The Indiana State sentinel., 1894-11-14
THE CAPTAINS PARROT.
1t Took Its Part I'm the Auction and
Changed Owners.

"Goingl going! for the third and last
time, gentlemen! Are you all done? Sold!
sold to the colonel for $3.50. 1t was a good
price. gentlemen, and we will all have a
bowl"
These were the closing words of the
auctoneer at the sale of a parrot in the
apartments where the bird had been a
conspicuous figure for years. He belonged
TO man about town whose best-known
name was Captain" It seems an enor-
nous sum to be paid for a parrot, but
this Is no ordinary bird, and the pur-
chaser thinks he has a bargain. The cap
tain has the reputation OF 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 acquaintances. They
have also been the rendezvous of a select
coterie who have gathered there many
time to play draw poker. The parrot oc-
cupied a prominent place In the card
room, and, when the game was in progress
and a player passed or dropped out, he
usually gave some moments to converse
tion with him and 1t is reasonable to be-
lieve true his statement that he has a
vocabulary that is wonder"
Some time ago cap" announced he was
going TO desert the ranks of the 'un-
domesticated" and join the ranks of bene-
diets. He also announced that he would
desert his old quarters. and that if any of
the crowd whose faces were familiar in
them particular desired any object con-
tanned In the room i'm the way of a
memento or for a more practical reason.
he might obtain the same by making
known his wants. At this announcement
there was a 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, / can't give him to every
body, and one is as welcome to him as
another" said the captain.
why not auction him off, them" the
friend suggested.
THE very .hing," cried the captain
wen do that"
He proceeded to notify the interested
ones TO the effect that on the following
Friday the bird would be auctioned off,
the proceeds of the sale to go to liquidate
some outstanding indebtedness for wet
goods used in a recent memorable supper
The parrot, whose name Is Falstaff, sat
pompOusly on an elevated perch as the
crowd assembled. 1t was the gold end Of
what had been gold-headed cane. Its
ends rested on two champagne bottles that
sat on a champagne cooler, battered and
looking much the worse for wear. Poll
was engaged in dissecting an old cham
payne cork when the captain came in at
a side door, followed by MS colored boy
who took Poll over to the end of the
room near a statuette Of Venus. The cap
tain then turned from a sideboard sus-
plciously wiping his lips, walked over to
where Falstaff stood, climbed upon a little
box and faced the crowd.
Then the bidding began. Poll Clipped
in his say every now and then, causing
outbursts of merriment and a more
spirited contest for ownership Finally
just before the last bid, when there was
lag i'm offers. he shouted:
IT'S your ante, colonelr noddlng
sagely at a fat man whose bank account
resembles himself The colonel laughed
outright. Then he said:
Il bid $3.50"
And he took the bird away.-Chicago
Tribune.