Middletown transcript., 1896-09-26
LITTLE ROBBIE STAYED.

LITTLE ROBBIE STAYED.
Nearly every railroad company in the
country has q rule as unalterable as the
laws Of the Medes and Persians that NO
dogs shsll be allowed to ride in the pas.
senger coaches. It makes no difference
whether dog is a Saint Bernard or q
Skye terrier. whether he has won a
hundred blue ribbons or whether he is
only a mongrel whose ancestry is
shrouded in darkness, he can't ride in
passenger coaches.
But there is somewhere in this wide
world little black and tan terrier,
with nose like a needle and pair OF
sparkling black ey es, who rode all the
way from Albany to New York in q
passen ger car the other day in spite Of
the united effort of conductor and
three brakesmen to get him into the
baggage car, where no doubt he would
have been we'll treated and perfectly
happy.
The dog boarded the train in the
arms of one of two women who took a
seat in the second coach. The fair
passengers-for they were fair-deposi-
ted the animal between them without
the least attempt at concealment and
as if they had not the slightest idea
that dogs in passenger coaches were
contraband goods. Probably they had
never heard of the iron-clad rule that
discriminates against dogs and favors
cats.
A brakeman was the first to discover
she fact that one of the s'riglations"
has sustained compound fracture.
He stopped in the aisle and surveyed
the woman in anazement. As soon as
he had recovered his breath he said:
"Excuse nee, madam, but it's against
the rules to a low dogs in the passen-
ger cars"
The woman who sat next the aisle
looked up from her magazine with a
glance of panied surprise.
s'Are you sure?" she said. 81 never
heard of it."
"Yes'mn said the brakeman, politely.
"I'm sure.'
81 don't believe it," said the other
woman Indignantly. ~ never even
heard of it.n
"Well, it's fact," said the brake
man. $50 if you'll just give him to me
I'll put him in the baggage car"
The owner of the dog shrank back
in horror. "Oh," she gasped. Icouldn't
think of it; really I couldn't. I seldom
let Bobbie 60 out of my sight,"
''But, madam, you'll have to let him
go out Of it this time" insisted the
brakeman.
'sOh, but I can't. Besides, it won't
make any difference just this once.
The company never will know the diff
ference" And she swept the dog up
off the seat and folded him in her arms
declaring that Robbie should never, no
never, 60 into the horrid baggage Car.
The brakeman was nonplnssed. He
bad never seen anything like this. be-
fore-not since he first began to brake.
He brushed his hand confusedly over
his face, and with grnnt Of emtarres-
ment turned on his heel to find the con-
ductor, feeling thankful in his heart
for the first time that he was not that
official.
The conductor soon appeared. He
was magnificent conductor. The
buttons on his uniform shone resplend-
emily and he marched down the aisle
with such q lordly stride that it seemed
q pity that there was no band aboard
the train to play, "See, the Conquering |
Hero Comes. /" There is a proverb |
about what goes before q fall. The
conductor had-it |
He stopped short beside the two wo-
men and the dog.
Madam" he said sharply, s'yo u'll
have to put the dog in the baggage car.
No dogs allowed in the passenger
coaches" /" And he reached out his arms |
for the terrier, which promptly bit him.
The conductor lost his dignity and
said ssdamn.' The woman stifled q
and went through q pretence
Of slapping the dog. It was hollow
mockery.
ssCome,n said the conductor saw
agely and with some excuse. "Let me
have the beast.n
.'If you please" replied the owner
IF the dog with spirit, .'he is not
beast.n \
81 don't care what he isp' shouted
he irate official. ''He's got to 60 into
he baggage car if he's an angel" And
lgain he reached for the terrier.
But the terrier was safe In the arms
# his mistress, who remarked with
obs in her voice. "0h, please. please
Ion't. / can't let him go in that aw- /
al place. Little Bobbie would die, I
NOW be would Please let him stayt'
The other woman did not cry. She
sas made Of sterner stutf. She
yaxed indignant, and her eyes shot +