The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-06
STORY OF A DOG.

eyes, stole the dog. Maybe it's the
only thing ever stole, and maybe it isn't.
That's nothing to you, is itF You asked
me for the story and Will tell it to you
don't suppose you're headquarters de-
tective. I know you are not. Why? Per
haps know them all. Perhaps it comes
handy in my graft to know them. That's
nothing to you, is itg
''Well, you saw the dog on the roof, you
say. You know he was well bred, ehp
You know a thing about dogs, then He
took first prize in his class up at Madison
Square Garden. That's right. He sold
for thousand the next day, and stole
him.
''Nfy friends name was Marty-Martin
Borden. We went to school together on
Broome street. Yes, they call that part of
the town Poverty Hollow, and that's
right, too, guess He went longer than
me. He was educated. He went up to
fra ctions, but left when my mother died
and my father was sent away. guess I
was about s, something like 8, but I'm
not quite sure. They've got it at head
quarters with my picture. You can look
there if you like.
Martyrs father earned good wages in a
foundry down Corlears Hook way, and
Marty was kept in school until he was 10,
think.
''WeI, when Martyrs dad died, Marty
got job down in the foundry doing little
jobs a kid could do.
Zone day-he'd been there few years
while was up the river-an iron beam
fell on him and did something queer to
his back. No, don't know what it was.
The doctors at Bellevue had a lot of long
names for it, but they didn't do Martyrs
back any good. I was calling on him ev-
cry day and fetching him things what
could get until they said Marty should go
to the island.
'fThat near broke his heart, cause he
knew it meant he was never to be cured,
and was to live over there in the hospital
all his life I saw him crying one day
when went to Bellevue, and it near set me
crazy.
''Well, I went TO the boss and asked why
had Marty to go to the island, and he says
because he had no home to go to. That
set me to thinking. I got something that
day-never mind how-and I rented a
room and went to the boss and said I'd
take Marty home with me. showed him
the room rent receipt, and showed him
the money to hire carriage to take Marty
home in, and they let me have him.
8 1t was q little room, just under the
roof, with a stepladder running up to
glass skyight, which had a sliding win
dow.
81 was on Fifth avenue one day, away
up by the park, kind of looking around to
see if anything would come my way, when
a young swell comes along with a bull
terrier. The dog was a beauty. I saw the
swell hadn't owned him long, for the dog
wasn't friendly with him. don't know
just how it was, but all of a sudden it
strikes me what good company the dog
would be for Marty, and sneaks up and
grabs it. made the chase all right, for
I don't think the swell missed the dog III
til I was out of sight.
GsOf oflrIrse 601o ara baffar than T17ocf
men, but Marty was as good as a dog, and
those two took to each other from the time
they looked straight into each other eyes.
Honest, it is a wonder the way they were
chums from the word go. told Marty I'd
found the dog, and would look out for an
advertisement for it. and return it. Well,
the advertisement came all right, and
there were pieces in the paper about the
prize winner the swell had paid 81 900 for
being lost. The reward kept jumping
every day until it was $3.50 and no ques-
tions.
''The day that happened I only had
enough food for Marty and the dog, and /
made up my mind I'd return the dog and
get lot of nice things for Marty. III
tell you why didn't. When I went to
our room, thought first Marty had gone
dotty, for he was laughing like nothing
was the matter with HIS back, and there
was no pains in his head.
give the dog, for Marty was educated and
knew lot Of words-Comfor6 was on the
bed doing all the tricks you ever heard Of.
Marty told me Comfort could climb the
ladder, push back the window and go on
the roof. Honest, while Marty was telling
this, the dog was looking at him with his
head on one side and his eyes cooked up
knowing, and when Marty stopped the dog
ran up the ladder and was doing all his
stunts on the skylight. Every once in
awhile Comfort would stop his tricks and
stand with his fore feet on the edge of the
skyhght grinning and his ears cooked like
he was saying, How do you like that,
Martyr
''Then he'd dance all over the tin roof
and make a noise like it was raining.
When it was terrible hot up there, Marty
would say, Let's have a rainstorm, Com
fort, and the dog would go up to the roof
and patter around with his claws on the
tin till Marty would call him down.
$50 I didn't take the dog back for the
reward.
That was the way it was till Marty-til
the end.
''When could get the money, I'd have
a paid doctor, but Marty said not to. He
knew it was coming, but he never showed
he was getting punishment Comfort
seemed to know, too, and I guess he stop
ped sleeping at all, for if Marty would
make move at night that wouldn It fright
en- fly Comfort would be at his side as
quick as me, kind of kissing his hand and
making little talks to him, you know, the
way dogs do.
well, Marty quit one night, one hand
in mine and one on Comforts neck. The
wagon came for him-I hadn't any
money that time for hearse-and when
the men took him out of the room Com
fort went up on the roof. was standing
on the sidewalk while they were putting
Marty in the wagon, when some people
said, Look at the dogI
Comfort was on the edge of the roof
looking down, and as the men shut the
door of the wagon on Marty the dog
jumped. broke my arm here trying to
L. Il