Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-03-20
OUR pROTEc TION


not discriminate between friends ana
foes. but by the time had owned Jack
a fortnight none OF my friends wouiu
come near me.
So | followed the example OF the
clown nj the circus who owned an eias-
tic dog. took him In AT high, anu
let him out in the morning. JACK hau
his chair i'm the sitting room, close To
n veronda and n window, from winch
the side gate could be seen ana pah.
which the sidewalk extended Tor
square or SO. ours being the last mouse
on the block.
sometimes wondered myself II
was not as much afraid or the uos
as of the burglars, but he never mover
from his post. and | became used &c
his low growls and banks III any Que
PASSED. which did not often happen
one day Il company of FRIENDS came
from the city and stayed over nlght
ot nv earnest solicitation. we slsheu
several times during the evening on,
for q manw But there was not one Vi
those useful bipeds In the company.
| After music and late supper we ,o'u
ghost stories and ended up Win DUR
plor experiences. by which time there
wasn't n thimbleful Of brains among
us-nothinp but historical fears ana
nervous tremors.
Then we had good deal OF trouble
in composing the dog. Seeing ne"
faces seemed to disturb him, ana ne
was full of low growls that were q.
threatening and bellgerent He want
ed to fly at each one Of my frlends sep
arately. Then he tried to take thein
collectively. but | hung on his collar
with both hands. while Hannah coax
ed him with Il bone. ana we hh"''!
landed him in the old chair, when was
his throne by day in the woodshed ana
his couch by night In the parlor. once
tbere he curled himself up for keeps.
while the rest OF us scrambled UP
stairs and shut ourselves Into our sew
eral apartments.
r II was the noon OF night and as light
os day with a full moon when was
awakened by hearing some one nj my
door and small feminine voice call
ing i'm hushed syllables. LET me M
oh. LET me in" and ! opened the door
instantly and saw II company or ghosts
{, in the hall. each one OF whom whisper
e ad in accents that Glove to the roof OF
|. her mouth:
Burglars. burglars in the house,
wbispered back. with Gathering
teeth ITS jack!
h lack was indeed making a remarka
u BILE demonstration. He neither Darkeo
n nor crowled, but made a strange hiss
ing noise that am told is native to the
hloodhound alone and is the most awe
insniriny threat that bloodthrsty do;
can make.
Don't" said one of my friends as
was about 10 turn on a light.
eff YOU do. the burglars will see III
i Let MS look out of the front windows
4 1t is as light as day. and they VIII no
know that we have seen them.
So we crept. hand in hand. with tw
frightened children clinging TO us. l
the windows. STOPPING low so that W
could not he seen. and, sure enough
two men were walking along SOFTLY
the middle of the road. coming Direct
toward the house by the side whei
4 the dog was on watch. and no donl
they were quite unconscious that thei
was any dog on the premises, Tor VINE
- they reached the door they stepp'
- upon the sidewalk. opened the ga
noiselesSly and climbed the two stel
- to the Veranda.
During this time the dog had ke
up that same peculiar expression
his anger. and ! had seized the sew
shooter and VS. grusping 1t in co
and shaking hand. but the moment {
two men stepped on the vcranda l
dog splung from his chair TO the tai
and threw himself against the wlndt
with yell Of rage that was ike I
roar of Il wild animal. foil wed by III
)v long,. baying cry familiar TO those w
~ have ever heard pack OF bloodloun
nful give tongue.
, of We all thought the window was ID
,ugh ken from the easement that perha
oses the men would shoot our only prote
suit or and make their way in. but in
hese moment we were treasured. The no
the dog made prevented our hear
!, DR.. anything. but we saw the two men
ing away, at first slowly lnen i"s'
and they went back the way u
came
Were they burglars? Wait till
lsh my story. The next day took
little family and accompanied
friends To their home in the city.
had each noted the dress. size ana Z
M eral appearance of the two men,
2A being tall and wearing derby
wa while the other was short and wor
IA cap.
|&M There was great excitement at
BH little suburban station. and GROVE
nv people had gathered about some 20
~ officers who had captured two II
We craned our necks and saw our
burglars.
"Who are theyf' we asked bre'
lessy.
Cramps. | reckon" said the sta