The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-02-14
FULL O. KNAvE S
IOriginal.l

turned u skin ana bone as soon as he
failed to get his meals of arsenic Billy
was trying to get it back on Tom
You see, we fellows all understood one
another, and no one of the gang spared
another. After fellow had been sold
he laughed with the rest and bided
his time to get even. But HaZeltine
stuck Nutting for a larger amount
than we fellows liked to see, and we
were ready to help him recover it from
the man who took it out of him. Billy
was very nice about it. He joined in
the laugh at his expense, sent the horse
to fertilizing factory and pocketed
his loss-that is, temporarily.
We used to meet at each others
rooms after business hours for
small game Of poker before dinner.
One afternoon when we We're at Bill
ly's rooms, each with pile of chips
before us, there was a ring at the bell,
and an italian came in with a parrot
for sale.
Don't want any parrots" said Billy
impatiently. Whose deal?"
II have vera good parrot" said the
Italian. "You lika him vera much"
Don't want him." said Billy. Get
outr'
''Shut up!' shreked the parrot.
You impudent little villainw ex-
claimed Billy.
This changed the interest from the
game to the parrot. The Italian was
called upon to get him out of his box
and make him perform.
ANTE up" croaked the parrot.
Polly" said Hazeltine pretty poll!
What " got for a show DOWN.
Full O. knaves," croaked the par
rot
There was laugh, and some one
asked the parrot if he had anything
else, but the bird only had one answer
for all-"Full O. knaves."
you're dead right" remarked one
of the party. '"There's more knavery
in this gang than in dozen jailbirds."
Deal the cards." the parrot sudden
ly blurted out, rubbing his beak with
his claw and following the injunction
with a lot of parrot cawings.
by Jove." exclaimed Hazeltine, she
is rare bird to have on hand for
poker party! He'd make no end O fun.
What you want for him?''
TELL the gentleman your price, Poll"
said the Italian.
1.-Two CENTS. said the parrot.
ttNo mop, tbn ou,par SIrHrx-
again. Your price-your price"
"Seventy-fve dollars"
Great Scott"' exclaimed Billy. "Sev-
enty-fve dollars for parrotn'
The Italian shrugged his shoulders.
Put him up at auction" said Billy.
with $75 minimum"
The italian agreed, the bird was put
up, and Billy started the bidding by
offering $25. Hazeltine, who was think
ing what treasure the bird would be
at his own poker parties, offered $50,
and the bidding became spirited. In
few minutes the price was run up to
the limit, but none of the bidders
seemed inclined to give way to the 9th
ers: Eighty, eighty-five, ninety, were
bid successfully. At the last figure all
dropped out except Billy Nutting and
Tom HaZeltine, who continued to top
each other 50 bid. At ninety-five Ha-
Zeltine showed signs of weakening.
Don't take water, Tom,' whispered
one of the party. 1.-THE birds worth
5000. There are plenty of parrots, but
l never saw one that could talk like
that"
"Ninety-siX!' cried Hazeltine.
Raise it to ninety-seven," from Nut
i ting.
"Ninety-eight!' from Hazeltne.
'Ninety-ninew from Nutting.
Zone hundred!' from Hazeltine.
"Sold!' cried the Italian. You TAXA
da bird, l TAXA da money"
There was roar of laughter in
which every one present joined except
the successful buyer, who, taking
fright at once, looked at the company
with wonder and inquiry
Point up"' cried the parrot.
This reassured the purchaser. He
took roll of bills from his pocket and
handed 500 to the Italian, who made
no delay in getting out.
Come, Poll" said Billy; "show your
owner what bargain he's made. Talk
about the game of poker"
Polly was silent.
Tell us about those knaves you We're
mentioning
The parrot manifested no interest in
the subject, sitting stupidity on her
perch. Each one of the party tried in
turn to make her talk, but failed. Ha-
zeltine, who had not yet got on to the
sell, remarked that parrots were like
children-they often wouldn't talk to
strangers without their fathers or
mothers egging them on. AS soon as
Poll got used to her new master she'd
show up fine. So he took the bird
home, and after he had gone we laugh
| a1 ill VIC oil hoI CIT