The Van Buren press., 1896-03-14
THE e0LONELs CUB GATOR.
Il Made Things Lively for Oae Of
It's Size and Age.
Coutdnst Flad Refuge IN New York II
scared Chaza1sefn.ssids and ouests
as tha Hetel Fnn with
New Woman.

"That young alligator was mighty
entertaining" sad the colonel, .lYal
I'm glad to be rid Of him. for, t. ssll
The honeat truth, View YORK didnft t5ise
kindly 70 my cub gator
a weIl-meaniHg but inJudieioas
friend. on whose houseboat the west
erner had been a ftvorcd guest during
winter spent ON the Florida coast. aad
shipped fe the eolonefs New York ad-
dress a fine, growing alligator about
six months old and ,wo feet long
''lEhat in thpnder does Murphy think
I'm running up here?7 asked the re
cipient. as he gazed upon what Aas-
phys deed Of gift described as "a litply
son Of an old acquaintance you mel on
Indian river" ..Ile must imagine tilat
ell first-elass hotels I'm this city are sup
piled with zoolo9ieal annexes. I've lad
trouble enough IN the past with ny
horned toads ard with that blood
Pound pup the Texas sheriff gave lse,
but suppose I'm called upon to adopt
this orphan, so here goes
Trouble commenced at once. TIE
colonel put the sleepy gator into his
tathtub, turned the water on, and went
down town. Upon his return in thc
evening. he was invited to step into the
managers private office
II know. know Don't say q word,
rrowled the colonel. as he stallted up
- the usually obsequious hotel mon.
PUT Il in the bin. Charge me for an
Isrk fsx Zoo. 10.
rooms, anything you like, but for
week or so let that Internal youngstcr
room with me.
my dear, sir" put In the manager,
"can't you see the fix we're in3 The
chambermaid on your floor found the
monster in your bathtub, and she's been
IL, Mysteries nearly ever since. Impos.
sible. We
ayes, that's right" the victim of Mur-
phys Joke replied, lust the same when
that pup hound of mine got here. You
said he'd eat children and drive guests
away, and n lot of other injury you laid
at his door, but got rid II him, d;du't
~"
why. colonel, Of course you've al
ways done The right thing; but LET me
tell you, three families have notified
me TINT they'll leavc the house " don't
Tut you and your crocodile, or what
ever il is. ont at once. or course.
couldn't think Of letting you go, but
really, we cannot board that crawling
thing even one night"
"All right, give this money b. that
tlundering girl on my floor, and guess
it9l cure her fits, sitd The liberal
spender from the plains. and IN take
my youngstcr down TO the club. joe.
the fellow who fed those Arizona to1ds
Vi mine. cnn harbor him, guess. FOR
week or two. Lett inbibe A"
An hour later the colonel, alightly
flushed, wrapped in an ulster under
which he carried some mysterious
treasure. boardctl cable car 4 portly
friend who accompanied him was evil
Gently ~ at ease, lie whispered, anx-
ionsle
For heavens sake. don't let 20 Of It,
old man- don't, ] say. IN get"
''Oh, be q man." multcred the colonel.
upon whose broad chest the wriggllng
reptile lay prone. The coloncl's right
hand giipped the gator just bacl, OF
the neclt and he endcayored TO calm his
pcrturbcd companion by saying
'Pshaw, I've handled lots Of 'em. WHY.
this ones "A baby and as harmless as %
kitten. I'm half mind to let him out
here In the car"
The friend arose, walked to the door.
returned. sat down and resumed his
whispering. Finally he appealed To the
wesiernor's chiyalry. like this:
"Say, you wouldn't do a thing like
that; button up that coat, quick, Say.
Jack, old fellow, colonel. remember
there are women IN this car. Any one oi
'em would drop dead IT,"
''Comc on. don't zee emp the
colonel answered, az he oarelcsaly threw
open his ulster, "uud that snnppy-lool-
ing yourg one over there's a new wom-
on IN her bicycle toys. You couldn't
scare her with a panther AZ any rate,
the darnef things smothercd N needs
exercise, so here goes"
Aud ii did GO. Including the iocund
colonel his embarrassed friend. the
new woman. on elderly matron with her
young daughter and nodding husband,
and two tired business men. the car c0n-
taincd just eight passengers. not count
ing the EiN-months' Gun from Florida.
Tho colonel rtcaithily withdrew me
hand. vhieh vaa followed ~ sef GID