The sun., 1916-08-20
old MAN GREENLAV
BUYS HIM A DOG
After Tie Discovers That the
Animal Knows How to
Play Poker.
By DAVID A. CURTIS.

py DSN ~ ~
Aaisdell and Pearsall were both
married. men with established places Of
s>ods to which they sometimes re-
mrred as their homes. Bassett, being
Sheriff. sometimes had official duties
Witch demanded his presence at differ
mt places at different times. and these
Sut,ss no would attend TO II he felt
~ doing "a. Even Jake winterbot-
~ was understood to have ONE
nyvtsrious hiding place Of his own to
vAish no would 20 for periods Of re-
~ At such times a. he could fnd
ssehtng else to do.
owen Pepper was unprovided with
~ ixed habitat. being . travelling
- By profession. And the Dove Of
y,ass fitted from place to place as
s~rsumstances dictated. seldom re-
aiming In old man 0reenlaw's bar
- for any considerable time,
osugh she occasionally brooded over
- bar with n half open eye fxed
On tho doorway as II expectant Of
somebody's sudden entrance.
Il thus happened that old man
creenlaw would find himself occa-
sonally the sole occupant Of his little
aison In Arkansas City. he being the
only person who was hardly ever
hnown to leave the place for a mo-
msnt. Such sleep as even he found
i~ndispensable he took at odd moments
IN hi favorite chair by the win.
dov. with MS feet on the sill. He was.
however. q light sleeper at best, and
wkened at the slightes, noise.
Finding himself alone on one &C.
casion. and having. in consequence.
nothing whatever to occupy his mind.
b took advantage Of the opportunity
10 settle himself for . nap. Not for
long. however. did he slumber, for the
door opened and a stranger came in.
whereupon the old man rose promptly
and stepped behind the bar anticipate
ing tho call for refreshments which
the stranger would presumably make.
He was not in error. The stranger.
a. prompt as he. stepped up to the
front Of the bar and leaning his elbow
on Il pronounced the customary for
mula.
Let's liquor" ne said. and at the
sound Of the words a large dog that
was at least in some part NJ the hound
variety uttered a short bark and.
standing on his hind legs. put his
front paws on the edge of the bar and
stood with what seemed an eager OK.
preston on his face licking his chops
and looking intently at the old a
The old man was not fond Of dogs
considering them non-productive and
wa inclined to resent Ne action Of
this particular dog In putting his paws
on the bar. but there was something
about the look on the dogs face tNat
appealed to his sense of humor and
for the moment disarmed criticism.
10 dawg pears 70 be monstrous
ftenly." he said as ne placed a bottle
and two glasses where they would bt
available for use.
HE sho' be-" said tho stranger. "Mt
an him Is side pardners. I reckon tina,
thar dawg'd give me the last dollar he
had II he had It. But amt yo' al
soin' TO jine us. I meant To- all hand
TO hav' q drink together when
p'nounced the invite. an yo' all 1!
on'y put out two glasses"
'well.' said the old man in SOM
surprise, "they amt only two on III
hyar, is they?"
"sho' they is." said the stranger
'they's three on US. Me an Jack an
70 all. Can't yo' all count?"
y en- count. all right" said the oil
man testify. but I want countin' thu
dawg. I don't reckon he wants nj
whiskey. does he?" And then HI
gasped with establishment. for the dos
answered. He knew he could not bt
mistaken, for the voice was a strange
one. and it came from the dogs throat
but he could hardly believe his owl
ears when he heard the words. "Sho
does. Didn't yo' all never see q DAVIS
drink afo'?"
But he kept his self-possession. "Not
whiskey. I hain't." he said. IAN II 70
I'll 10 gwine to take whiskey itTl b
10 bits. stead o one. I can't hav'
No.
Hold on" interrupted the stranger
Don't say nothin' TO hurt Jacks feel
ne. He's mighty sensitive. an II
hate to see him git riled. I'll pay ~
the drinks. all right. but don't say NJ
mo bout It,"
We'll. I won't n yo' an II Gwine Il
pay" said the old man, ''but I sho' wal
c'nsidable upset To- a minute.
Wouldn't "a b1ieved a dawg cd talk Il
! hadn't n heerd 1t my own self" And
a. II half dazed. he put out another
glass.
The stranger MED two nearly Il
the brim ard the old man poured out
. little drink for himself; but befor'
they proceeded further he said. as Il
struck by a new thought: "If 20
aews on talk an drink whisky. pear
IKE III amt no reason why yo' cam
'sarn him to play poker"
Play poker" said the dog con
temptuously. "If yo' all II git out q
Geek o guards I'll show yo' whether
len play poker or not. I don't never
SCI In. not thouten they Is somebody
en- trust 10 10 deal 70 me when 4
comes my turn. but ! understands tn,
game, ali right"
Utterly bewildered. and moving lik'
ohe IN a dream. the old man turned 4
set a pack Of cards. and as he turned
me strange seized the dogs glass
drained II at a single swallow. and Sc
ny on the bar a1ain. WhAn fhA old MAJ