Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Canine Burglar.
tOriglnal.1

late one night after being detained in
the city on business. He was some
what astonished to find the front door
standing ajar, and, passing through the
hall to the dining room, what was his
surprise to find everything turned topsy
turvy and the butler bound and gag
ged. Releasing him, MacAlister darted
upstairs, and, discovering no evidence
of the family having been disturbed.
he went below again and listened to the
buffers account of the robbery. The
man had been forced at the point of
revolver to open the silver safe, and its
contents had been rified.
"Who's dog is that moaning in the
yard?' asked MacAlister, and without
waiting for an answer he went out into
the grounds. There at side gate was
a dog scratching to get out. 1t at once
occurred to MacAlister that the beast
had come with the burglars and in
their haste to depart they had shut off
his exit. Perhaps if he We're permitted
to go he would follow them. At any
rate, the experiment was worth trying
out saddle horse, armed himself with
a revolver and then released the dog,
which ran off toward the city.
MacAlister mounted and followed.
The dog soon settled into a steady trot
down n street that eventually led him
to the north end of Lincoln park. Get
ting through the park appeared more
puzzling to him than following Il
straight street, but at the south end he
struck an avenue and after that seemed
to know his route perfectly. Coming to
the street running next parallel with
the river, he turned to the right and
after traversing few blocks struck Il
region given over almost exclusively to
manufacturing.
Meanwhile MacAlister had picked up
a mounted policeman in the extreme
northern part of che city, to whom as
they rode along he explained what he
was about. The cop was rather Skep-
teal as to the outcome of the adven-
ture till the dog entered n tenement
house which had for some time been
held in suspicion. Throwing themselves
off their horses as quickly as it could
be done. they followed the dog into the
building, but they We're too late. Their
guide had disappeared. Mounting
rickety staircase with as noiseless Il
tread as possible, they searched every
landing. On coming to the top story
and seeing nothing of. their guide they
concluded that they had had their
pains for nothing and We're about TO
give up the chase when they heard the
sounds of dog barking as if in great
delight. 1t occurred TO MacAlister that
the dog had found its friends and was
rejoicing at the meeting: "-'-'r-s's ~"s
I'm that roOm," he said, 81 shall find
my silver"
stop here" said the cop, while 1 go
for help"
Help? What help do you want?
Aren't we two armed men? While you
are away they might take it into their
heads to move on"
MacAlister knocked. There was a
shutting about inside. and after much
delay the door was opened. Facing
| three revolVerS stood q mite of girl
| Within was a woman with baby in
her arms. The dog the men had fol-
lowed stood in the middle of the floor
looking at them.
The story told by the woman was
| that she had been up with her baby
who was i'll, and on hearing the knock
had delayed in order to huddle on some
clothes. AS to the dog. he was Il part of
| the family. When told of his having
doubtless been in the company of bur-
| glars, all the information she could
| give on this subject was that he had
! been off occasionally with Il man who
| had recently rented a room on the OPP
posite side of the hall
Turning their attention to the door
| opposite they knocked, but, receiving
no response, broke it open. Striking a
match, they made search. but found
nothing and concluded that the plumber
| had not yet been brought in. The lock
to the door had been only injured and
that not SO badly but they could close it
as before. Having done so, they took
position in the room of the woman op-
posite and waited.
Just before dawn there was a step in
the hall below, and some one came
stealthily up the staircase, paused at
the door opposite, took out a key, I'M
locked the door and entered. MacAlis-
ter was about to move against him
when the cop stopped him.
perhaps there are more below wait
ing to see If the coast is clear"
They waited awhile, but no one else
came MacAlister made another move,
but was again held back.
HE may not have the swag with
him, and we'd have poor case against
him. Let the dog co.
Opening the door. they put the dog in
the hall, and he was soon scratching at
the door opposite. On being admitted
the words could be plainly heard:
Hello, Zip! 1 thought you'd been
left behind"
That's enough said the cop, and
they proceeded to make the arrest.