Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-10-17
WHITCOMB'S
COYOTE DOG

KIM saNageiS. nat was - years ago
al Sundy, a small settlement on Pepper
creek. III tie then pakotas We cari-
ously looked at the Cog to ascertain
what effect this particular kick would
have on him. for it was at least tAe
one thousandth he had received from
his master III the course Of three wears
Of troubled life. Usually this dog took
the kick, dropped his tail, SUNK into
corner and watched his master out Of
a single eye until the latter's good hui
NOR was restored. This afternoon he
did not do this. He turned away with
ont 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 Sunfiy. He re-
earded himself as master of anything
and everything in the town. Men that
kick dogs usually carry that opinion
with them Whitcomb in Sundy stood
for the law and his own ends. When
the two conficted, the law went fish
ing But it was a 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 sin
gular. too, that the only thing in sun
fly which Whitcomb ever outrageously
abused was his coyote dog. This he
kicked at every opportunity kicked SO
hard that Watson, the freighter, look
ing into the dogs bloodshot eyes one
day. said sententiously to Whitcomb:
Hell turn on you some day"
The dog came from nowhere. lie
drifted in out Of the wilds of tile buttes
one day and Immediately attached
himself to Whitcomb. Perhaps he had
cross of coyote in him. more probably
he did not But he was long, lank,
heavy fanged, big of muscle. marvel
Gus in endurance-he ran one day GO
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 We're 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. al
though 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 par
ticular day when he was kicked for
the last time When he trotted away
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
butte, perched ON a shelf. looking far
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 lie had occupied, only
this time he faced the east, looking to-
ward Sunny.
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-
nighty'
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:
4 reckon he'll never bother me. He's
| just a bit sulky"
'All right answered Watson. but
1 know those coyote dogs. and I know
your dog. and he's waiting for you.
You just remember that"
Whtcomh paid no more attention TO
him, and the rest of us forgot Grass
Butte and the dog About 5 o'clock
that evening Whtcomh 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.
4 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
whistled again. and then l saw some
| thing big come through the darkness
as if it was shot ont Of a gun. Whit
ripped out an oath. and then he fell
| down. and the big thing was on him.
1 Sc