mind selling him f I got enough 1or hlm
Let ye have him for tenner."
Mr.. Gross closed the bargain with avidity.
The druggist generously threw In the chain,
and, holding one end Of it. the Phiadsiphian man
tugged his prize to the railroad station, 1eal-
o,:sly guarded him in the baggage car our
ing the journey to the Quaker city, brougnt
him to his home and triumphantly presented
him to his spouse. There was Joy In the
Gross household. In order to accustom him
to his surroundings the dog was chained at
night in the basement, and from midnight to
sunrise the neighborhood was aroused with
his howls. 1t was thought this vocal condi-
tion would pass by in twenty-four hours,
but the next night was worse than the last,
and In order to subjugate the anima! the
lTate Gross arose from his couch and bella
bored him full sore, hoping thereby to bring
him to a realization of proper conduct, Just
as recalcitrant children are sometimes sub
dued. The dog remained quiet during the
day, but when the dog star again famed IN
high heaven he lifted his voice and walled IN
a way that made the teeth Of the neighbor-
hood grit and women turn pale with fear
that death was In the house. Then the man
ufacturer, arising once more, went down
after Qnnfhnr foO unclaimed
him and let the canipe pest loose In the
yard, hoping that comparatively free
condition might bring him to realiza ton
Of his iniquity. The little free space in the
rear OF the house was surrounded with
fence about six feet high, which was sup
posed to give ample obstruction to the es-
cape OF the Elkton animal. Next morning
when the Gross household arose from slum-
ber that once again had come to disturbed
pillows the dog was gone, and had left no
sign Of his going.
Several months later business again took
Mr.. GROSS to Elkton, and, as he passed by
the apothecary's shop, there. blinking and
basking in the sun, was the self same dog
that he had carried with him to Philadel-
phia He said to the smiling son of Galen:
why that's my dog you have there"
Certainly 1t is," said the apothecary
smilingly. II didn't take. him away from
you. He belongs to you. Take him home
with you. He got back here somehow, but
he is your property"
The Philadelphian said that he had some
business at the other end Of the town, and
would return for the dog later. A by
stander who had heard the conversation
followed him, and, accosting him, inquired:
Say, mister, did you buy that dog?"
He was assured that such was the case,
and then he chuckled. why" he said,
with laugh, that drug store man makes
pretty good living selling that dog. He
has sold him about twenty times during the
last year, but he comes back every time.
You can't keep him away. May ask how
much you paid?"
When informed that $40 was the price
paid. he laughed immoderately, and when
he recovered himself he said: well, you
are greeny. That is the highest figure
paid yet. Two dollars used to be the reru-
lar price, and he finally got it up to S., but
$40 beats the record
Full of ire. the Philadelphia went back
to the lair of the soda water fountain, and
said to its proprietor: You have robbed me.
You make business of selling this dog"
The man placidly said: What complaint
have you to make? There is your dog Take
him home with you.''
There was some further argument, and
finally, when it was suggested to the apoth-
ecary that $40 was beyond the usual price,
he said, pleasantly: "Well. perhaps it is
But, of course, you must remember that the
dog had to walk back, and we are entitled
to some compensation, but 1 am willing to
return you $. and upon that basis the ca
nine deal was settled.
Mr Gross is now hunting for good dog.