Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-28
H0,U B0bbje Came
Back


fishing fiction of the type. At any
rate, it marks the ending, if not the
solution, Of a mystery in which he
and scores of his acquaintances have
been interested for the past ten
months.
1t may be stated here at the outset
that Bobbie Is a Boston terrier. The
pith Of this relation lies in his being
back" How he came to be back
nobody knows exactly. Where he was
when he was not back" is sufficiently
pulling for any detective. Why he
should go anywhere to come back"
from. probably will never be eX-
planned.
The full circumstances of the Odys-
sey of Bobbie cannot be learned, for
Boobies best manner of conversation,
the wagging of stump Of tail, is
not particularly lucid. Of the disap-
pearance Of Bobbie, Of the tireleSs
search for him and of his final return,
a nonchalant prodigal. the details are
known and are here published for the
first time.
To begin with, Bobbie came to Mr..
Mifflin out Of the everywhere into
here. In word, he was found, waif
Of the streets, taken to the Animal
Rescue league, and there though his
personality so endeared him.
self to Mr. Mifflin that he became a
of the latter's household in
Marlboro street.
There was certain affectionate re.
serve about Bobbie, coupled with a
dash of the hunting spirit and will.
ingness to debate any question with
other dogs of high or low degree and
Of all sizes and weights, that com.
respect and sympathy. He be-
came we'll beloved in the Mifflin house.
hold and In the offices Of the Hough-
ton Mifflin Co., on Park street, whittier
be accompanied his master every day,
keeping regular business hours.
To all outward appearances he was
4 model Of dogs. He seemed delight
ed with his home and with the literary
atmosphere of his days. Then the
or something, entered the
canine heart. One night. ten months
ago. Mr.. Mifflin opened his door at II
o'clock to give Bobbie Whit of air,
and out went Bobbie, unmindful of all
summonses Bobbie had gone back to
the everywhere.
Such behavior on the part of his pet
puzzled his owner. and although it
was then late. Mr.. Mifflin called up
the Union club to learn that a terrier
much like Robbie in appearance had
been seen shifting at the staid portals
If that organization. Believing that
Bobbie might have gone to the office
again, Mr.. Mifflin donned hat and coat
and journeyed to Park street. There
was no Bobbie.
1t was then that the search began.
It was then that the police. dog
possible dog thieves and all
Mr.. Mifflin's friends took up the hunt
Tor Bobbie without avail. Mr.. Miffin
knows the value of advertising, and he
sought the services of the Herald. He
offered a reward; he stated the points
Of his dog: he solicited cooperation.
Strange to say, there were few
answers Mr.. Mifflin wondered, and
finally consulted an expert Said the
expert:
"If you wish to appeal to doc
thieves, you must seek a medium
which appeals to dog thieves. Dog
thieves do not read the Herald"
The advice seemed good, and his
was placed elsewhere.
where it would meet the eye Of tho
sort of persons he wished to interest.
Letters began to flow into the office
Of Mr.. Mifflin. His days and nights
were full of futile journeys. He sought
out dark places which his cores
pondents indicated. He entered de-
vious byways, obscure tenemerts and
back alleys. He saw many Dogs OF
the Boston TERROR persuasion, but no
Bobbie.
One letter postmarked Taunton
came to him printed as by the hand
Of conspirator. 1t gave the address
as that of private box in the Taun-
ton postoffice. Taunton-ward Mr..
Mifflin Jared with a detective. They
found the box, only to discover that
it was the property Of the Taunton
insane asylum.
Odd voices called Mr.. Taunton on
the telephone. One insisted that
Bobbie was found. There was no doubt
of it, said the owner of the voice. The
IudIklIlSS "elc CllS beiIlO. hC ohiI
out about 1t was that the founding
was distinctly feminine. Mr.. Mffflir
asserted the undoubted Insecurity Of
Bobbie.
"What difference does that make?"
shouted the voice. This is your dog"
The seeker hung up the receiver
The reward was marked up to $50.
but there were no results. Every dog
fancier in the city was visited. The
police were notified. Mr.. Mifflin's
friends became a band of amateur de-
tectives.
Nobody was sure of escaping sus-
picion. One lady informed Mr. Mifflin
that she was convinced that Robbie
was in the possession of dis
vlergyman. She did not
wish to reflect on anybody's reputa-
ton. but facts were facts. She whis
pered and others whispered. and the
story only found rest when Mr.. Mifflin
made it plain that the dog Of the d.
vine was not Bobbie
A Boston terrier was killed in the
Fenway by an automobile. From two
distinct sources Mr.. Mifflin vas in
formed Of the accident. He jumped
;-+o 1noofo5 Tho ro-