The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-12-01

that the two glasses of whisky which
had very recently passed down tho
mans throat had something to do with
this friendly expression; but, whatever
the cause, the kind words were very
grateful to Satan. And he even pat s.
ed, half-famished as he was, 20 return
the friendly advances with a brief,
spasmodic vibration of his tail.
When the food had been eaten, slice
of buttered bread from the rear pocket
of his visitors greasy frock-ooat COM
pleted the mutual condolences; and
Satan licked the hand that patted him,
and gave several snuifies and sighs of
deep content, and felt that perhaps the
world was not so cold and heartless as
he had supposed.
The dogs history, from this point
on, was told me by various police Off
Gers, and it runs as follows:
This man, Satan's next master, was
drunken and disreputable enough to
dampen the enthusiasm Of even the
most Jealous ''slum-worker.r He was
tailor by trade, and had given up regu-
lar work long before, having learned
THAT most dangerous and demoralizing
fact) that in this country a man can
obtain bread without working for it.
He had, withal, a certain attractive
good-nature, which, with his ready
tongue, made it especially easy for him
to cajole thrifty householders out of
the desired bread and coffee.
So the two faced the world together;
and whatever food the tailor got by his
persuasive ways he shared with his
dog; and the two became devoted
friends. Satan was at first puzzled by
the long periods of rest and profound
sleep in which his master INDUCED, on
occasions, at the most unexpected times
and in the most uncomfortable corners
of public parks and alleys; indeed, he
never fully understood the reason for
Them but he learned to stand guard at
such times over the PROSTATE form; aud
as the police told me, woe to the man
brass buttons or no brass buttons
who then tried to lay hand on the
drunken tailor.
Thus weeks and months passed by,
and Satan's life was not an unhappy
one. He grew more aud more dirty
and unkempt, but the dog had what
he most longed for, affection. Theone
redeeming virtue in the disreputable
tailor was that he really was fond of
Satan. Other better-kept dogs looked
scornfully at him, but ne only glanced
up conidingly at his master, and trot-
ted along with great content in his
breast.
When the tailor was sober ne was
kindly; and when he was quite filled
with liquor he was soon stupid and
helpless. 1t was when he drank little
only, and desired more, that he was in-
considerate and cross. At such times
he was inclined to speak sharply to his
flithfll companion, and Sfsen tried to
urge him into quarrels with other dogs;
but he urged in vain--Satan had only
goodwill toward both man and beast
He could not understand why he should
attack any creature who had not at
tackled him. Thus the tailor was some
what puzzled, and was considerably
disappointed at him; for he had wit
messed the dogs remarkable prowess,
and felt sure that he was q wonderful
fighter.
Late in the afternoon of the day
when the two had stood in the parson-
age porch, great thirst for liquor came
over the man; and the one glass Of
whisky which he was able to beg from
an old erony only whetted his appetite
and made him cross. He spoke sharp
IL TO Satan, and once even tried to kick
him.
Then an evil combination of circum-
stances gathered about the two COM
panions. The owner of a bar-room
where the thirsty tailor was lounging,
hoping for ''treat,r had recently
bought a dog; and he offered to bet
Satan's mastar that his new dog could
whip Satan in a fair fight.
The tailor declared, in the high hope
of unlimited drinks that he could not;
and several of the bystanders supported
his declaration, and dropped sundry
remarks in praise of Satan's prowess-
The result was that AN agreement was
then and there made to set the dogs at
each other, and have a trial of their
respective merits.
When the new dog was brought out
he proved TO be nearly third larger
than Satan, and much heavier, and the
scars on his breast and shoulders show
ed that he was no stranger to the dog
pit. The tailor was just enough excited
by the whisky already within him.
aud stimulated by the hope of the larger
quantity which he hoped to add to it,
to be blind to the impending danger.
As fIr Satan, as soon as he saw the
other dog he wagged his stump Of a
tail in the friendliest possible way, and
would have entered at once upon u
frolic; but a restraining hand held him,
and the new dog uttered forbidding
growl. After a few more drinks the
crowd adjourned to yard in the rear
of an empty house, and disposed them
selves on barrels and boxes and on the
fence. Then the dogs We're brought
near each other, poor Satan wondering
what il all meant, and looking for an
explanation.
A practiced hand now pushed the
animals roughly up against each other
and although Satan only took this to-
be an accident, and hoped it would not.
be repeated, the trained pit-dog knew
it, of old, as the signal for conflict. and
broke from the hand that held him,
and flew at his antagonist.
Now it must not be understood that
Satan was a coward, for he was not;
and when this ferocious animal sprang
at him, great as the odds were against
him, he defended himself. He was not
as heavy as the pit-dog, but he vas
quicker; and like flash he leaped aside-
and as the other passed him, he seized
I L. -, fHo