Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-20

nll is gwine TO take whisky. it'll be
two bits. stead o one. l can't have
no"
Hold on" interrupted the stranger
Don't say nothin' to hurt Jacks feel
ms. He's mighty sensitive. an I'd
hate TO see him git riled. I'll pay TO
the drinks. all right, but don't say no
mo- bout it,"
We'll, | won't if yo all is Ewinc to
pay" said the old man. but | Sho was
c'nsdablc upset To- Il minute. !
wouldn't n blicved u dawg cd talk
IL / hadn't a hccrd it my own self"
And. M If half dazcd. he put out an
other glass.
LEARNS DOG Is ABLE
no PLAY POKER
Tho stranger filled two nearly to
the brim and the old man poured out
"a little drink for himself: but before
they proceeded further. ne said. as II
struck by new thought: "lf go
dawE en- talk an drink whisky.
pears like tn amt no reason why yo'
can't learn him TO play poker
play poker" said the dog con-
tcmptuously. IF yO' all II ri; out "a
deck o. guards III show yo' whether
! en- play poker or not. don't never
Sc, in. not thoutcn they is somebody
en- trust 20 to deal 70 mo when it
comes my turn. but | understands the
game. all right"
Utterly bcwiideerd. and moving like
ono IN Il dream. the old man turned 10
got Il pack of cards. and as he turned
the stranger seized tho dogs glass.
drained Il At "A single swallow and set
IT on tho bar again. When the old
man turned back the dog WAS lick
ing his chops again.
l,n
h'ain't drinked it," exclaimed the old
man
'sho' has" said the stranger. as If
much vcx.d Jack. where's yo' man
mcrs? Yo'd ough; 70 TO wait till all
hands drinks together"
Well. it's been n hcllova while
atvecn drinks" growlcd the dog. Les
hav" another
Matt" said tho stranger. sternly.
Nc AN this gen, ain; had ourn yet.
fo all ci set en- UP 30 ownsclf la :
to. on II yo' likes. but ! amt buyin'
that rapid
"Yo ALIAS was a ,ightwad" said
the dog.
NO, II I has the money. ain',."
said the stranger. as II hurt b. the
accusation. but go all knows amt
well fixed right now
Great as was the old mans Devil
deimcnt, he was sufficiently alert TO
make "A mental note Of this admission.
Ordinarily he had scant regard for
any one who was shor. OF money: but
there had come into his mind q great
desire TO own this remarkab BILE dog
and his experience had informed him
that the price OF any commodity often
varied in accordance with the ncccS
stiles of It's owner. First. however. he
wanted to learn whether the dog real
II did understand POKER. as he had
claimed.
ANIMAL DEMANDS
THAT CARDS DE CUT
Therefore he placed the cards on the
bar and after he had cleared The way
for further business by cNnkinG
glasses with the stranger and dis
posing OF the liquor that had been
poured out, he :'itticd the deck and pre-
pared to deal out three poker hands.
Hold on" said the dog, as he saw
the Old man about TO deal Cut tho
guards. Bin
said the old man somewhat abashed
"he!n' they ain, no money up"
"Mebbc not" said the dog. but
whatevcr's did, mought 5 we'll be did
reg lar
Accordingly Bill GU, the cards and
the old man deal, out three hands face
UP on the bar!
Now does yo' all p,end to say wha,
20 knows what them hands is:" he
demanded. looking ut the dog.
"Why. q co'se," was the reply. 70
al. is got three deuces. Bits got two
pair. an Is got a TO flush. Deal out
the draw an les see how !t'll come.
This yar's some irtereStin'."
IT WAS done, and while the others
did no, improve their hands. the dog
caught his hfth spade. whereupon he
harhcd joyously
Il reckon the drinks is on the house
this time" ne said. II wouldn't a
stayed on no TO hush ag'in them hands
with ony three play!n if they'd a
been none Bin the pot. blu; l win all
right. didn't ?"
''Yo' sho did" admitted the old man,
nov thoroughly convinced that the dog
knew not only the value OF the hands.
but something y; least OF the strategy
of the game. TIL amt Gwine TO be
no question bout them drinks" And
he proceeded 10 set 'em UP.
Somehow, he seemed 10 feel the need
Of something TO steady his nerves after
the brain rack!ng experience of the
last few minutes. and after the drinks
had been passed out before, he