The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-26
WhitcOmb'S Coyote Dog.


Whitcomb kicked his dog-ldcked
him savageIy. That was IS years ago
at Sunfy, a. small settlement on Pepper
creek, in the then DakotaS. We curl
ously looked at the dog to ascertain
what effect this particular kick would
have on him for it was at least the
one thousandth he had received from
his master in the course or three years
of troubled life. Usually this dog took
the kick, dropped his tail, SUNK INTO q
corner and watched his master out OF
a single eye until the latter's good hu-
NOR was restored. This afternoon ne
did not do this He turned away Win
out a yelp, set his SCARED body on the
trail to Portland and temporarily dis
appeared.
Whitcomb was the deputy sheriff OF
the county, stationed at Sunf1y- He re-
garded himself as master OF anything
and everything in the town. Men that
kick dogs usually carry that opinion
with them Whitcomb in Sunfiy stood
for the law and his own ends When
the two conflicted, the law went fish
ing. But it was a singular thing that
while Whitconb carried SO much au-
thority and imposing presence around
he never m et a man who dared TO oely
him but what he Immediately became
his best friend. Men that kick dogs
have that popularity also 1t was SIN
guIar, too, that the only thing IN sun
fly which Whitcomb ever outrageously
abused was mis- coyote dog. This he
kicked at every pportunity-kicked 50
hard that Watson, the freighter. look
ing into the dogs bloodshot eyes one
day. said sententiously to Whltcom0'
He'll turn on you some day.
The dog came from nowhere. He
drifted in out of the wilds of the buttes
one day and Immediately attached him
self to Whitcomb. Perhaps he had a
cross of coyote in him; more probably
he did not. But he was long, lank,
heavy fanged, big of muscle, marvellous
in endurance-he ran one day so miles
behind Whitcomb's gray Indian mare
without a sup of water. He minded
his own business strictly. even as to
other dogs. The few of his own race
that disturbed him were killed SO
quick they did not realize he was at
their threats.
Why he took to Whitcomb no one
could explain, but he did, and, although
kicked from pillar to post, beaten with
pistol butts and cut with quirts, he was
loyal to his first choice-that is, he was
loyal until this particular day when he
was kicked for the last time. When he
trotted away from Whitcomb's Office
although we did not know it, he forever
severed himself from that individual.
Watson, coming across the trail with
provisions, met him at Grass Butte, a
mile from town. He was high up the
butte, pevched on a shelf, looking tar
into the west. Watson whistled to him.
and he came down, dragging his big
but bruised frame after him slowly.
He licked the freighter's hand, shifted
at the horses and then returned to the
vantage point he had occupied, only
ward Sunf1y
this time he faced the east, looking to-
Watson was not a superstitious fell
low, but when he rode into town and
passed Whitcomb's Office he called out:
Going over Grass Butte way to-
night?"
Whitcomb nodded. Watson shook his
head.
THAT dog of yours is out there, and
he's waiting for trouble"
Whitcomb laughed, shook himself
and remarked:
Il reckon he'll never bother me. He's
just a bit sull1y."
'.All right" answered Watson, but
I know those coyote dogs, and / know
your dog, and he's waiting for you.
You just remember that
Whitcomb paid no more attention to
him. and the rest Of US forgot Grass
Butte and the dog About O'Clock
that evening Whitcomb rode out of
town with a young fellow by the name
of Owens. He was paying attention to
Owens sister, and she was living at
the ranch in the meadows five miles
west of Grass Butte. It was dark
when the two cleared the town, but
they were headed straight for the
butte When its shape rose out or the
blackness before them, WhitcOmb sud
denly thought of his dog and said 10
Owens:
Il wonder if that beast is waiting for
me?"
owens could not tell him. so when
they came to the butte WhitcOmb dis
mounted and whistled. He was evil
IDENTIFY anxious to call the dog to him
and show anew his power over it.
Something rustled on the mass of shale
above him.
owens told the rest of the story later.
He said:
whit called to the dog and then whis-
tied again. and then I saw something big
come through the darkness as if it was
shot out of gun. Whit ripped out an
oath. and then he fell down, and the big
thing him, and 1 thought it was a
lion or something else, and come back
to town fast as 1 could for help.
Watson was the first to get into the
saddle for rescue. The rest came hurried
" after him Grass Butte was very quiet,
and so was Deputy Sheriff Whitconb. He
was lying by the trail. face to the stars,
his throat torn open and the life gone
from him. One hand was on his gun, but
he never had strength enough to pun it.
AS for the coyote dog he was not TO be
seem but the next day his trail of blood
was followed westward for miles and
miles, but his pursuers never caught up
with him. He had gone on to safety,
leaving the marks of his vengeance at the
base of Grass Butte.