Gilpin observer., 1915-08-26
MERRY DOGS OF WAR.
Tale of "UgIy," Scared Hero OF
a Hundred Battles.
Wins Fame and co.poraI's Stripes
With the British Troops In North
ern France-A Challenge
and What Came of It.
BY GEORGE DuFREsNE.

by SEOHSE OOF n G0NG.
International News Service Correspondent
Paris.-In the early days of this
war. Ugly scrambled ashore in north
ern France a stowaway on one OF the
channel packets. He was a khaki
tinted cur of the most disreputable
appearance Nobody's dog; but will
a soul so tuned to the doings of sol
diers that as soon as he discovered
that the great game was going on. he
swore to be in 1t and Of it. He was a
natural fighter, scored and SCARED
with hundred battles.
So they attached him here to B. K,
which means any sort of job that's
going at the Notwithstanding for
base, and tx" being the recognized
algebraic symbol signifying an un-
known quantity He was signed on
the A. s. C. (Pickfords Light Horse)
to deal with the rats which ravage
the bales down by the docks. Like
the minister of munitions he wss
given a free hand with his subject,
and 80 successful was he with these
gray.jacketed rascals that he soon re-
ceived a corporals stripes. double ra-
tions Che dearly loves jam). and the
offer. after another singularly success
full raid among the rodents. OF COM
mission. This last he refused declar,
ing that he would never leave the
ranks.
Ugly's prowess was noised abroad.
It reached the fighting line. G. H. @.
heard of it. so that presently dusty
M. T. driver. pulling up his car amid
the shell-strewn debris of the dock,
handed a packet to the young officer
in charge. demanding speedy an
swer. The communication read as fol-
lows:
Dug-out ssh Battersea Rise, Tuesday.
We always congratulated ourselves
nercest fighter in Flanders. We hereby
challenge Corporal Ugly. A. s. c.. to
meet Sergeant Smiler. g. H. O.. to fight
handy spot within or without the mean
ing OF the act. Stakes-fve pounds a
side. money down.
Inquiries were Immediately made as
to the standing. skill and fighting
weight Of Sergeant Smiler, and those
being considered satisfactory. the chal.
lenge was accepted. and Ugly was put
into strict training, much to his dis.
gust.
A heavy book was made on the
forthcoming co'sbat and when the
tense evening OF the meeting of these
growing Greeks arrived, the arena
was packed with an eager, brown
faced crowd. all a-throb with the
sweet pleasures Of anticipation. Ser
geant Smiler arrived. due to time. ir
a carefully corded biscuit box
Ugly was already in possession o
the floor. striding up and down In the
fierce pride OF ownership. and snarl
ing challenge to the whole categor,
OF Crufts.
The box was dragged into the ring
the cords unlaced, the lid raised. the
cage tipped at the necessary angle
by a brave Tommy. who leaped bach
over the parapet as with a roar tht
incarcerated thunderstorm hurled
himself into the lists
Alert. savage and with his back hail
bristling. Ugly crouched for the
tutu sdt uON
hard in absolute amazement: fol
there In front OF him was his exact
his complete double in size and shape
and color. Sergeant Smiler alst
crouched and sat down suddenly. a.
II frozen to the floor In the silenc,
which follows. the breathing If the
two dogs could be heard-Ierkily
like the spurts o, southwest sQual
at sea.
Then. with glad gurgle of canin,
melody. the two animals flung them
selves into one another's arms in &
brotherly caress. in which yaps OF 10,
were mingled with yelps of rem
iniscence. almost tear compelling t
the sentimental soldiers gathered
around. For none could fail to reac
the riddle.
Corporal Ugly and Sergeant Smilel
were twins. and this was their frs
meeting since puppyhood. Truth 1,
sometimes stranger than fiction Thi,
is a true tale. and the British army 1,
still laughing over It. A good chu XXI,
now and again is tonic.