The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-08
DOG, TURTLE AND SKUNK

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Next to his boat, the justly famed
Mary Bell, the one thing on which Uncle
Enochs affections were conferred was his
bulldog,P observed the old cape skipper
pensiveiy. 1.-The dog was one of these low
browed, deep-chested. undershot-Jawed
specimens of the bull breed. and people
who Judged things by outward appear
ances wouldn't have taken violent
fancy to it. But Uncle Enoch thought
that ali the virtues of dogdom and most
of those mentioned in the good book Were
conferred in his pet. The captain had be-
slowed the name of Innocence on the dog.
always called him by that name, and al
ways wanted other people to do the same
He didn't succeed very well IN having his
wishes in that line carried out People
who made the sudden and violent ac-
quaintance of the dog called him plenty
of names, but Innocence wasn't among
them, In fact, the language that most OF
the residents of Wellfeet used about his
pet wouldn't have looked well In print.
This always filed the good old mans
heart with honest grief.
- My poor, abused. harmless little pet
he used TO say, patting Innocence on the
head. Never mind If people who can't
appreciate your many virtues do abuse
you. They do the same to the worthy
man who owns you. As long as you
keep clear conscience and get in the
first grip, you don't need to let mere
wordy abuse worry you
Now IL there was one person in Well
feet fer whom Captain ERoch had a sin
cere and steadfast dislike 1t was old Cap
tain Ike Watson, of the schooner Nancy
Lee Captain Ike always claimed that his
boat was the best In the harbor. a state
men. y hich made Captain Enoch over
How with righteous wrath, Captain Ike
was an elder, and one of the most promi-
nent men in the church, and was in the
habit of referring to Captain Enoch as
vessel of wrath, & sink of fniquity.
moral leper, and other things which
weren't overwhelming. Captain Enoch in
turne used to allow that whited sepul-
che was an emblem of purity and right
eousness compared with Captain Ike.
Poor, old Satani' Captain Enoch said
one day. sorrowful Ike, when some one
happened to mention Captain Ikes name
In his presence. Poor. old fellow, No
doubt he has his faults. but he has been
at the head of things In hell so long that
IL will be a terrible blow for him to give
up his position. But ne can't expect to
hold it long, for In the course of nature
Ike Watson can't last many more years.
And when Ike reaches the place ho was
always intended for. poor Mr.. Satan will
have TO resign, for he will be obliged to
admit that in general wickedness and
badness of heart he is just an amateur
alongside Ike Watson
Considering that Captain Ike was an
elder in the church, I didn't think that
was a very nice thing to say about him.
almost verging on what might be called
q personal remark. Some one who heard
what Captain Enech said repeated it to
Captain Ike. and he didn't appear a bit
fIattered by 1t.
AS Captain Enoch expressed his can-e
did opinion of Captain Ike at all times and
places 1t was no wonder that Innocence.
the pet bulldog, being an animal of un-
usual talents. came to understand the
feeling his respected master had toward
Captain Ike. After his usual manner, In
necence made no remarks on the subject,
but he sort of brooded over il, ard the re-
suit was that one day when Captain Ike.
In his rneanderings about the village. hap
pcned too close to Captain Enech's resi-
dence that faithful dog dashed out at him.
secured grip on the; good mans leg. and
held on after the manner of dog which
has secured a permanent job.
Captain Enoch was away at the time.
but after a while. by the aid of a crowbar,
hot water, and red pepper. Innocence was
persuaded to let go. Captain Ike wasn't
seriously hurt, but his feelings were moro
iacerated than his leg. When Captain
Enoch returned home Captain Ike came
over with indignant stumps and told the
sad story OF his wrongs. AS soon as Cap
tain Enoch heard that MS pet had bitten
Captain Ike he sprang to his feet and
rushed into the house. 1t was consider
able time before he returned, but when
he did there was a satisfied smile on his
face.
IL guess it VIII be all right now he
said TO Captain Ike in soothing tones.
when you told me that poor little limo
cence had bitten you | was terribly
shocked and alarmed. But now that I've
washed his teeth with carbolic soap, and
used a lot of disinfectants on him, and
given him an annette. guess the poor suf-
fering creature won't ceme to any harm.
But I'm more obliged than can tell you
for letting me know in time. so that
could take precautions
WAS Captain Ike pleased at the friend
iy gratitude expressed by Captain Enochf
Instead, he broke out with a flow of
language that would have caused him to
be expelled from the church If any OF the
members had been around to hear him.
But Captain Ike Watson wasn't the
man 10 be satisfied with mere words. He
toddled home and took up heavy think
ing act. planning revenge on Captain
Enech and that much abused dog, limo
eence.
Now. if there was one thing about the
bulldog that Captain Enoch was even
preuder eff than he was OF its moral char
acter. it was the dogs fighting qualities.
Innocence had whipped every dog in Well
feet. besides finding easy victims in a
number that had been imported from 9TH
er places. So. when Captain Ike began to
say around the village that Innocence was
no fighter, Captain Enoch was UP in arms
in a second in defense of his abused pet.
Captain Ike admitted that Innocence was
all right when il was 4 question OF fight
ing dogs. but allowed that there were cats
or other animals that could make the
cherished bulldog look like ice in Mr.. Sa-
tans domain. Captain Enoch hristled UP
at this, and fell into the very trap that