The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-12

Bill nad punch or money ana Tom had
accumulated a stock Of experience that
he would have been glad to dispose of at
mighty small price. Tom was a puzzled
man.
I've seen good poker playing in my
life,' observed Tom the next day in a
wondering way, but never saw a man
size up the other fellows hands the way
Bill Brown did last night And to think
that I considered Bill an easy mark at the
game
Tom was a pretty foxy boy himself
when it came to card playing, and all day
long ne kept trying to figure out how it
happened. That evening Bill Brown came
over to play again. Bill kept on playing
the same skillful game of the night before,
seeming to know exactly what cards Tom
Wilson was holding. By-and-by Tom no
uced that Bill kept watching the bear
closer than if he was the third person in
the game. Then Tom began to appreciate
that in some way the bear was giving
Bill points. Tom made up his mind 40
get even.
That poor pet of yours acts as II he
was hungry observed Tom, in sort of
plying way. Wait minute and ia get
him a nice bit of raw meat
80 Tom went into the kitchen and
cut off big piece of raw meat.
Such an extraordinarily Intelligent
and civilized bear would certainly want 10
have his meat Favored, said Tom. And
he made a slice in the meat and stuck in
a mighty liberal portion of red pepper.
Then he went back into the barroom
where Bill and the bear were.
He's your bear, Bill, said Tom in
kindly manner. You'd better give him the
meat yourself
''Bill handed the meat to the bear. The
bear gobbled it down. In a minute there
was an excited bear in that barroom He
began to dance around the floor holding
on to his stomach with his front paws.
and growing at Bin in tones
which weren't those of affection
ate regard. Then the bear roll
made a break for the door and galloped
home at rate that established a new
record in bear sprin;ing. Bill thought his
pet had fit. He hurried home. There was
the bear at the watering trough drinking
at a rapid rate, and only stopping to rub
his stomach every few seconds in a pen
sive manner. Bill was mad.
There's a bear that I've spent
thought, and care, and valuable time
training and just when / am winning
Tom Wilson's money in a record break
ing manner he chooses that moment to
give a fancy exhibition of a big black
bear throwing fit. I'll teach him a les
son that will make him appreciate there
is a time and place for everything, in
Guiding fits
And Bill picked up a stick and began
beating that much abused bear.
THE bear didn't make any remarks,
but a person could see that the milk of
bear kindness was curdling mighty fast
in his furry bosom. The next morning
though, the bear acted as if nothing had
looY, In
to visit Tom Wilson's tavern. 1 warned
him to be careful.
Even a Christian I told Bill solemn
ly, would resent the treatment you've
handed out to that bear, and forgiving
tenderness isn't the long suit of any black
bear. That pet of your blames you for
the internal commotion he suffered last
night, as well as for the beating you gave
him. If 1 am any judge of bear nature,
he will be looking for revenge
That bear of mine is the pet and
pride of my heart replied Bill earnestly.
I've fed and cared for him. No animal
who has come to know my good qualities
the way that bear has would ever cher
ish malice against honest old Bill Brown
for the few Christening blows l gave him..
Tom Wilson is a pretty good judge of
bear. as well as human nature. He had
made up his mind that there wouldn't be
to Bill Brown from that bear. SO Tom
didn't make any protest at having the
bear sit back of him. The game went
along for awhile without any excitement.
Bill kept winning, for the bear gave the
signals all right, although subsequent pro-
ceedings showed he was only waiting for
a chance to get even. Finally Bill got an
ace full, while Tom Wilson had four
threes. Bill glanced over at the bear.
The treacherous animal gave a signal that
Tom was holding full house. Poor old
Bill, thinking that he had the best full
house in the deck, bet so much that when
the call came all the money he had won
and a big bunch of his own coin was in
the pot. Tom showed down his four of a
kind and raked in everything in sight
Bill was dazed. He locked over at the
bear to see if his once faithful pet could
have made a mistake. The self-satisfied
look on that furry deceiver's face show
ed that he had misled his worthy owner
on purpose. Bill grabbed chair and be-
gan pounding the bear. But that partic-
ular bear had made up his mind he was
not going to stand anything more in the
way of abuse from Bill Brown When the
boys untangled the miX-up Bill locked as
If he had been having an argument with
a stone crusher The bear ducked through
the doorway, and that was the last ever
seen of him. Bill was inconsolable.
4" Il don't so much mind losing all that
good money he said, in a grieved, pa
thetic manner, although that hurts But
to think, after knowing me all these years
that bear should play such treacherous
trick on honest old Bill Brown almost
bre axis my heart Edwin Webster.