The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-05
SAVED BY A DOG.
Gertrude Allison Owes Life to
Faithful Animal.
Troubles Came to Her Rescue
When Attacked.
PURSUED BY A MAN.
Two Times Has Brute Been
Driven Away.
Family Appeals to Sheriff for
Protection.


Twice accosted by burly and un-
kempt man, little Gertrude Allison,
15-year- daughter, of ]. ]. Allison,
a farmer living two and half miles
south of the city on the Burlingame
road, has twice saved herself by her
pluck and the ready muscle of her
farm training.
First her assailant sprang at her
from the hedge along the road from
school. He grabbed her arm and
drew her backward, but quick as
flash she swung her schoolbooks,
which she carried in a strap, striking
him full in the face. The brute was
stunned and reeled. Freed from his
grasp, she turned and ran to her home
a quarter of mile away. That was
Wednesday, October 10, about half
past four o'clock as she was returning
from the country school at district
No. II.
She did not return to school again
that week for the next day the state
teachers association opened in To-
peka and the school was closed. So
she did not see her assailant again I'M
til Saturday last.
This time the unknown man came
to the farm house when she was alone.
But he had not figured on the big
watchdog, Troubles. With an unusual
self possession, the girl defied her fol-
lower to touch her and shouted to the
dog. The faithful '"Trub," as he is call
ed, was upon the scene in a moment.
He kept long piece of unknown
trousers for his souvenir and saw the
owner far down the road.
At the first incident, the family
elected to keep the matter a secret
Nothing was said even to neighbors.
Now, however, when the man has per-
sisted in his pursuit of the girl for six
weeks. they have come to the county
officers for protection. From the de-
IL L - 49, 49,.
thinks the man is some fugitive from
justice. No clue as to his identity can
be obtained. Apparently the girl is in
constant danger.
mo, I'm not afraid-well yes. was
frightened, too, when he ran out of the
when questioned over the telephone
today. And, for moment, I didn't
know just what to do when he came to
the house. but it didn't take Trub long
to get him out. thought he was go
ing to tear all the mans clothes off,"
''Wait minute. honey, he said
when he came out of the hedge, out
Gertrude did not stop and he grabbed
her. said the girls mother.
Don't you dare touch me- she
cried, and struck him with her books.
The fellow was stunned and she came
running home. '----'--
Knew Child Was Alone. 5.
eve didn't want anything said OF
this and did not hear of the man again
until Saturday. We had all gone to
town, leaving Gertrude alone. He
came about 8 o'clock in the afternoon.
The girl had heard a noise in the barn
and went out to see what the matter
was. When she came back toward t<e
house, she saw some one in the kitchen
through a window She thought it was
her brother who had come out from
town. Then she heard him mumbling
that he couldn't get any water and he
was trying to work the kitchen pump.
you'll have to get water in the yard
she told him. Then the man came out
onto the porch and she saw it was the
same man who had attacked her
"T want something to eat. Get me
some bread or something quick, he
said. You get out of here and be
quick, yourself. retorted Gertrude.
Huh, who's here?' he said and sat
down. That's none of your business
she said and looked around for Trub.
ooh, I saw all your folks goN to town
and know you're alone. I'll stay here
till I get ready to leave. I think I'll
fix me up a lunch
=" sic him, Trub,' my daughter yell
ed to the dog''-and then it happened.
A sister of the hunted girl, Miss
schools at Wakarusa. The brother,
whom she thought the unknown man
was, works in the city during the day.
The whole family is anxious over the
state of affairs and are almost afraid
to let Gertrude go to school. The
school house is a mile and a half from
the home and she has been accustom-
ed to walking the distance. The
strange part of the succession of at
tacks is that no one else seems to have
seen the stranger in the neighborhood.
1t is apparent that he is in hiding but
that ne should remain in the same VI
cinity for so long is perplexing.
Sheriff Norton has been given de-
scription of the man as follows: Height
about five feet, ten inches; weight 185
pounds; wore a brown suit-one leg
torn or patched if wearing same; soft
1,ro1xr, h at with narrnru hrirln