The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-03
Spikenhayen's Watch Dog.

would not make friends with
strangers.
The next morning. everybody in
Texas. it seemed, that had an extra
dog. brought one around to Spiken-
Ravens house. The bowling was ter
rible
After looking at them an hour OF
two, SpikenhaTen finally picked out
one that he thought would suit him
1t was a large, stump-tail, brindle
dog, with a head on him like pump.
kin, and mouth so large that when
he opened it, it seemed as if he had
split himself down TO his shoulders
displaying a set of teeth that looked
like double set of oyster tongs.
Spikenhaven took him to the house
and gave the man ten dollars for him
AS the family had gone out to spend
the day, Spikenhaven concluded to
put the dog in the store room to keep
things, and then go hunting.
He put that dog in the storeroom
shut the door and said, "Now, good
doggie, keep things safe while I'm
gone.
just as Spikenhaven reached the
front gate he remembered that he haC
left his powder flask in the store
room, and he went back for it.
He found that big dog sitting be-
side the door as he went in. He
picked up his powder and started out.
and just as he reached the door he
felt something pull him back and
heard a deep, rumbling growl like
awful thunder.
"Gewhillikins-to-gollyl Helen Bl;iz-
es. What are YOU doing ?" and he
turned around to kick the dog. But
the dog was sitting by the flour sack
with his stump tail beating Il tattoo
us if nothing had happened.
Then Spikenhaven recollected that
IL dog always liked to be recognized, so
he went up to him and began:
Good fellow; pretty doggie; that S
right, take care of your maSterS-get
out,yoWblank, blankety-blamed BRUTE
and Spikenhaven jumped into the
far corner, while that dog merely
showed his double set of oyster tongs
and played Bonaparte's retreat with
his bob-tail on the floor, where he had
set after tryingto take the knee of
Spikenhaven.
Spikenhaven tried to think what
was the matter. "Ahw said he, Il
have it: l forget to call his name.
But what the dickens is it?"
Then he concluded to pat him on
the head and see him wag his tail
like the dogs do in books,
so he reached out his hand and said:
" Come, Bull here Watch Pretty
pretty puppie. Drummer, old boy,
tum to o massie, you nice little Car
10. That's a good Carlo, isn't it 'Es,
ats his name; pretty Carlo; let his
little masSie pat his little hea-great
Wheeler and little fishes; leave here,
you son-of-a-gun OUCH w-a-e-
ouche-e-wa-a-go-o-o-out; Jerusalem
bago, you beast My hand 10y
fingersH and Spikenhaven waItzed
around and did the rapid jig for
about three minutes, while he would
first hold his hand under his arm then
stick it into his mouth and then be-
tween his knees, grooming all the
time and cursing that big brindle dog
and the man who sold him, and call
ing on all the gods to hear him swear
big fourteen by forty VOW to have
sweet vengeance.
During all these variety perform
ances and religious exercises of
Spikenhaven, that dog was doing
nothing in the world except to sit
there and keep his tail going, and
looking as innocent us Ben Butler be-
fore the Massachusetts election.
Spikenhaven looked around and
then concluded that it was SO dark in
there that the dog didn't know him;
so he began to edge towards the door
Every step he'd take that dog would
show his teeth and growl Spiken-
haven said: "Rover; Bob. don't you
know me?" "A friendly thump of the
tail and familiar licking of the chops
by brindle was encouraging; so
Spikenhaven said:
That's right; now you know me,
don't you, good doggie? Speak to
me-" "Gr-r-r-r-r; boW-w-oo-oo," was
all brindle said, as he went near the
door himself.
Spikenhaven concluded he'd just
walk out anyhow, as if nothing had
happened. lie had heard that to act
with dog in very positive manner,
and not show fright, was a sure way
to keep him at bay. But this dog
seems to have been sadly neglected
in early training; for, just as Spiken-
haven reached the door-sill, he was
jerked back and rolled on the floor,
while that dog took good sirloin
steak, dressed with pieces of pants,
shirt and things, out of his master.
"Helpl Murder! Land of Scotsl
Take him Off" But there sat brindle
by the door. as if he had been doing
his duty. His master made a rush
for his gun, and then the fun began.
That dog took a big chunk out of the
calf of Spikenhaven's leg, and Spiken-
haven played half-hammond over to-
wards the molasses barrel. Old
Brindle danced the grand lanciers in
that direction, and saluted his part
ner. Spikenhaven, with Il whoop and
a howl, performed the old alcalde
march around the room few times,
to the music of that dogs growls, and
then ne jumped on the head of the
molaSSeS barrel. As the dog was
urging him to be quick, and there
was much deal of danger near, Spi-
kenhaven threw great deal too much
pathos in that jump. The barrel head
broke in and he was up to his waist
in syrup.
AS he climbed out, Brindle per-
formed the polka step a few times,
and then joined with his master in
dancing the racquet. For about three
minutes the air was full of dis
tilling sweetness, stump-tailed dog,
little pieces of mangled male attire,
awful profanity. mingled with groans
and prayers and cries for help. Spi-
kenhaven finally gained the loft. after
leaving most of his clothes and two
days supply of meat in the possession
Of his fine watch dog.
Old Brindle sat there growing L ,
at his master, and licking the blood
from his own chops, and picking but
tons, drawer strings, pieces of sus-
penderS, coat sleeves, pants and such
things, out of his teeth until night, as
old Spikenhaven's yells for help
brought no other response except
more growls from his dog.
When the family returned they had
to shoot that dog from through a
crack in the house, in order to rescue
Spikenhaven. This was Just seven
weeks ago, and Spikenhaven was in
bed, lying on his stomach all that
time.
He isn't home now. He is out on a
and when he finds the man
who sold him that dog, there's is go
ing tobe monkey and parrot time, /"
Spikenhaven says.