The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-21
WriAss for 1As AyAsasaw T,avei<r.
 SPIKENHAVEN'S WATCHDOG
BY IKE PAILKiNs.

BY IKE PHILKlkS.
 Spikenhaven lives in Austin, Texas, and advertised for a watchdog. The advertisement explained that he wanted one that would not make friends" with strangers.
 The next morning every body in Texas, it seemed, who had an extra dog, brought one around to Spikenhaven's house. The bowling was terrible.
 Alter looking at them an hour or two, Spikenhaven finally picked out one that he thought would suit him. It was a large, stump-tail, brindle dog, with a head on him like pumpkin, and mouth 90 large that when he opened it. it seemed as if he had split himself down to his shoulders, displaying 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 store-room, shut the door, and said, "now, good doggie, keep things safe while Pm gone"
 Just as Spikenhaven reached the front gate he remembered that he had left his powder flask in the store-roon, and he went back to get it. He found that big dog sitting beside the door as he went in. He picked up the powder flask and started out, and just as he reached the door he felt something pull him back, and heard a deep, rumbling growl, like awful thundey.
 "Gewilikins-to-g gollyl Helen blszesl what are you doingp and he turned around to kick the dog. But the dog was sitting by the -four sack with his stump tail beating tattoo as if nothing had happened.
 Then Spikenhaven recollected that a dog likes to be recognized, so he went up to him, and said:
 "Good fellow; pretty doggie; that's right take care of your master's-get out. you blank. blankety blamed brute," and Spikenhaven jumped into the far corner, while that dog merely showed his double set Of oyster songs, and played Bona parte's retreat with his bob-tail on the floor, where he had sat after trying to take the knee of Spikenhaven.
 Spikenhaven tried to think what was the matter. "Ahp said he, "I have it :; forgot to call his name. But what the dickens is it2"
 Then he concluded to pat him on the head and see him wag his tail, like all the dogs do in the books, so he reached out his hand and said, "come, Buii; here, Watch {; pretty puppy. Drummer, old boy, tun to Q massie, Q nice little Tario, that's dood Carlo, isn't it2 'Es, 'at's his name pretty Carlo; let his mas sic pat is little hea-great whales and little 6shesl Leave here, you son-of-a- gunl Ouch w-a-e-ouche-e-wa-a-go-o- out; Jerusalumbago, you beastl O, my handi My 6ngersp and Spikenhaven waltsed around and did the rapid jig for about three minutes, while he would first put his hand under his arm and then stick it into his mouth and then between his knees, and groan all the time, CUTS ing that big brindle dog and the man who sold him, and calling on all the gods to hear him swear big forty by fourteen VOW that he would yet live to have sweet vengeance.
 During all these variety performances and religious exercises o9 Spikenhsyen, that dog vas doing nothing in the world except sit there and keep his tail going, and looking as innocent as Ben Butler before the election.
 Spikenhaven looked around and then concluded that it was % dark in there that tho dog did not know him, 90 he be- gan to edge towards the door. Every step he'd take that dog would show his teeth and growl Spikenhaven said: RoveE-Bob, don't you know mer' Al friendly thump of the tail, and a familiar licking of the chops by Brindle was en- couraging, % Spikenhaven continued:
 sThat's right; nov you know me, don't you, good doggis7 Speak to mer @C-r-r-E; bos-w-o-oo-oo," was all Brindle said, ss he went near the door himself. Spikenhaven concluded that he usuid just valk ont any vsy, = If noti-