Untitled

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 22, 17 June 1867, Page 141

The Dog Fancier.— Honor akong fiiEiVES.—The South London Journal has die following :—“ There lives, or lived only •\ short time ago (and if gone to his fathers no doubt his place has beau supplied) an ancient guntnakcr -in Mayfair street, who is fashionably known us “ the king of tho log-stealers.” A mysterious oracular old gentleman ho is, ns we can testily. Nearly ill the old ladies in the We3t end, who rejoice in large families of pugs or Charlies, pay him regular black mail and live ia oeaco ; but woe betide the restive one 3 who object to be robbed “decently and. in or•for.” Should one of (hose lose her dearlybeloved Fido, happy will sho be if, after going down on her knee 3 to his obdurate vlujesty, and paying him a fee equal to three years’ black mail, sho receives back into the bosom of her family tho unfortunate Fido with a whole skin. And yet, even dog-steal3i’3 sometimes have a conscience ; and to prove this, now that wo are on the subject, we will till a story “ as twas telt to us.” A friend of the great animal painter, Sir E L . lost a valuable dog. He instantly applied to Sir H , knowing he had a large acquaintance among dog—well, let us sa j—fanciers Sir E. promised to do his best to get back his friend’s dog. There happened to call on Sir E. that day a dog fancier who was at the head of his profession. To him Sir S. described his friend’s dog, and told the .nan plainly that £lO was the sum which would be paid for his return to his owner. Bill said he happened, curiously enough, to know who hud the dog, but he could not bo restored under a fortnight; in s fortnight’s time he could answer for him, but sooner than that the thing was impos-. sible. “ Well, my man,” said Sir E., “ you know your own business, but mind, I cannot answer for mv friend not changing his mad in that time, and not one penny will -

be paid iu any case should the dog be injured.” The friend did not change his mind, however, aud at the end of the fortnight the dog was returned safe and sound to Sir E., and Bill received his £lO. Some little time after, Bill had occasion to call on Sir IS. on other business. After this was despatched, Sir E. said, ct Look here, Bill, I wuut to know for my own satisfaction why your frionds went to the expense and risk of keeping my friend’s dog the other day for a whole fortnight, when you must have told them that the money was ready for them, and the thing was safe.” Bill scratched his head, but at last he made answer: “ Well, Sir E., you have been a good friend to me, and I don’t miud telling you. The fact is, jSir E., I took your friend’s dorg myself, but I sold him to a gent, as took such a faney to him that I couldn’t find it in my heart to take him from him under a fortnight.” Now, if that is not honor among theives, pray what ia it?” ’ -