Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-02-10

L earned reputation for sCrupuious
exactitude, told me a marvellous story
about an educated dog that he had seen
in a store in Royal street, and among
would bark twelve times every day at
noon. That interested me greatly, for
| have made something of study of
animal intelligence and never discover
ed either beast or bird that could count
above three. SO | posted off immedi-
ately to see the dog. My friend gave
me rather vague directions, and |
secured an area of five or six blocks
without finding anybody who had ever
heard of the prodigy. That puzzled
NE, for it was hard to believe that such
a truthful man nad'told a deliberate lie,
and went around to his Office to do
little cross-examining. He was visib-
ly embarrassed under my questions
and finally he broke down. The story
is all right" he said "and the dog is
really there, but | stretched things a
little when | told you | saw him my
self. 1t was my cousin who saw the
animal and he'll be glad to give you
the particulars"
But what made you say you saw
him yourself" asked in surprise.
oh! WELL" he replied, you didn't
know my cousin, and to lug him in
would have involved lot of tiresome
explanation. So | just told the story
at first hand. But it's all right, I as
sure you. Here is my cousins ad-
dress"
called on the cousin at once and
when | mentioned the dog he became
enthusiastic. He's the most wonder
tul creature ever saw" he exclaimed.
"Did you hear about him barking at
twelve" That treasured me and
asked the address, but again the di-
rections were rather misty. IL don't
know much about the old quarter" he
admitted, but it's near so-and-so,"
and he named a familiar landmark.
Accordingly | started out afresh with
no better results than before, and re-
turned rather hot about the collar
Look here" | said, tell me frankly
did you see that dog yourself or did
you merely hear about him."
The cousin turned several shades of
pink and tried to dodge the question,
but ! pinned him down, and finally he
confessed that he got it from Mike
in whose word he had implicit conf
dence. You see, you didn't know
Mike" he began, and to lug him in
"Oh, yes" | sneered. Il understand all
about that, but the man want to see
now is Mike himself" He is my por-
ter" sad the cousin, rather family.
''l'll call him at once If you'll wait"
Mike proved to be as good natured
and irresponsible an old fraud as !
ever laid eyes on, and he replied to his
masters questions with perfect sang
frOid. Had he seen the dog? Sure.
And a wonderful dog it was to bark
the time when the hands of the clock
were forninst -. He had never seen
the beat of it in his life.
Nov, see here, Mike" cut in. i've
gone on two wild goose errands al
ready, and just to save time suppose
you tell us right now who told you
about that dog.
who told me-" repeated the old ras-
cal, looking startled.
Yes, who told you? know per
fectly well you didn't see him your
self"
Mike grnncd sheepishly. 1T must
be a moind reader we are, sor," he
stammered. well, who was it,"
French Pete, the milkman," he re-
piled reluctantly. He's a lad We don't
know" he was adding, but | sawed
him off. "Oh, to be sure" ! said sar-
Castcally, "and you were afraid it
would complicate things to lug him
in. l wonder who's Pete's friend?"
! made a special trip next morning
to see the miliman, who wasn't French
az all, but a sort of mongrel Portu-
q ese, with heathenish patois, almost
il possible to understand. When asked
al jut the dog he scratched his head
and looked puzzled. At last he grasp
ed the idea and roared with laughter.
Mike ez a beeg fool" he said. THAT
dog ez not life. They make i'm outa
iron-beeg iron dog-how you call i'm
-autimatique-on top re church in
Llsbon-wlth bell on his inside"