The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-12
THE FAITHFUL CRAB.
BY ALEX. SWEET.

OQCS Quf1Dk Iue war DoO DostSi1 and myself were chums and friends. We drank from the same canteen, and both of us were arrested together while skinning hog that had got lost in the woods.
 I was otherwise under some slight obligations to Beasly. He saved my life at the siege of Indianola, Texas, in 1863. A large cannon ball passed diagonally through my body while we were getting away from Federal battery. I would certainly have per- ished if Beasly had not, at the risk of his life, carried me to place of safety on his horse. And yet 1 subsequently, forbade him to speak to me.
 My reason for breaking friendship with Beasly was very simple one. I discovered that he was not truthful. If there is anything in the world de- test it is an untruthful man. don't mind friend becoming moderately intoxicated occasionally. I can even overlook loss of memory on the part of friend who forgets to pay back small sums of money he may have borrowed, but for the man who will fully exaggerates have no subsequent use Strictly truthful myself-never indulging in the slightest deviation from veracity-I cannot tolerate lying in friend.
 first began to suspect Beasly of lying one day in camp, when he told a queer story about meteor chasing him, ill broad daylight, around barn, and following him up tree and across a creek; but I thought perhaps that was only his careless way of telling the story.
 One day while we were discussing the intelligence of the different ami mals, and had told him story about hunting dog l owned that could inn itate the call of wild turkey, he said
 "Alex, did I ever tell you about that tame crab I owned in Galveston, be- fore the war;"
 "No, you never did, that 1 remem- ber."
 We'll, before I owned that crab l used to think that dogs were intelli- gent, but that crab laid over them all. One day was seated on log near the beach at Galveston, when something gave me dreadful pinch on the leg, and I saw a crab as high as soup plate hurrying toward the water. headed him off. At first thought I would kill him on the spot, but on reflection I tied him up in my hand kerchief and took him home, for was partial to boiled crab"
 "What sort of crab was it?"
 "It was, apparently, an ordinary crab. When I got him home told Susan-that's my wife's name-to drop him into a pot of boiling water and have him for supper. When the crab heard me say this, he held up his claws, as if begging tor life"
 70, pshaw"
 ''I thought SO at least, SO I said to Susan: Let him live. can do without crab tonight And then you should have seen the poor crea- ture frisk around and wag his tail with gratitude-just like dog. He was so grateful that from that time on he would go out in the yard every morning, and bring me in the morn ing paper from where the carrier boy had thrown it."
 "Look here, Beaslyw
 "Fact, I assure you. I believe l could have taught that crab to shave me, it was so intelligent and willing. When went down town ot an even- ing to play game of billiards, would take him along, and he amused the people to see him play with me. One evening forgot to take Barthol- omew along. We used to call him Bartholomew. was busy making a run at the billiard table, when I felt something pull at my pants, and look ing down, there saw Bartholomew. As afterwards learned, he had been to every billiard-saloon in Galveston looking for me-"
 I didn't say much. I could not help thinking Beasly was exaggerating a little, 30 said:
 "Beasly, sooner or later you will tell downright lies, if you don't put on the brakes"
 "I might do that if warn't careful to confine myself to fact" he replied ]; "hnt you will be astonished when l tell you how Bartholomew followed me to Houston"
 "Why, Houston is fifty miles from Galyestcn-0
 "I know it. Just before I left I said to my wife: Susan, am going to Houston this afternoon. Be care full to shut up Bartholomew. or he