The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-29
THE CoLoNEL's ANTE.
How N Clever Parrot Assisted at
His Own Auction.

Going! going! for the third and last
time. gentlemen! Are you all done? soldi
Sold TO the Colonel for $3.50. 1t was a
good price, gentlemen, and we'll all have
a bowl"
These were the closing words OF the
auctioneer at the sale of a parrot In the
apartments where the bird had been
conspicuous figure for years. says the
Chicago Tribune. He belonged to
man about town whose best-known
name Is Captain" II seems an enor-
nous sum to be paid for a parrot, but
this Is no ordinary bird. and the pur-
chaser thinks he has bargain. The
Captain has a reputation for being one
OF the best entertainers in the city, and
his apartments have been the scene of
many a merry gathering of the good
fellows of his long list of acquaint-
ances. They have also been the rendez-
vous of select coterie who have gath
cred there many times to play draw
poker. The parrot occupied a prominent
place in the card room, and. when a
game was In progress and a player
passed or dropped out, he usually gave
some moments to conversation with him
and 1t Is reasonable to believe true his
statement that he has vocabulary
that Is wonder
Some time ago Cap" announced he
was going 70 desert the ranks OF the
'undomesticatcd" and join the ranks OF
benedicts. He also announced that he
would desert his old quarters, and that
If any of the crowd whose faces were ia
miliar In them particularly desired any
object contained In the room In the way
of memoir or n more practical reason
he might obtain the same by making
known his wants. At this announcement
there was general request for the par
rot. Everybody wanted him. The re-
quests became so numerous and decided
that the Captain began to get worried.
He consulted one of the crowd.
You see. l can't give him to every
body, and one liz as welcome to him as
another" said the Captain.
why not auction ham off, them" the
friend suggested.
..M The very thinsl" cried the Captain
He proceeded TO NOTIFY the interested
ones to the effect that the following
Friday the bird would be auctioned off
the proceeds of the sale to go to liqui-
date some outstanding Indebtedness for
wet goods used In recent memorable
supper.
The parrot. whose name is Falstaff
sat .pompously on an elaborate perch
as the crowd assembled. 1t was the
gold end of what had been a gold head
ed cane Its ends rested on two cham
cooler. battered and looking much the
worse for wear. Poll was engaged in
dissecting an old champagne cork when
the Captain came in at side door,
followed by his colored boy, who took
Poll over to the end OF the room near
statuette Of Venus, The Captain then
turned from a sideboard, suspiciously
wiping his lips. walked over to where
Falstaff stood, climbed upon a little box
and faced the crowd
Then the bidding began. Poll shipped
in his say every now and then, causing
outbursts of merriment and O more spir-
tied contest for ownership. Finally lust
before the last bid when there was a
lag in offers, he shouted:
TITS your ante, Colonelr' noddins
sagely at n fat man whose bank account
resembles himself The Colonel laughed
outright. Then he said:
II bid $45Ov
And he took the bird away.