The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-04-04
IA DOGS
EVIDENCE.

ana grew NJ together, bosom friends
Walter was fond Of animals. o.
books. Among his pets was a yellow
collie, the most intelligent being OF On,
brute creation ever knew. They ar,
talking nowadays about animals moi
having any reasoning powers. n thai
dog didn't reason don't reason.
remember especially an instance IA
evidence Of this. One rainy day. need
Ing exercise, concluded to wan;
around the house Dick, the dog. was
with me and, seeing me getting On nv
hat and coat, inferred that was going
Tor q stroll and was rejoiced al tho
prospect Of going with me. There
were two gates to the place, ana when
came to the path leading 70 the near
est Dick was there. kept on. Dick
looked up, surprised; but. inferring that
was intending to GO out or the other
gate. Immediately went 70 1t. When
passed the path leading to chat gate.
too, Dicks establishment was beyond
bounds. What does the fellow meang,
he said plainly with his attitude and
expression. Then. seeing that | was
not leaving the grounds, be went away
disappointed.
One morning I was awakened by a
scratching mingled with dogs means
at our front door. Iwent downstairs
and found Dick. He ran down toward
the gate. indicating that was to fol-
low him. was not long In under
standing him and after getting on some
clothes went with him TO wood sew
eral miles away. He led me 10 a
n point near a brook. but when he got
there looked about him surprised and
disappointed, moaning piteously. Then.
putting his nose to the ground. he fol-
lowed . scent to the brook, where he
lost 1t.
All this was unintelligible to me.
After waiting developments and get.
ting none | went home.
| found there messenger from the
Rudds to ask II Waiter had spent the
night with us, since he had not come
home. AT once began to suspect that
something was wrong with him and
the dogs action might be an explana-
ticn. Possibly there had been foul
play at the spot where Dick had led
me and some person or persons to con
zeal their tracks from the dog had gone
away, walking III the brook took
Dick back to the spot and led him
both up and down the stream III the
hope that be would pick up the scent
but Notwithstanding a patient effort on
the part OF both or us he failed.
The case of Walter Rudd was one Of
those mysterious disappearances that
occur every day. the bulk OF them new
er being explained Dick, being de-
prived Of his master, adopted me as
such, being that masters most intI-
mate friend became very fond Of
him and never went anywhere could
take him without doing so. The llrst
winter that | went TO the city | left
him behind but the caretaker OF the
house wrote me that be was pining
away, and was obliged to send for
him. | inferred at the time that he
had transferred his affections from his
late master to me.
Walter Rudd had been teller In
bank. The cashier was Edward Grit
an, young man who a couple of years
later became rich as promoter. !
knew Griffin. but had only d speaking
acquaintance with him. One day while
I'm the city walking with Dick on the
street saw Griffin approaching Sud-
denly Dick gave growl. darted for
ward, Jumped upon Griffin, and only
great effort on my part kept the dog
from taking the man By the throat i Z
caught Dick by the collar and dragged /
him away. striking him with ny cane
at the same time. Griffin seemed very
much affected BY the encounter, paling !
and trembling Hike leaf. bat was
not surprised at this. as II Is no light /
matter to have a dog suddenly spring
at ones throat. | did not have an on I
portunity to apologize to the man. for (
Dick was 20 eager to get NJ him again I
that was obliged to drag him away
BY main force, and Griffin hurried on.
Had Griffin been some rough I'M +
known man I might have suspected I
that the dogs action had something 70
do with the mystery attending Walter
Rudds disappearance. AS It was.
nat It down to one OF those unaceoant-
able dislikes d dog viii take to some
especial person. BUT some months
after this. when Grflflus schemes
turned out bursted bubbles aud he no
better than common swlndler the
thought came upon me that while be
md Walter were Id the bank together
the cashier might have had some
reason for getting rid Of the teller
asked the president Of the bank for
information bearing on the case and
was conhdentlally informed that dur
Ing the time referred to Griffin had
been carrying a large defalcation,
which was discovered only after it was
made good.
After consultation with the Isudd fam
liz / was authorized TO employ a de-
tectlve to get evidence, With a view Of
our suspicious.
Il turned out that Rudd knew Of
lsrfin's defalcatIon and had told
Grfin that bis duty required him to
Inform the officers OF the bank. Crit
an made an appointment to meet Rucd
ID the wood to tals the matter over
Griffin murdered the only man who
anew his secret and left the body (
where It lay. He came back and found
he dog with it. But the doc went
sway, and Griffin carried the body far
Town the stream and buried it.