The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-02
''O141.' -

~~~~~~~os~S~-~~~~0~No ~-~~~N~o-~-o~~~S
series of short. sharp yaps greeted my
ears as I made my way toward caboose
| '.0141'
- looked around In all directions, but
nothing resembling dog was to be seen
! anywhere; nevertheless, the peremptory
salute continued .and-so far as I could
| locate it-Came from the clouds direct
| I was booked for three hours ride on
freight train; the mercury indicated 20
| below; life did not look exactly like a mid
summers dream as I picked my way
| along the depot platform
| Things took on cheerier aspect: how
ever. as looked in at the door of "O1n."
Instead Of the ordinary, cherries affair.
| customarily met with on a freight train,
L saw a veritabIe home on wheels, clean,
| snug. coy and. aEgarm. On the right hand
side of the@car. eight amid-ships, as 1t
| were, was a combination stove, warrant
ed, found, to both heat and cook. A tea
| kettle was merrily suffering away, and I
! deemed 1t no breach of good manners to
discover under the pulsating pie-tin- sery.
| ing as cover. that the "murphies" were
! almost done to death. Neat prints. were
hanging on the walls. one or two comfort
able-looking chairs invited the weary to
| rest, and general air of comfort per-
vaded the entire atmosphere.
| seated myself. awaiting the advent of
| the owner. the moving of the train or
| whatever might >transpire. That which
| happened first was the same little van
ping bark that had greeted my ears when
on the outside; coming now from immedi-
ately overhead. 1 glanced upward, and
there sure enough, upon one of the seats
OF the cupOla, was a nondescript affair.
emitting a series of noises that would
have done credit to young calliope
A cross between pug, bull and 'yaller''
dog. with fighting weight Of about
forty-five pounds He stood cycling me
critically from His slofty outlook, and
acted somewhat assif. he wished to assure
| me that his barking was intended for a
dog on the outside: his quick canine In
telhgence had already settled any guess
ton as to my friendly. interest In him. or
my honesty toward his master
Between the cupola sides and the stove
was coal-box, with a lid hung on
hinges. This box was AN exceedingly use
fui articie:1n IN: the domestic economy of the
car when the lid was closed it answered
as kitchen table, when 1t was open. it
formed one of series Of steps, by means
of which "Bill'' made his entrances and
| exits above.
Bills" master had put in an appear
| ance by now and supplemental proceed
lngs for dinner were In progress; the
| cook was using the kitchen table and
Bill evidently considered that there
| was an infringement of his rights He
Wh1ned, he howled, he barked and beat
| vigorous tattoo with his caudal append
age, but made no effort to descend SO
! long as his step was serving in the cult
! nary department.
| The brakeman made compromise with
BIZ by opening the side door in the
| cupola and letting him run on top of the
train.
There was a quick patter of little feet
| overhead, and in less than ten seconds
| he was back again teasing to get in.
! There was nothing for-it but to clear the
| table and arrange the steps for "Bill'' to
| enter by, which he did, coming down az
| gracefully as a fish, but landing in safety
/ and satisfaction
| A closer acquaintance with "Bill' only
| served to prove his wonderful intelH-,
| gence. His short life is full--of incident:
| he is also dog Of a somewhat extrava-
giant taste. esrit
| He is two years and two months old,
] and has been on the road" for two
| years, running on g. Great Northern train
| in Western Minnesota and Eastern North
| Dakota. The man that owns "Bfll' must
4 regular
| run thereon. Why If I should take a
| lay-off for day"Ssaid his owner. bill
| would take a sneak sand be riding with
| some other fellow, Fight? Well, 1 should
say yes. Fight-5that cuss'll fight at the
| drop of a. hat and drop 1T, himself too.
| The only way we can keep him from
scrapping is to keep him on the top of
the train and not let him onto the plat
| form at stations"
Did he ever get licked?'
No, stree! BIN wears the belt along
! this run. He does g lot of chewing of
| the rag from the, top of the train at the
big dogs along the hne, but has never
happened to get 5nixed up with anything
| too big for him yet. ~,
| Has he ever fallen from the train?''
| you bet he has, Once he went of the
top of the train when we were going at
| twenty miles an hour. He went flying
| into the ditch, and / tell you the air was
| full OF dog as far back as we could see
but next day along comes old Bill, limp
| Ing into the car. not much the worse for
his grand and lofty tumbling Bits all
| right, said his master. with an affec-
| tfonate little kick at the dog
When the boys are7in the car no kit
ten could be more playful or more friend