Each working day, scores of travellers save wear and tear on their cars and nerves by riding commuter trains. But it is rare when a passenger rides the train not for business reasons, but in an apparent search for love.

  Recently, CP Police in Montreal took into custody one such traveller who did not have any visible means of support and who refused to buy a ticket.

  Meet Shakespeare, an adventurous canine who would almost become human to find love.

  Well, so says his owner, Louis Cyr, who was flabbergasted when he learned Shakespeare had abandoned all four-footed tradition and hopped a commuter train from the suburbs.

  "Incredible," he said. "She's about eight-months-old and I'd guess it's that time of her life when she's beginning to feel the call of love. That's probably why she ran off, she's never been out of the back yard before."

  Shakespeare not only went out of the back yard, but she scuttled her way through a five day, 50 mile exploration of Montreal and into the hearts of at least two temporary guardians. The first one apparently was a commuter, whom Shakespeare followed onto the train unnoticed.

  When she was apprehended by Constable Ludwig Barck, yes, that's right, the two-tone snuffler was delivered to Canadian Pacific's public relations department. Officials there rustled some bones, biscuits, and balls and took the part-Dalmatian, part-Samoyed for frequent sojourns to fire hydrants.

  Local radio and television stations found out about the happy-go-lucky traveller, and soon were digging for a story.

  Two days later, Shakespeare's owner appeared, listening with disbelief to accounts of his pet's big city flirtations.

  Mr. Cyr's five-year-old daughter, Joy, who had lost the sight in both eyes due to cancer, was "heartbroken when Shakespeare left, but was really excited when she heard she was found again."

  It is not known whether Shakespeare met any attractive males in her adventure, but says Mr. Cyr, "We'll soon find out.""

  Should Shakespeare have pups, one has been promised to a public relations employee as a gesture of thanks.

  Thus ends another CP Rail "tail of love."