The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-15
JACKS SERVICE.

As AF0Q II d SUBURBAN ana ElG
man OF the house was often absent for
months at q time, I became an expert in
looking for burglars. A seven shooter,
every barrel Of which was loaded, was
laid in a conspicuous place close to my
hand. and cannot understand yet why
did not shoot myself or some member OF
my family in my various frantic grabs at
the weapon when 1 heard or thought I
heard some one ascending the stairs. I
had read somewhere that newspapers
spread on the stairs would make such a
cracking sound if any one stepped on
them that they made the best burglar de-
tectives in the world.
tried it, and my youngest hopeful fell
down stairs in consequence the next morn
ing and sustained fractured arm. 1t was
then that Jack came upon the scene. Jack
was a hunting dog, part bloodhound,
handsome to look at, but very ferocious to
deal with. Either he was hard of hearing
or he could not discriminate between
friends and foes, but by the time had
owned Jack a fortnight none of my friends
would come near me.
So followed the example of the clown
at the circus who owned an elastic dog.
took him in at night and let him out in
the morning. Jack had his chair in the
sitting room, close to a veranda and q
window from which the side gate could
be seen and past which the sidewalk eX-
tended for a square or SO, ours being the
last house on the block.
sometimes wondered myself If was
not as much afraid of the new dog as of
the burglars, but he never moved from his
post, and became used to his low grovIs
and barks if any one passed, which did
not often happen.
One day a company of friends came from
the city and staid overnight at my earnest
solicitation. We sighed several times dur
ing the evening, ooh, for q mani but
fbarp was a0f- of hos
in the company. After music and late
supper we told ghost stories and ended up
with burglar experiences, by which time
there WASH t a thimbleful of brains among
us-nOthing but hysterical fears and nerv-
Gus tremOrs.
Then we had good deal of trouble in
composing the dog. Seeing new faces
seemed to disturb him, and he was full Of
low grOwls that were threatening and bel
Hgerent. He wanted to fly at each one Of
my friends separately. Then he tried to
take them collectively, but I hung on his
collar with both hands, while Hannah
cOaxed him with bone, and we finally
landed him in the old chair, which was
his throne by day in the wood shed and
his couch by night in the parlor. Once
there, he curled himself up for keeps,
while the rest of US scrambled up stairs
and shut ourselves into our several apart
ments.
1t was the noon of night and as light as
day with full moon when was awal1-
ened by hearing some one at my door and
a small feminine voice calling in hushed
sylables, . Let me in; oh let me in 'i and
1 opened the door instantly and saw
company of ghosts in the hall, each one Of
whom whispered in accents that Glove to
the roof of her mouth:
Burglars, burglars in the houser'
whispered back, with Gathering teeth,
"It's Jackl''
Jack was indeed making a remarkable
demonstration. He neither barked nor
growled, but made strange kissing noise
that I am told is native. to the bloodhound
alone and is the most awe inspiring threat
that bloodthirsty dog can make.
Don {, - said one of my friends as
was about to turn on a light.
eff you do, the burglars will see US.
Let us look out of the front windows. 1t
is as light as day, and they viii not know
that we have seen them.
So we crept, hand in hand, with two
frightened children clinging to US, to the
windows, STOPPING low that we could
not be seen, and, sure enough two men
were walking along softly in the middle
of the road, coming directly toward the
house by the side where the dog was ON
watch, and no doubt they were quite UNI
conscious that there was any dog on the
premises, for when they reached the door
they stepped upon the sidewalk, opened
steps to the veranda.
During this time the dog had Kept I'D
that same peculiar expression of his anger,
and 1 had seized the seven shooter and
was grasping it in a cold and shaking
hand, but the moment the two men step
ped on the veranda the dog sprang from
his chair to TIE table and threw himself
against the window with a yell of rage
that was like the roar of a wild animal
followed by that long, baying cry familiar
to those who have ever heard a pack of
bloOdhounds give tongue.
We all thought the window was broken
from the easement, that perhaps the men
would shoot our only protector and make
their way in, but in moment we were
treasured The noise the dog made pre-
vented our hearing anything, but we saw
the two men going away, at first slowly,
then faster and they went back the way
they came.
We're they burglars? Wait till 7 finish
my story. The next day 1 took my little
family and accompanied my friends to
their home in the city We had each noted
the dress, size and general appearance of
the two men, one being tall and wearing
a derby hat, while the other was short and
wore n cap.
There was great excitement at cur little
suburban station, and crowd of people
had gathered about some police officers
who had captured two men, We craned
our nec1s and saw our two burglars.
''Who are they2'' we asked breathIessly.
Cramps, I reckon" said the station
master They nearly murdered an old
man up here in Harlem last night because
he wouldn't give up his money. The old
fellow was plucky and reused the neigh
borhOod, and the officers are just taking
them into the city"
We looked at each other when the sta
ton master had finished
= ,,
shudder, If It hadn't been for Provi-
dence-and Jack. Exchange
He Was Economical.