The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-25

box. examined the sample by the scanty
light seeping IN through the dusty win
dow, smiled again., dropped il into his
pocket, and began painstaking scrn-
tiny of everything In the small room.
At length be came TO pair Of old
Spanish boots with thin red Morocco
tops. He struck a match, examined
the floor about the shoes and picked
up handful Of leather scrapings and
bits of thread. Having finished his
examination, he hurried out, locked
the door, went downstairs, and hunt
ed up the proprietor of the restau-
rant.
"Was the General with the old man
when he went out. todayf' he asked.
Eyes, of course answered the res
taurant keeper.
"Know where l can find them'''
The Frencbman shrugged his shoul.
ders and replied, "Most anywhere. "
Christopher Poe walked up Decatur
street until he reached Canal, keeping
a sharp lookout for the sleight- of hand
faker with his fortune-telling para
keets.
AS he came to the foot Of Canal
street Poe observed group about a
man standing in front of the "Belle
of the Bends boat landing; he strolled
over, and stood looking on idly as a
bevy of gigging girls clustered about
wrinkled little old Spaniard, dressed
in greenish-back suit, tall boots with
faded red Morocco tops, and an odd
old felt hat His smile was warm and
sunny as he petted his long tailed par
rots, perched above a box of smudged,
many. colored fortune-telling cards on a
portable stand and invited the girls
to step up, lay nickel in his wrinkled
hand and have one of the pretty birds
60 ntaip
ing q card on which they would find
their fortunes printed, together with
the picture of the man they would mar
ry and the numbers they should play
in lottery.
As the little green birds hoped down
at the faker's bidding, jerked out en-
velopes with their sharp bills, and laid
them in the purchaser s hands, Poe be-
came more interested, pushed his way
to the front and paid nickel Tor the
service of a bird,
"Do they do any other tricksi' he
asked, having received q card.
For answer the faker made circle
of his thumbs and forefingers, held it
before one of the tiny parrots, and the
bird hoped through gracefully, to the
amusement of the gathering.
Poe laughed, and handed the faker
quarter, at the same time raising his
had Just discharged his fare at the boat
landing and was pulling up his IVA"
cant flag.
:'Got anv more trickss' asked Poe,
pointing to little felt Napoleon hat
surmounting a toy cannon tied to one
end of the bird perch Don't some
of your birds do stunt with thate''
The faker fingered Poe's quarter, and
answered quickly:
ssI fix it for old trick; bird what do
it is sick,
A bright faced lad at Poe's side
edged forward and explained;
''He sticks that hat on the bird s
head and puts 4 cap in the cannon,
and tells the bird TO fire the cannon. .
'.The deuce you say? cried Poe.
~ ID give dollar to see that y He
though he were slightly inebriated.
The faker's eyes glinted as he looked
at the bill. He shook his head and
mumbled something unintelligible.
s'Oh, come on, ii bet your bird
ain 't too sick to perform for dol
lar, -
The faker looked at him sharply,
grinned, reached into his pocket,
brought out bird somewhat larger
and fitted the comical little military
cap TO it's head.
Poe signaled the taxicab driver, who
had drawn up close to the curb, to
wait moment, and Grinned appreel-
atively as the taker stuck a toothpick
under the birds wing for a gun and
cried, Attention.
The bird made Il little frightened
hop. threw back its wings, peTked its
head saucilv. and faced the cannon.
The Spaniard took small powder
cap from his pocket, inserted it In
the toy cannon, which was really a
boy S Fourth OF July pistol with the
handle knocked off, held up his hand,
and with a iauuty little bow addressed
the bird:
General PhIlips.
The bird fluttcred n wing IN salute, |
and perked its head on the other side. !
The little Spaniard g eyes snapped with |
pride.
"General PhilIips!" he cried. Are
YOU ready!'
The bird faced about, reached the /
cannon in two hops. clutched the trig. /
ger firmly with one claw, and turned /
Its head toward the faker.
"Fire! General!' came the ringing
order.
The bird braced itself and icrked /
back on the trigger, the hammer fell /,
and the audience, greatly delighted with
the sharp report that followed. broke
into delighted chuckles al the bird hop
ped down, pulled out fortune telling
envelope and placed it in Poe hand.
Poe gave the promised dollar to the
faker, eyclaiming:
"Good work, Take long to train
him! | got a friend uptown who d
be interested in that bird, Here, | II
give YOU two bucks TO bring General
Phillips up TO the house and have him
pcrform Come on, ret in this ma
'hnc.''
Poe lurched little, and tugeed
good ma turedlv at the fellow IS arm.
The Spaniard hesitated. Poe
flashed a 81 bill before his eyes, and
he old fellow succumhed picked up
lis portable stand, put General Phillips
pack into his pocket, and got into the
axi.
As they rode up the street the
1paniard weakened: he asked TO be let
iown, but Poe refused TO listen TO his
He had directed the driver
o take them 10 Mr. Farley's home ou
st. Charles avenue; and when they
cached the number and the faker saw
splendid residence, he looked eraftily
Il Poe, who was successfully posing as
gay -about-town, and sullenly ac.
Om IA MED him RI the door whera Far. | .