The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-02
THE STORY OF A DOG.
Tale of an Animal Taught to Catch
burglars.

THE STORY OF A DOG.
Tale of an Animal Taught to Catch
burglars.
(From Werner's Magazine.l
great many burglaries had lately
taken place in our neighbOrhood, and
father came to the conclusion that it was
time he bought dog He thought bull
dog would be the best for his purpose. SO
he purchased the most savage and murder
GUS looking specimen that he could find
My mother was alarmed when she saw
the dog. Surely, you're not going TO let
that brute loose about the housed" she
exclaimed. Hell kill somebody. l can
see it in his face"
II want him to kill somebody" replied
my father. Il want him to kill burglars. .
81 don't like to hear you talk like that.
Thomas" answered mother. ITS not
like you. We've a right to protect cur
property. but we've no right to take a
fellow creatures life"
Our fellow creatures will be all right
so lorg as they don't come into our
kitchen when they've no business there. :"
returted my father somewhat testify. I'm
going to fix up this dog n the scullery,
and il a burglar comes fooling around
well, that's his affair"
The old folks quarreIed on and on for
about a month over this dog. The dad
thought the matter absurdly sentimental
and the mater thought the dad unneces-
sarily vindietiye. Meanwhile the dog grew
more Notwithstanding every day.
One night my mother woke my father
up with, Thomas there's a burglar down.
stairs. I'm positive. distinctly heard the
kitchen door OPEN
"Oh. we'll. the dogs got him by now.
them murmured my father. who had
heard nothing and was sleepy.
Thomas replied my mother. severely.
I'm not going to lie here while fellow
creature is being murdered by a savage
beast If you won't go down and save that
mans life l WILL
oh BOTHER" said my father. preparing
to get up. You're always fancying you
hear noises. believe that's all you wom-
en- come to bed for-to sit up and listen for
burglars" Just to satisfy her. however.
he pulled on his trousers and socks and
went down.
well. sure enough, my mother was
right this time. There was a burglar in
the house. The pantry window stood open.
and a light was shining in the kitchen.
My father crept softly forward and peeped
through the partly open door. There sat
the burglar. eating cold beef and pickles.
and there. beside him, on the floor gazing
up into his face with a blood -curdIing
smile of affection, sat that idiot Of dog.
wagging his tail.
My father was so taken aback that he
forgot to keep silent
We'll Tin" and he used a word that
should not care to repeat.
The burglar, hearing him, made a dash
and got clear of by the window and the
dog seemed vexed with father for having
driven him away.
Next morning we took the dog back to
the trainer from whom we had bought it.
What do you think I wanted this dog
for?" asked my father, trying to speak
calmly
Well replied the trainer. "you said
you wanted a good house dog
Exactly so,' answered the dad II
didn't ask for a burglars companion, did
I? | didn't say l wanted a dog who'd
hum with burglar the first time he ever
ne to the house. and sit with him
lie he had his supper. In case ne might
III lonesome, did II" And my father re-
covnted the incidents of the previous
night
The man agreed that there was some
cause for complaint. TN tell you what
it is, sir he said. at was my boy Jim
as trained this ere avg, and I guess the
young beggar's taught i'm more about
tackling rats than burglars. You leave
i'm with me for a week, sir; I'll put that
all right
We did so. and at the end of the time
the trainer brought him back again.
You'll find i'm game enough now sir"
said the man. "E amt what l call an
intellectual dawg, but I think I'VE knocked
the right idea into i'm
My father thought he'd like to test the
Gn W. for firsy
to break in through the kitchen window,
while the trainer held the dog by a chain.
The dog remained perfectly quiet until the
man was fairly inside Then he made one
savage spring at him, and if the chain had
not been stout the fellow would have
earned his shilling dearly.
The dad was satisfied. now that he could
go to bed in peace; and the matters alarm
for the safety OF the local burglars was
increased
Months passed uneventfully by, and then
another burglar sampled our house. This
time there could be no doubt that the dog
was doing something for his living. The
lin in the basement was terrific The
house shook with the conclusion Of falling
bodies.
My father snatched up his revolver and |
'ushed downstairs. and l followed him. The |
kitchen was in confusion. Tables and |
tnalTS were overturned. ana on the 0OOr |
ay man gurgling for help. The dog was |
standing over him. choking him
The pater held his revolver to the mans |
.ar while l. by superhuman effort, drag |
sed our preserver away and chained him |
Id to the sink, after which I lit the gas.
Then we perceived that the gentleman |
IN the floor was police constable.
Coed heavens," exclaimed my father. |
iropping the revolver. ''how ever did you |
,ome here
low die I come ere ?''retorted the man,
lifting up and speaking in tone of bit |
er hut not unnatural indignation. why, |
n the course of my duty. that's 'ow l |
,ome ere. | see a burglar getting in |
through the window, SO Just follows. my |
gentleman and slips in after i'm"
Ibid YOU catch i'm o. asked my father.
"Did / catch 'im?" almost shrieked the |
nan. low could | catch'im with that |
,lasted dog of yours 'olding me down by |
he throat. while e lights is pipe and
walks out by the back door,"
That dog was for sale the next day.
Wiser Than He.