Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-09-19
WHITCOMB'S
COYOTE DOG.

have on him, for it was at least the
one thousandth he had received from
his master in the course of three years
of troubled life. Usually this dog took
the kick, dropped his tail, skunk into a
corner and watched his master out Of
single eye until the latter's good hu
NOR was restored. This afternoon he
did not do this He turned away with
out a yelp, set his SCARED body on the
trail to Portland and temporarily dis
appeared.
Whitcomh- the deputy sheriff Of
.l.- county, stationed at Sunfy. 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 Sunfy stood
| for the law and his own ends. When
the two cOnfiicted, the law went fish
ing. But it was singular thing that
while WhitcOmb carried so much au-
thority and imposing presence around
he never met a man who dared to defy
him but what he Immediately became
his best friend. Men that kick dogs
have that popularity also. 1t was sim
gular, too, that the only thing in Sun
f., which WhItcomb ever outrageously
abused WAS his coyote dog. This he
kicked at every opportunity-kicked so
hard that Watson, the freighter, look
Ia, int, l.
day. said Scntentiously to Whitcomb:
Hell 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
himself 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, marvel
Gus in endurance-hc ran one day 60
miles behind WhtcOmb's gray Indian
mare without n sup Of water. He
minded his own business strictly, even
as to other dogs. The few of his own
race that disturbed him We're killed so
quick they did not realize he was at
their throatS.
Why he took to WhitcOmb no one
could explain, but he did, and, al
though kicked from pillar to post.
beaten with pistol butts and cut with
quirts, he was loyal to bis first choice
that is, he was loyal until this par
ticular day when he was kicked for
from Whitcombs 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, |
mile from town. He was high up the I
butte, perched on shelf. looking far |
into the west. Watson whistled to him, I
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 returDed to the |
vantage point he had occupied, only I
this time he faced the east. looking to-
ward Sunny.
Watson was not 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:
81 reckon he'll never bother me. He's
just a bit sulky."
"All right" answered Watson, but
l 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 s O'clock
that evening Whtcomb rode out Of
town with 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. 1t was dark
when the two cleared the town, but
they were headed straight for the
butte. When its shape rose out Of the
blackness before them, Whitcomb sud-
denly thought Of his dog and said to
Owens:
II wonder If that beast is waiting for
meT
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
whistled again, and then l saw some.
thing big come through the darkness
as If it was shot out of a gun. Whit
ripped out an oath, and then he fell
down, and the big thing was on him,
and l thought it was q lion or some
thing else, and l come back to town as
fast as l could for help"
Watson was the first to get into the
saddle for rescue. The rest came hur.
riedly after him. Grass Butte was very
quiet. and so was Deputy Sheriff Whit.
comb. 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 pull 1t.
As for the coyote dog, he was not to
be seen, but the next day his trail Of
blood was followed westward for miles
and miles, but his pursuers ncvel
caught up with him. He had gone on
TO safety. leaving the mark OF his
vengeance at the base Of Grass Butte
Chicago Record Herald.