Year: 1875

enough for you to say 'never mind
him. but, by George, he looks as if he
would bear a good deal of minding."


&c Nonsense" said Alick, laughing ;
"I tell you the dog will not touch you;
but if you will not believe me. wait a
moment and will go with you"


I certainly was sfraid TO go into the
room alone, and think you. my reader.
wonli have thought discretion the bet
ter part had you been in my place.


Aliek was talking with his sgent as
came to the hall door, and I had
walked toward his library to await his
pleasure but when 1 opened the door
large black dog that had evidently
been lying on the floor, started to his
feet with a growl, and exhibited a row
of teeth that would have made a good
stock in trade for first-class dentist.
He was a Misunderstanding brute, and
declined trusting myself to his mercy,
as I told above.


Alick finished his business then took
me by the arm and led me into the
room the dog slowly dropped on his
launches when he saw his master, and
paid no more attention to him until I
had finished the business had in hand.


"What in the world do you want of
such vicious dog?" inquired, as I lit
my cigar my friend gave me.


"I don't think much of your judg-
ment if you call him a vicious-looking
doc (" was the answer


''What breed is hep"


"He is a cross of several breeds"


"Yes, I should think from the way he
showed his teeth that he was all Cross"


"Oome, come, you must not run down
my Nap He has been too good
friend for me to listen to anything but
praise for him"


"What did he ever do that was par
ticulally friendly ?" inquired.


"Nap? I'll tell you what he did; he
saved me $780, GOO during the war times. 4"


I was about to give an unbelieving
chuckle, but a glance OF Alexis face
told me he was in earnest, so begged
for the story.


cit was about the middle of the
war" said Ahck, when was treasurer
of the Grafton drilling company. Oar
Office was unsafe as a pine box would
have been, aud I disliked to leave a
dollar in it. There were several bur-
glaIies about the place, all of which
were skillfully planned and executed.


"One night our Office was visited, the
F. Tn
contents clrried of. The burglars
found but a few hundred dollars, but
the worst feature of it was that they
hit upon a night when there ought TO
have been a large amount of money
there. We mad received a large cash
payment the day before, but instead of
trusting it to our old safe I had taken
it home with me.


We wondered if the burglars had
any knowledge of this payment. If
they had, then they must have extraor-
dinary means of gaining intelligence,
and would know whenever we received
any large amounts again, and would
they rot come at once to my house now
that they had seen I did not trust the
safe? The question was q very per
picking one, and I had an angry debate
over it with some of our directors. 1
was in favor of getting a reliable safe
and employing night-watchman, but
was out-voted.


cold Evars, indeed, went so far as
to say that lightning never struck twice
in the same place, neither did burglars
visit old safes the second time. Aud he
was inclined to think our money would
be safer if left in the Office than if car
ried to my residence. And he talked
so many others into his way of thinking
that resolution was passed declaring
it against their wishes to have any of
the company's funds kept anywhere
except IN the Office safe


"Of course the effect of this was that
if 1 carried the money home and lost 1t,
the loss would fall heavily on me indi-
vidualIy, and not the company.


''I was angry enough to have resigned
my place, but my interest in the con-
cern was too large TO be trifled with,
though determined there would be
change in the board of directors
another yesr.


"Abolt week after this our eecre-
tary returned from Boston on the
evening train, and brought with him
$50, 600, and all in greenbacks, the pro
ceeds of our monthly bills receivable.
He brought the money in bills because
the following day was our payday.


81 was IN the most perplexing state
of mind when he handed me the money.
I knew the office safe was no protec-
ton whatever, and yet if carried the
money home was assuming a great
responsibility. Without saying a word
to any one, I determined not to keep
the money in the Office, and carried it
home in that ottoman.


You may be assured that did not
feel very comfortable that evening. I
thought of every nook and corner in
the house, and wondered where would
be the safest. at last 1 determined
upon dividing if, leaving half here and
the rest in my room. I did not men,
tion the matter at home, not even to
my wife, but plead headache when
reminded of my pre-occupied air.


81 came in here and placed twenty
five thousand dollars in that ottoman
at your feet. See the top is on hinges
and is fastened by this hook On the side.
This ottoman was pushed near Nap
The balance I carried to my own room
and put it in the stove, thinking it to be
the last place where any one would
look for II. I went to bed, but it was
nearly midnight before fell asleep.


"I vas awakened by a mans hand
on my mouth, and to be informed that
he did not intend to harm me If kept
quiet. Ny hands were then tied be-
hind me, a towel fastened to my mouth
and the muzzle of a pistol placed
against my head. Another man was
treating my wife in similar manner.