The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-16
NY Bruce,

| was born with more courage than
most women, l suppose, for, notwith-
my cottage was somewhat re-
tired and my life somewhat hermitlike,
with Bruce as my only constant COM
panion, it never once occurred to me to
be afraid.
To be sure, l employed servant, who
came regularly every morning and left
punctually at Z O'clock every evening,
but this arrangement, of course, necessi-
tated my being alone during the night.
Nevertheless | liked the arrangement.
My greet, tawny brute friend was, l used
laughintly to assert. equal to a score of
men in faithfulness. intelligence and
courage and more than equal to a host
of women, so far as agreeable compan-
ionshp was concerned. And now let
Bruce's deeds become his magnifer.
1t was bleak, autumn night. Betty
had gone, and |. after luxuriatng over
a book till long past bedtime, finally ex-
changed it for a season of quiet medita-
ton before the open fire. This last occu-
patton ended in a nap, though of what
length | cannot declare. l only know |
was suddenly aroused by a sound which,
slight as it was, startled me to my feet
and the full possession of my senses.
With keen sense of something wrong
l glanced round. The lamp had burned
low. and by the faint, wavcring light l
discerned Bruce mOtionless as a statue
before the French window opening on
the lawn. His tawny coat was bristling
with impatient wrath and his eyes, fierce
and watchful were fixed steadily on the
glass.
feel alarmed and involuntarily whisper
ed softly:
Bruce! Bruce!'
He smoothed his rough coat and turn
ed quick. intelligent glance upon me.
with an acknowledging wag of his tail,
and then in an instant resumed his for
mer attitude and savage appearance.
Dropping on my knees beside him, l
breathessly listened and soon heard the
sound of stealthy footsteps on the porch
without. Rallying my wits, ! sprang
| lightly and quickly to my feet and has
| tened to the kitchen, intending to un-
fasten the door and give Bruce the
/ chance to seize the intruder unexpected
| ly and thus to his serious disadvantage.
But on reaching the door paused. ex-
claiming in frightened whisper:
| "Another And he is picking the
iockn'
| Waiting only long enough to assure
| myself that the bolts were securely fas-
| tened, hurried back to the sitting room.
Quickly seizing Bruce by the collar,
drew him from his post. whispering in
| vehement tones:
Hist. Bruce. hist!"
Comprehending in an instant that
bad constituted myself his leader, the
~ r,ll@
to the kitchen. There he showed a dis
position to halt. but at word he sprang
after me as | opened the door leading to
the cellar and descended the stairs.
Fearful that he might betray us by
bounding over some unseen obstacle,
placed my hand on his collar and care
fully and silently groped my way to the
cellar door. Ii was only a minutes work
to unfasten If and throw il softly up and
back. | did it, at the same time seizing
Bruce. Who. crowding close upon my
heels. came near slipping the leash
| prematurely.
Restraining him as well as | could.
crept softly round the house until we
| were within Il few feet of the man busted
with the kitchen lock Absorbed in his
nefarious task. he turned neither to the
right nor left. and. with a low. sharp
"Seize him. in Bruces ear. | loosed my
bold.
| Swift and silent as an arrow from the
bow he shot forward, and the next in
slant his teeth were fastened on the
throat of his unsuspecting victim, and
his huge form rose uppermost as they
tumbled over together.
Impelled by fear that he might ir
his savage wrath destroy the pool
| tah I rd Rnt on1 3
step.
In the moments excitement | ha(
quite forgotten the villain lurking on tn,
far porch. and here he stood within {
pace of me, his pistol leveled full at IN.
{ faithful ally!
With loud cry of terror l threw VI
my hand and sent the weapon whirlin!
over his shoulder. n harmless report ring
/, ing sharply on the still night air. HI
turned on me, a fearful oath giving EN-
: phasis to the cruel hand with which b
seized my hair and shook me.
iii teach you he hissed as l erie,
out under his grasp.
But the sentence was never finished
l The next instant he relaxed his hold t
e | combat a more formidable adversary.
J. ROuses. to a perfect frenzy by tn
sound of my cries and the sight of tn
p | villain s h3rg upHfi me. Bruce naQ lei
his manned and half unconscious foe t
fly with redoubled fury at my assailant.
\ The struggle was short and fierce, bu
the brute proved more than a match fo
the man. and. with his ready teeth an
savage grovls to assist me, | succeede
in placing the wretch under bonds a
It strong as those with which had airead
j. secured his crippled companion.
+ Poor Bruce left the battlefield wit
several bad flesh wounds, but he limpe
after me into the kitchen, wagging hi
'. tail as industriously as if be had nevt
II felt the cruel knife blade and very ev
a IDENTIFY with full sense of the inest
Y mable service he had rendered me and b
e own consequent Importance.
e Dear old Bruce! | dressed his wound
10 kissed him and then fed him regally G
y, sirloin steak. which latter attention,
" am compelled to admit. was obviousl
The most acceptable.
e As for my unlimited guests, commc
le humanity led me to make them as cor
y Portable as possible for the night on the
hard beds. and the next day | saw to
le that they reached their proper destin
n tion.-New York News.
IN Sensible Suggestion.