The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-16
TODGERS'S DOUBLE LIFE.
LOST CHARACTER on THE BULLDOG
OWNED ~ DOROTHY.
A visit To Another world which Taught Him
the JOYS OF Battle and Led to hisappre-
henslous-Dorothys Discovery OF Her Pets
Meakness-ReformatIon In the CountTy.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the Country.
Todsers is a bulldog, bow-lesged. deep-chested
and with a heavy undershot jaw lie is at present
spending his days on a quiet farm on Longlsland.
The farm. for Todgers at any rate, IL a sort
Of dogs reform school and he was sent there
In order TO take him away from the temptations
OF city life and build up his character. But
those who know Todgers best say that any
dogs that presume too much on the refor-
nation In the Todgers character will get a lesson
that will last them the rest OF their lives. which
may not be such a long time at that.
TodRers was until recently the pet and pride OF
a brown-eyed young woman who may be called
Dorothy Foster. who Is a great admirer
OF dogs that are able TO fight, but have too
much self-respect TO do so. A few days ago
Todgers stood high In that class. But he does
not any longer. And the cause Of his downfall
was the ease with which any one, dog or man.
can live a double life in big New York,
Todgers went 10 the mountains this summer
There he used to accompany Dorothy on all
her walks and drives,
1T Il such a comfort 10 have the old fellow
with me" Dorothy used to say. p%atting Todgers
on the tip Of his very stub nose. -lfeel perfectly
safe with Todgers, and at the same time there
Is never any danger Of his getting into q fight.
In all his life he has never once fought
II the caller happened to be a girl she would
say: The dear, sweet old fellow II the
caller was a man he would look at the deep
chest and undershot jaw and think: what
a sinful waste OF good fighting material
But evil companions and the temptations
Of city life proved too much for the virtuous
Todsers. Dorothy didn't take many walks
in the city. and Todgers had a good deal Of time
TO spare and develop the habit Of walking on
big puyn apCount Ona day ha roap,ad ouar
to the East Side. The surroundings weren't
what he had been accustomed TO. but Todgers
wanted to see life. He did.
Al the corner OF Second avenue stood a little
group Of men. well but a little loudly dressed.
All were engaged in reading the sporting pages
OF various papers, One Of them saw Todgers.
MY Gavd," he said In tones OF awed ad-
miration. Just glance at the jaw on his
doglets. Hes a thoroughbred. II there ever
was one
The loudly dressed men made friends with
Todgers. and patted him on the head, and felt
Of his chest and Jaw muscles. They didn't
know his name. so they called him Old Sport.
Todgers, des pite his efete bringing up. had a
big vein OF sporting blood in him. And almost
unoonsoiously he had grown weary Of feminine
caresses and pettings. and Of being fed on
dainty food and driven through the Park sit
'A'N - "a O'iA' iNAANAo NOuluu Y
a~naly1e his feelings. but he had been uneasy
since his return 10 the city. And the praises
Of the loudly dressed men, and the sawdust
on the floor of the saloon they entered, and the
big piece Of raw meat they gave him, all suited
him. Todgers didn't know II, but one Of his
ancestors had been a enowned fighter and had
died In the ring. matched against a younger
aud stronger dog. but grimly holding on until
death came. The ancestors blood was stir
ring in Todgers's veins. Scientific men call
this atavlsm. but the loudly dressed men in
the saloon said:
Look at the jaw OF him. That dogs a
fighter from Fightersville."
Then they brought in another dog, built
somew hat after the manner Of Todgers. but
lacking the jaw development Of Dorothy's
pet. Todgers was willing to make friends
and advanced toward the strange dog in a
democratic spirit OF good fellowship. But
the strange dog. after a furtive glance at Tod
gers. sprang forward and grabbed him by the
front lez. Todgens had never before been
treated in that way. But the blood Of the
fighting ancestor was in the ascendant now.
The strange dog was better trained and II was
Quit" a while before Todgers could really bring
his Jaw INTO action. When he did finally
fasten his grip on the strange dog he had him
carnestness toward the backbone. The other
dog held on to Todgers's leg for a few moments.
Then he weakened and wht1ed and tried to
10 stay. Three men and a stout iron bar were
finally successful in opening his Jaws, and the
othor dog was carried ont Of the saloon with
Todgers growing aud straining at his collar
In his attempts to get at him.
When Todg'rs finally returned TO the Foster
residence late that night he llnped, and one
Of his front paws was torn and bleeding But
his hssrt was filed with Joy. Al last he had
Dorothy bound up the wounded paw. and
petted Todgers and deplored the accident
1T really isn't safe to lot poor Iodgers go
out alone IN this big city, she said TO her brother
Tom. MY poor pet must have wandered away
from home and a wagon. or car. or something, |
fellow" she added. pattinG Todgers on the
head Did the wicked wagon run over his
brother Tom looked critically at the wounded
paw somehow the Injury didn't look as II
1t was due 10 n wagon.
Looks more as II a dog had Ghewed IL
remarked Tom. "And III bet that dog Is wish
Ing he hadn't done IL, too
HE never fights. replied Dorothy severely.
IF some quarrelsomo dog bothered him., my
Todgers would walk away"
Tom glanced at the undershot Jaw, -,
give odds they would have to carry the other
For a few days Todgers endured pettins
Tor )riotous, pleasures, and the sawdust Of the
saloon, and the big pieces Of meat tossed him
BY tho, loudly dressed men Perhaps, TOO,
again So ono afternoon Todgers slipped ont
81 the Foster residence and made his way to
the scene OF his former triumph, He met
with a cordial welcome from the loudly dressed
men. But TodRers, while willing TO be anable,
had come over on business. He had tasted
the delights Of n fight, and since then his prog
ress In atavism had bNen speedy. And Todg-
ers looked around anxiously for the other dog
The other dog wasn't In sight, but II II was
fighting Todgers was looking for his new ac-
Quaintanccs were willing and anxious he should
be accommodated His opponent this time
was larger than TodRerS and put up a beau
tiful fight. Butin the end Todeers's blue blood
and s%uTerior qualities told, and at the finish
his antagonist had nothing but a decent burial
coming to him. Todgers himself was covered
with blood and torn in a dozen places. But
he was happy and contented. and waRged
his stub tail In triumph and received the pieces
q raw meat offered him as his due after having
fought n good fight and won. After q decent
interval Todgers felt that he had sufficiently
enjoyed the pleasures Of a strenuous life, and
that Il was time for him TO return home. Some
Of the men In the saloon wanted TO keep him.
Hes too good a dog to let CO." said the
saloon keeper. Just stand In front OF the
door. Bill, apd keep him In until | get n rope
Bin closed the door and stood In front Of II,
Todgers wanted 70 get out. His stub tail
stopped waRging. He gave a low. but very
deep 0rowl and looked up at Bill. II wasn't
a hurried. or angry inspection, Just a calm.
what part Of Bits anatomy the, undershQt
Jaws could get the best grip. And Bill made
up his mind that he did not care 10 stand In
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