Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-08-12

dusty window, smiled again, dropped
1T into his pocket, and began a
painstaking scrutiny Of everything in
the small room.
At length he came to a 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 restan-
rant
WAS the General with the old man
when he went out today?" he asked.
Yes, OF course" answered the res
taurant keeper.
know where l can find themT
The Frenchman shrugged his Shout
ders and replied, Most anywhere"
Christopher Poe walked up Decatur
street until he reached Canal, keeping
a sharp lookout for the sleightof-hand
faker with his fortune-telling para
keets.
As he came to the foot OF Canal
street Poe observed a group about
man standing in front OF the Belle
OF the Bends" boat-landing; he
strolled over, and stood looking on
idly as a bevy of giggling girls clus-
tered about q wrinkled little old Span
lard, dressed in greenish-black suit,
tall boots with faded red Morocco
tops, and an odd old felt hat. His
smile was warm and sunny as he pet
ted his long-tailed parrots, perched
above q box OF smudged, many-col-
ored fortune-telling cards on a port
able stand. and invited the girls to
step up, lay a nickel In his wrinkled
hand. and have one Of the pretty
birds pick out an envelope for them
containing a card on which they
would find their fortunes printed. to-
gether with the picture of the man
they would marry and the numbers
they should play in lottery.
As the little green birds hoped
down at the takers bidding. jerked
out envelopes with their sharp bills,
and laid them in the purchasers
hands. Poe became more interested.
pushed his way to the front, and paid
nickel for the cervice OF bird.
do they do any other tricks?" he
asked, having received q card.
For answer the faker made cir
Gle Of his thumbs and forefingers,
held 1t before one OF the tiny parrots,
and the bird hoped through grace
fully, to the amusement of the gather
ing.
Poe laughed, and handed the faker
his finger to summon taxicab driver
who had just discharged his fare at
the boat-landing and was pulling up
his Vacant" flag.
"Got any more tricks?" asked Poe,
pointing to little felt Napoleon hat
surrounding a toy cannon tied to one
end Of the bird perch. Don't some
OF your birds do stunt with that?"
The faker fingered Poe's quarter,
and answered quickly:
II fix 1t for old trick; bird what do
1t Is sick"
A bright-faced lad at Poe's side
edged forward and explained:
He sticks that hat on the birds
head, and puts a cap in the cannon,
and tells the bird to fire the cannon"
"The deuce you say?" cried Poe.
I'D give dollar to see that" He
produced the money fiashily, acting
as though he were slightly inebriated.
The takers eyes glinted as he looked
at the bill. He shook his head and
mumbled something unintelligible.
"Oh, come on; I'll bet your bird
amt too sick to perform for a dol
lar"
The faker looked at him sharply
grinned, reached into his pocket,
brought out bird somewhat larger
than the other, placed 1t on the perch,
| and fitted the comical little military
cap to its head
Poe signaled the taxicab driver, who
had drawn up close to the curb, to
wait a moment. and grinned appre-
ciatively as the faker stuck a tooth
pick under the birds wing for gun
and cried, Attention."
The bird made little frightened
hop, threw back its wings, perked its
| head saucily. and faced the cannon.
The Spaniard took q small powder
cap from his pocket, inserted 1t in
the toy cannon, which was really a
boys Fourth of July pistol with the
handle knocked of, held up his hand.
and with a jaunty little bow adj
dressed the bird.
| General Phillips."
The bird fluttered a wing in salute,
and perked its head on the other side.
The little Spaniard's eyes snapped
with pride.
General Phillips!" he cried. Are
you readys.'
The bird faced about, reached the
cannon in two hops, clutched the
| trigger firmly with one claw, and
| turned its head toward the faker.
Fire. General!" came the ringing
| order
The bird braced itself and jerked
back on the trigger, the hammer fell
and the audience, greatly delighted
with the sharp report that followed,
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