The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-02
TAN'S VERY WISE DOG.
Knew the Morse Alphabet and Could
Play Poker.
from the NaaL rille Americnn.

Everybody down at Graneroa remembers
Tan's pup. said the operator as he flushed
the picture of the dog. Il remember the
dog very we'll Tanduary was the operator
down there when ! first came to Colorado.
Graneros 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 for the bravest
man, and Tan got lonesome staying there.
zone day some one sent TanQuary dog.
II 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.
Tanuuary taught the animal to go to the
section forcman's hotel. where he boarded.
and fetch his lunch. although the dog was AZ
first inclined to take Roman holiday with
the food.
"Tan also taught the dog a number of
tricks, such as standing on his head to leap
sideways, to chew tobacco and to smoke.
The only picture have Of the dog is the one
where he is seen smoking.
Although Tnnuuary taught the dog
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 mp to see If Denver was still here no
brought the dog with him. They had sundry
adventures and finally brought up at a poker
rame behind d Wa2ee street barber shop.
There three strangers had decided to gather
in Tanquarys six months salary.
They played with great energy until the
operator had reached the last dime in his
pocketbook lie looked about him and his
ewes fell upon his faithful dog, which had
taken n position on a chair on the opposite
l,p1,nyl .e..i
Mt the brute for a minute, and then his love
for the game overcamn him and he said.
If you are good sports you Will let me
put up that dog against dollars worth of
excitement and We can go II little longer.
"Tanquary told of the dogs accomplish
ments and put him through few, of his tricks
Something seemed to be worrying the dog
pet was not satisfied TO masquerade as a
jackpot Well the three gamblers con-
senteh TO let Tanquary stake the dog.
After that the game became one Of life
found himself possessed of two kings and the
same number of tens. All but one of the
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. slow. steady tap-tap.. Tan's
telpgraphic ear caught from the mysterious
sound these Morse characters:
Vow, Tan was man who did not inquire
into the why's and wheretores of Providence.
When miracle was performed. the purport
of which was to inform him that the other
fellow was bluftng on dences,, he accepted
the tip and played back with all his strength
The result was that he Garnered s2s5 on that
pot and was stnked for the next 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
lie inclined bis hcnd and heard tn the tele;
gapks ha0e aGe mo Gn @nd read
Tan east u hurried glance around to SEQ II
he could locate his miracle working messen-
ger He saw nothing but the dog sitting dis
of the table Nevertheless. Tan threw down
his kings and lost ten cents On the next
hand he renped s37 on ono Of the spirit mani
festatonS by te"GTnbS which told MIN 9nS
flush and the other two pairs. kings ny, lilo
himself held three trcys
"Wcl. az the night wore AWAY the ,mysteri-
Gus messa ges kept coming and Tan began TO
t;raneros With Al .797, all the three sports and
he himself had at the beginning
the W .D s so wis., GI Of hope Ss 's yoas rot ct
enough money to buy that dog some grub
Hes been sitting there wagging his tail all
night u,,,.,, ,o,Dod nm in . ro.bor s,0r,Isd
manner for a great truth was beginning to
dawn upon him And he guessed right, Tho
dog had been watching the other fellows
two Of the upriRhts IN the back Of the chair.
As TanGuary stood looking Mt the dog the
hrute's tail began w8gging again Tan lis-
tened GSSG nf be as shn T a t6s psror r Sa
cIphered the letters The message was:
And we didn't do a thing to them
Sas Sysf snd 1r sT9Efa ths
I don't believe he eyer did figure out Just how
1t came about. but it's well known fact"