The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
A DOG THAT'S A MIRACLE.
The Owner Tells Uncle Billy Bowers
About His Performances.

About His Performances.
Riding out from Henryvile. Clark county,
| TO the Indiana forestry reservation recently
/ had as companion an ex-sheriff of the
county-an unabridged. irrepressble native
| of the knob country, in which the reserva-
| ton is situated. He as genial a man as
| / ever met To a good many people in the
| knob country the sheriffs name is al once
an introduction and description. for every
| body in that country knows Hannibal
| Coombs
| Crouched under Hannibals seat was a
| measly. thin, black and white cur. The
| dogs air of modification and bewilderment
was something ludicrous, and all the more
| noticeable because IL was Hannibars dog.
| The brute's looks were against him, de-
| cidedly. His countenance would have con-
| victed him of anything-sucking eggs. sheep
| killing, chicken stealing or what not. lie
| was miserable mean-looking dog
Uncle Billy Bowers sat just behind Hanni-
| BAL The two talked like old friends. and in
| the course of conversation. Uncle Billy
| called an experience of his own In which
a very intelligent dog had figured Hannibal
| could hardly wait for Uncle Billy to finish
his story I'm order 10 begin his
! Talk about dogs said Hannibal, in a
matter OF fact tone, as Unole Billy con-
| cluded his dog story. Talking about dogs,
I've got the smartest dog in this knob coun-
| try. Uncle Billy. He don't look as fine as
some dogs" reaching under the wagon seat
for the black and white cur, but this dogs
| miracle
The miracle was held up by the nape of
the neck for Uncle Billy's inspection. as non
committal as dishrag
Them eyes, continued the owner proud
ly. as the miracle walled its eyes around In
a vague effort to escape Just look at them
eyes"
Uncle Bliy's face was. study. Evidently
he was not certain in his own mind that the
dog was miracle.
Uncle Billy" in the same matter OF fact
tone. as the miracle was let CO. that dog
has as much human nature in him as me or
you. I'll tell you what that dog does You
know that little branch runnin through my
bottom field? Well, sir, he goes fshn every
day at dinner time just regular as the
boys do. and the other day l watched him
at Ii. He will run his paw up under root
or rock TO scare out the fish. and then he'll
stand and watch 'em as they go over the
shallow places. He don't pay any attention
Il -
whole drove of silver sides can wiggle and
| squirm the shallow places and Tucker
won't notice EN-. l call him Tucker after
old Dan Tucker. who the song says sung
for his supper. But just let good-sized fish
start down-you oughter see that dog He
comes down that fish like kingfsher
He gets 'em ever time"
Don't bother the little fsh?''
"Exactly-but he goes for the big ones
That's one reason / call him Tucker. He's
got sense, that dog has"
About six weeks ago." continued the own
or of the miracle, "a fellow brought me
young pointer puppy. Old Tucker has box
out in the back yard. but we sorter depended
on the puppy TO look out for himself First
night after he got to my place that blamed
, puppy got out on the back porch and
I | whined and howled until L just couldn t
, stand ii any longer. Finally / got up and
I carried him out and put him in Tucker
I box. hadn't more than got back in bed be-
| fore that puppy was back on the porch. 1
carried him back to fuckers box and went
, | to bed again. / had just made up my mind
| To go TO sleep when that puppy set up a
| whine. lie was back on the porch / hated
| to Kill the pup. / just carried him back to
| fuckers box, and tried a new scheme on
| him. L bundled him up under fuckers nose
| and put one of fuckers forelegs around him.
- like woman holds baby. Now Tucker
| says /, hold i'm 1 went back to bed and to
. sleep. never heard anything more of the
| puppy that night
[ Every night now. after the puppy gets
| his supper. old Tucker picks him up and
n | puts him to bed. When the puppy is frisky
| and don't want to go, Tucker just picks
: him up by the back of the neck and then
= lies down in the box and holds him till the
| puppy goes TO sleep.
Hes mighty polite dog. Tucker is
The doubtful look on Uncle Billy's face
had given place to one Of vivid interest
The owner of that miracle could convince a
dictionary.
"Poite?' repeated Uncle Billy.
Mighty polite dog-mighty polite George
Parker came week two ago. and
brought that old hound of his along. You've
seen that old hound many time. George
tied him TO the fence, bout the kitchen
place, and just left him there. That night
threw some scraps out to Tucker and sht
pup, but never once thought of the ole
hound.
Tucker looked UP like he was waitin' fol
l
minute or so he picked out the biggest piece
of meat and started round the house with
it. / followed to see what he would do with
ii, and the minute turned the corner of tn,
house I understood it all. There was thai
old hound, hadn't had thing to eat fol
dinner or supper. Tucker walked up ant
laid down the meat, and the old hound went
for it,
That's a fine dog said Uncle Billy
Heap o. folks wouldn't err done that
Tucker jest set there Nike he enjoyed
SEEM the old hound eat, Vaughn his tail.
But the smartest thing Tucker ever
DONE" continued the ex-sheriff, meditative
ly, was three or four days ago there a
home. That puppy got so he would kill tn,
little chickens, and finally tied him to tn,
woodpile That was at dinner time, and il
little or no time that puppy had crawlet
around and betwixt the logs until he has