The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-21

IA HfLE the Seven Bells Club IS
NAI packing up for cruise in
the Luly Alice. let us butt
in upon the privacy of Mr..
Tokens, the irascible old gent,
with one leg and one eye. In the damp
fog light of early evening he might have
been seen pegging along the narrow
pIanked alley that led to his apartment
at the farther end of the walk.
Mr.. Tokens lived in that quarter OF
san Francisco inhabited by busy toilers
who had forsaken the ditch, dump, and
dock Tor the more genteel employment
Of escorting their late dinner pals to and
from the corner OF Mr. Tokens the
neighbors knew little, except that he
was q very busy man, generally absent
all day, and that he took no part in the
tin-pail reveIs. Sometimes he fell home
with an alien jag acquired in parts IN
known, and again he remained away
twenty-four hours at a stretch, which
lapse of time called for an explanation
in that district
The street was blind alley. or cul de
sac, paved from curb 10 curb with warped
and twisted lumber, undermined by the
onslaughts of rats and rain. Being the
only one-legged man among the resi-
dents there, the peg humping along the
sounding boards proclaimed the arrival
and departure OF Mr.. Tokens ut whatever
hour. II served also to bulletin his state
of mind and physical condition When the
neighbors failed to hear the peg making
full periods. commas. or semiCOlOns in his
daily life, as narrated OH the walk, they
knew Mr.. Tokens had temporarily lost
the power 10 punctuate. but would later
take his pen in hand, so 10 speak
On this occasion his stride indicated
an epoch Of some Importance His
shoulders labored in unison with his legs,
ne wore a well-fed. after-Dennctt air.
and the Notwithstanding leather bag dee
carried had a wider swing than usual.
soft and pleasing light like unto love
shaft CLEANED In his lonesome eye. and
the wad OF whiskers stuffed between his
lips was much create thau the ordinary
portion he allowed himself. Arrived 80
the house Mr. Tokens fished up from the
depths of his toilet a key attached Co Z.
string and unlocked the door
Heavy weather" he said, shifting al
the foe. "She may baik ] shouldn't won
der" with which lucid observation De- en-
tered and mounted to the second-story
back room Placing one nand on the
knob. he smote the panels thUmp
with the leather bag
Ike. old boy. are SON there.
From under th- door came an cage
snuffiuE and scratching Of toes on tho
bare floor denoung that Ike OLD boy.
WAS there Mr.. Tokens smiled genially
threw open the portal and. after some
fumbling and suDdued cuTsiug. lighted tho
one gas jet pendant from the ceiling ln
the center Of the room. Lying on his
stomach in "a corner, whittier he had
Tctreated. his chin resting on his crossed
front iegsN was a white bulldog, whore
rink cyebaIls were intently fixed en- his
proprietor.
All" said M Tokens. rubbing his
flesh and blood fetIock against the TIM
Der leg and dropping into Doetic;i
mood. Its sweet TO hear the watchdog 3
honest bark bay deep-mouthed welcome
as We draw near home"
BY what manner Of reason or stretch
Of fancy the wheezy grunt of a bull pup
was Hkened unto the watchdog's honest
note was process known only to the
owner Of the beast. Regarding Ike with
much affection, Mr.. Tokens removed three
coats in rapid succession. The first was
a long, full-tailed cutaway, Of a style