Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-01-04
How a Lean Sport Conquered Bull
dog and Won Ten Dollars.

Bowery with four tables and sixteen
chairs. 1t is cheap eating house
and is run by big man of grim and
forbidding mien. His chief lieuten-
ant, besides single waiter, is an over
grown bulldog with massive jowls,
hanging lip and bloodshot eyes. This
terrible animal is trained to repose at
one end of short and narrow count
er to watch and pinion men who try
to walk off without paying for their
meals. If tramp succeeds in getting
past the cashier he is instantly halted
by an ominous growl from the bull
dog, who starts to his feet and shows
an awful array of teeth. That settles
it, and the tramp pays up. The saw
agery of the dog is we'll known and
it is unnecessary to remark that he is
treated with the most servile respect
by all who frequent the place.
The other day a man, long, lean
and cadaverous. walked in. He sat
down, ordered a outlet, rolls and cof-
fee. In twinkliug he was outside
of it, got his check and with four 9TH
er men started toward the desk. The
lean man thought he saw a chance to
emerge without paying and nonchal-
antly sauntered toward the door. The
dogs eyes stopped blinking to glare at
the brazen fellow, but he didn't see
them and continued his thief.like stroll.
Then came horrible growl. The
man heard but paid no head. He
reached the entrance, and was calm
ly using toothpick, when the bull
dog darted forward and sunk his fangs
in the mans coat tails and began to
drag him back. There was no resist
ance, and in another moment the
would-be beat was before the grinning
cashier, while the dog resumed his
usual haunt.
You'd better not try that game
here" snarled the cashier as he swept
the money into the drawer lit might
be unhealthy for YOU"
"Ye-e-es, so fancy" di..rled the
man; "but it's only fit of absent
mindedness on my part, that's all.
Why, I've got money enough to buy
this place." and he produced wad
of bills from his trousers pocket.
"Oh, that's all right, mister that's
all right, You've only mistaken the
shop, that's all" blurted the cashier
with glare and grin.
"Well, we'll let that pass" rejoined
the lean man, assuming forgetful air.
Say, that's dangerous looking brute
you've got there. Does he bite ?"
Bite? Great Cesar, he's killed
two men already"
"Ahem; but he doesn't look so very
wicked. Say, stranger, ! think that
dog is mongrel cur and rank cow
ard. He hasn't got a drop of sport.
ing blood in his veins, and I'll prove
it, if you say So"
"My advice to you, sir" observed
the cashier contemptuously, sis not to
,riffe with that animal or he will chew
you up certain"
"Well, here, stranger, l am some
thing of sport myself, and don't
mind losing greenback now and
then. Now, I'll tell you what I'll do
if you've got the grit. Here's ten
dollar bill that says that I'll put your
terrible dog out on the sidewalk and
close the door on him in less than five
minutes. What do you say to that 7"
"Well, all I've got to say is that
you are crazy fool. and ought to be
locked up; but, if you mean business,
| don't mind scooping in $40 now and
seeing little bloodshed besides. Put
up your dust"
The money was placed in the hands
,f bystander, and the lean man
called for a broom. He got it and
went to the rear of the apartment and
began to sweep the floor. twas done
slowly, carefully and deliberately.
BY degrees he approached the reclin-
ing brute, taking care to whisk the
lirt gently over and around him.
The dust got into his ears and up his
nostrils and settled thickly in his eyes.
He blinked and shifted without avail,
and finally got up and shook himself,
but still the sweeper swept. The dog
changed his position, only to be pur-
sued by the relentless man with the
broom, and the crowd began to snick-
er Again the animal arose and tried
to escape the stiffling cloud of dust
behind a chair, but he was routed out.
Still the sweeper swept. At last the
dog, unable to endure the torture
longer, staggered to his feet, glared
at his torturer, shook him
self savagely, put his tail between his
legs and sneaked out the open door.
1t was instantly closed behind him by
the cadaverous sport, who, amid the
roar of laughter that ensued, took the
stakes and hastily made his exit.-Ex.