The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-02-06
A CANINE BURGLAR
tOriginal.l

: Andrew MacAlister, who lived in his
handsome place on the bank of Lake
Michigan north of Chicago, came home
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 a
revolver to open the silver safe, and it's
contents had bcen rifled.
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 a 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 lie were permitted
to go he would follow them. At any
rate, the experiment was worth trying.
MacAlister went to the stable and got
out a saddle horse, armed himself with
a revolver and then released the dog.
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MacAlister mounted aud followed.
The dog soon settled into Il steady trot
down Il street hat eventually led him
to the north end of Lincoln park. Get
ting through the park appeared more
puzZling to him than following a
straight street, but at the south end he
struck an avenu 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 Il few blocks struck u
region given over almost exclusively to
manufacturing.
Meanwhile MacAlister had picked up
a mounted policeman in the extreme
northern part Of the city, to whom as
they rode along he explained what he
was about, The cop was rather skcp-
teal as to the outcome of the adven-
ture till the dog entered u 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 were TOO late. Their
guide had disappeared. Mounting u
rickety staircase with as noiseleSS a
tread us 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 were about to
give up the chase when they heard the
sounds OF a dog barking as if in great
delight. 1t occurred to MacAlister that
the dog had found it's friends and was
rejoicing at the meeting.
"In III roem." he said, Il shall find
my silver"
stop here" said the cop, while l go
for help"
Help? What help do you want?
Aren't we two armed menf 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 a mite Of a girl.
Within was a woman with a baby in
her arms. The dog the men had fol-
lowed stood in the middle of the door
looking at them.
The story told by the woman was
that she had been up with her baby.
who was ill, and on hearing the knock
had delayed in order to huddle on some
clothes. AS TO the dog, he was a 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 a man who
had recently rented a room on the op-
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 a search. but found
nothing and concluded that the plumber
uou hol yel occu DtOtiSill IL. ne lOCh
to the door had been only injured and
that not SO badly but they could close II
. as before. Having lone so, they tool
. position in the room of the woman op
posite aud waited.
Just before dawn there was a step in
the hall below. and some one came
s%tealthily up the staircase. paused a,
the door opposite. tool out a key, un
locked the door and entered. MacAlis
ter was about to move against hin
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 els,
came. MacAlister made another move
but was again held back.
He may not have the swag will
him. and we'd have a poor case agains
him. Let the dog 60"
Opening the door. they put the dog il
the hall, and he was soon scratching a
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