Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-09
DAILY. STORY.
FULL O. kNAVES.

After Tom HaZeltine sold Billy Nut.
ting doped horse for 500 that re-
turned to skin and 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 zone
another, and no one of the gang spared
another. After a 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
mis- loss-that is, temporarily.
We used to meet at each others
rooms after business hours for Il
small game of poker before dinner.
One afternoon when we were at Bill
ly's rooms, each with a pile of chips
before us, there was q ring at the bell,
and an italian came in with u parrot
for sale.
Don't want any parrots" said Billy
impatiently. Whose deal?"
II have vera good parrot" said the
Italian. you Iika him vera much.'
Don't want him." said Billy. Get
outr'
"Shut up!' shrieked the parrot.
"You impudent little villain!" 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 v got for Il show DOWN."
Full o. knaves," croaked the par
rot.
There was n 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. "Theres more knavery
in this gang than in a dozen iailbirds."
Deal the cards." the parrot sudden
ly blurted out. rubbing his beak with
his claw and following the injunction
with Il lot of parrot cawings.
by Jove," exclaimed HaZeltine, The
is rare bird TO have on hand for
poker party, He'd make no end Os fun.
What you want for hlm:'
Tell the gentleman your price, Poll"
said the Italian.
1.-Two cents" said the parrot.
NO no. interposed the owner TRY
again. Your price-your price"
'Seventy-five dollars"
"Great Scott exclaimed Billy. "Sev-
enty-five dollars for u parrot
The Italian shrugged his shoulders.
Put him up at auction" said Billy,
with $40 a minimum"
The Italian agreed, the bird was put
up, and Billy started the bidding by
SO. Hazeltine, who was think
ing what a 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 10
the limit, but none of the bidders
seemed inclined to give way to the 9th
ers. Eighty, cightyfive. ninety, were
bid successfully. At the last figure all
dropped out except Billy Nutting and
Tom HaZeltine, who continued to top
each other 50 n bid. At ninety-five Ha
zeltine showed signs of Weakening
Don't take water, Tom" whispered |
Dne of the party. The birds worth |
5000. There are plenty of parrots, but
never saw one that could talk like |
that
''Ninety-siXr' cried Hazeltine.
Raise it to ninety-seven," from Nut
ing.
"Ninety-eight from Hazeltine.
''Ninety-niner' from Nutting
Zone hundredr' from Hazeltine.
"SOldr' cried the italian. You TAXA |
la bird, / TAXA da money"
There was roar of laughter i'll |
which every one present joined except |
he successful buyer, who, taking |
right at once, looked at the company /
With wonder and inquiry.
Point upr' cried the parrot.
This treasured the purchaser. He |
look roll of bills from his pocket and |
handed 500 to the Italian, who made |
10 delay in getting out.
Come, Poll" said Billy; "show your |
owner what bargain he's made. Talk |
lbout the game of poker"
Polly was silent
Tell us about those knaves you were |
The parrot manifested no interest in |
he subject. sitting stupidity on her
'erch. Each one of the party tried in |
urn to make her talk, but failed. Ha- |
.eltine, who had not yet got on to the |
ell, remarked that parrots were like |
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 |
how up fine. So he took the bird
lome, and after he had gone we laugh
ID till we all had side ache
Weeks passed before Hazeltine would
dmit that his parrot was dumb as a
amp post. He had meanwhile spent
OF of money on parrot teacher who