The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-26
TlN's VERY Wise DOG.
Knew The Morse Alphabet and
could Play Poker.

EF6IyOOOy. -OOWu dG 0ISuSIUS re-
members Tan's pup, ''said the operator
rs he flashed the picture of the dog.
81 remember the dog very well. Tan
quarry was the operator down there
when first came to Colorado. Gran
eros was made up of battered box car
that had been dumped at one side OF
The track. This served as telegraph
Office, and it was dreary place Tor
the bravest man, and Tan got lone
some staying there.
One day some one sent Tanquary
dog. It was mean looking animal OF
mingled breeding, and it had tail
of the length, breadth, thickness and
general outline of banana. But the
dog was welcomed and soon made
friends with the lonely operator. Tan
quarry taught the animal to go to the
section foreman's hotel. where he
bearded, and fetch his lunch, al
though the dog was at first inclined to
take Roman holiday with the food.
Tan also taught the dog number
Of tricks, such as standing on his
head. to leap sideways, to chew to-
hacco and TO smoke. The only picture
4 have of the dog is the one where he.
Is seen smoking.
~ g Although Tanquary taught the dog
q good many things, the brute went
on TO learn many other things without
the Operators assistance. The two
grew more and more fond Of each
other, and once when Tanquary came
up to see if Denver was ssin here he
brought the dog with him. They had
snndry adventures and finally brought
Mp as poker game behind a Wazee
street barber shop. There three stran-.
gers had decided to gather in Tan
ouary's six months salary.
They played with great energy I'M
I'll the operator had reached the last
dime In his pocketbook. He looked
shout him and his eyes fell upon his
faithful dog, which had taken posi-
sion on a chair on the opposite side OF
the table. Tan looked mournfully at
the brute for minute, and then his
love for the game overcame him and
ne said
ss If you are good sports you will
let nae put mp that dog against q. dol
lars worth of excitement and We can
go If little longer. Otherwise I am
ont of it
{. Tanquary told Of the dogs accom-
pIishments and put him through few
of his tricks. Something seemed to be
worrying the dog, and it could be seen
that Tanquary saw his pet was not
satisfied to masquerade as jackpot.
Well. the three gamblers consented. to
let Tananary stake the dog.
ss After that the game became one OF
life and death. Tanquary, after the
draw, found himself possessed of two
kings and the same number Of tens.
All but one of the strangers fell by
fhe wayside and Tan was getting
worried about the single opponent,
for the fellow held up three cards.
the operator weighed his hand and
then sat silently gazing at the two
pairs. Suddenly he heard a sound, a
slow, steady taptap. Tan's telegraphic
ear caught from the mysterious sound
these Morse characters:
= He has deuces.
Now, Tan was a man who did not
INQUIRE into the why's and wherefores
OF Providence. When a miracle was
performed, the purport Of which was
80 inform him that the other fellow
was b3ufing on deuees, he accepted
the tip and played back with all his
strength. The result vas that he
garnered s2.S5 On that pot and was
gtaked for the saext deal.
They started IN again and Tan
got three kings. He was inclined to
bet like an amateur, but he suddenly
heard again the slow tap-tap. He IN
clined his head and heard the tele-
graphic alphabet. The dots and dash
es read:
Z. Keep ont. I see four nines.'
Tan cast hurried glance around
so see if he could locate his miracle
working messenger. He saw nothing
bat the dog sitting disconsolately on
the chair on the opposite side of the
table. Nevertheless, Tan threw down
his kings and lost ten cents. On the
next hand he reaped 81 on one OF the
spirit manifestations by telegraph,
which told him one maa held pair
OF ives, another a bobtail flush and
the other two pairs, kings up. He
himself held three trays.
Well, as the night wore away the
mysterious messages keps coming and
Tan began to roll in wealth. Next
morning he went back to Graneros
with 81, 737, all the three sports and
he himself had at the beginning.
T When Tan got up out of his chair
one of the sports said: We'll, | hope
you've got enough money to buy that
dog some grub. He's been sitting
there wagging his tail all night.
ssTanq1ary looked up in rather
startled manner, for great trutn was
beginning to dawn upon him. And be
guessed right. The dog had been
watching the other fellows hands.
His tail was sandwiched in between
two of the uprights in the back of the
chair. AS Tanquary stood looking at
the dog the brute's tail began wagging
again. Tan listened closely, and as
the dogs tail struck the uprights OF
the chair the operator deciphered the
letters. The message wasv And We
didn't do thing to them.
sTanquary reached over and stroked
the dogs head. He was mystifed for
awhile; and / don't believe he ever
did figure out Just how 1t came about,
but it's a weu-known fact. Mash
xi11e American