Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-06-12
The One Dog
Team
By VARA M. JONES
90 1928, Western Newspaper Union /,

AA
"A silence that lay over the western
hills one early morning, The armed
posse, six men on horseback. picking
their way down the narrow path, came
to an abrupt pause
Hundley, the sheriff, planned quick
ly That bay was from the valley.
Dougherty is down there, making for
the border. Suppose we scatter, in
couples, and try to close In on him be-
fore he gets up into the hills. Smith
and Merton circle to the left Young
and Doran to the right; Hynson, well
go straight down. II any of you come
across Constable Layton's crowd, tell
them the signal Is two shots at the
first sign of clew."
The men were off. The sheriff
struck spurs into his horse as he
reached level stretch. 81 knew Ajax
would get him." he called over his
shoulder.
Jim Dougherty, in the county Jail
waiting to be taken to the penltentiary
to commence his ten-year sentence,
had made his getaway in the early
hours Of the morning.
II was the first time that prisoner
had escaped since the sheriff had de-
clded that ferocious dog would be a
valuable addition to jail. Hundley
undertook Ajax's' training, not only
resortng to systematic torment while
he was breaking the dog as trailer,
but harshness, meager rations, neglect,
when the dog was keeping watch day
and night In the prison yard. And
Ajax became not only fierce watch
dog, but, unlike the average blood
hound which is VIGOROUSLY gentle even
after II has bayed down It's quarry,
so that II was necessary to follow up
with catch" dog to grapple with the
pursued-was sufficiently vicious to
subdue his prey after 1t was run down.
For which unusual prowess the sheriff
had boastfully bestowed upon him the
title Of his "one-dog team"
And yet, In the face Of this record
Jim Dougherty had managed to cross
the courtyard and scale the wall.
BSt Ajax was running true to form
again. OF that the sheriff felt con-
vlnced as he rode in the direction from
which came the resoundlng bays.
A swift gallop, during which Humid
ley and his companions path was
crossed by Doran and Young, and
shortly afterward by Constable Lay
toms posse, brought them to the scene
from which a signal had been sent.
They found Merton and Smith In ex-
cited conversation beside a deserted
adobe; from 1t they had just released
Ajax.
The men gave an explanation. They
had also heard Ajax's bays, had fol-
lowed the sounds as long as they last
ed-then came upon the mud hut,
which revealed the imprisoned dog
"Dougherty's put one over on us
again." the sheriff said grlmly. Hes
managing to use dope on this dog
Well, we'll take no more chances" He
secured a heavy leash from his saddle
bag and girded 1t on Ajax. "Dougher-
ty can't be far away. Well comb the
woods"
Ajax set off. Across the valley he
led the posse, starting up into the hills.
Racing past tree, he whirled back,
circled 1t, then raised his head In
loud bay as he paved at the trunk.
The sheriff fred two shots Almost
Immediately his men were at his side.
And there, far up In fOrked branch,
crOuched the convict.
Hundley acted as spokesman. Got
you, eh? Welcome DOWN. He
pulled handouts from his pocket
The prisoner, with a hopeless ges
ture, started to lower himself, but sus-
pended action AZ one Of the men, after
an exchange Of knowing glances with
his companion, asked In challenging
tone: Aren't you going to let him
fight II outf'
The sheriff stlffened--frowned -
then, with his gaze on the yelplng,
leaping dog, nodded CURLY. He adj
dressed D0ugherty; Want to fight II
Outf"
The boys eyes turned on Ajax. then
to the ring of faces. "I1l take my
chance with the dog" he replied.
As Dougherty's feet came to earth
the dog leaped forward, Then an as
tonshlng thing happened As the
great body reared against the prisoner
the latter thrust Ajax aside heavily,
raising an admOn!sh!ng hand. Lie
down" he ordered firmly. Ajax's
ears nattened and he crOuched at the
speakers feet. Quick as fash the
latter turned AMI Ieaped into the
woods And Ajax, with howl Of pro.
test, jumped to his feet and followed
"Why-the other prisoners say
DOugherty spent most Of his time max
Ing friends with the dog from his cell
window. ! got wind Of all this after
you left this morning. They say he
shared his meals with It talked to It;
taught II to lie down when ordered;
all that" said the sherlffs deputy, |
Morton, In the jail office on the after |
noon the posse returned from its
search for Jim Dougherty, minus both
convict and dog.
"FOol ! was not to suspect IT,"
IIundley said grlmly Fool, too. to
agree to let him have his chance to
fight It out. But thought Ajax was
rendy to tear him limb from limb.
instead Of only wanting to make
fuss over him. You see, figured out
all along that 'Dougherty only got the
best Of the beast by doping him"
But you didn't figure out that that
dope was kindness, eh, chlefT Nor
ton said quizzicnlly, as he bent over