Hugh Pendexter

“ But the Marvel, having an awful fear of lethal weapons and realizing it was time he gained the alley, now entered the game. Even while Mr. Caley was finishing his homicidal threat the Marvel hissed a command. The Wonder crawled from under the table and respectfully sat up on his haunches and waved his paws at the plotters and their victim.
The grotesque spectacle struck the trio mute. The Alderman gaped stupidly. Greenshaw puffed his cheeks preliminary to a profane explosion. Mr. Caley staggered against the table and rubbed his eyes incredulously. ”

“ Sell Wonder, the pal of many trials and tribulations, the sharer of successes on Big Time? Why, one might as decently think of selling a parent or a child. No, sir! Liquor and exigence could and did impel their victims to grasp at abnormal expedients, but, thank God! the Ventriloquic Marvel would never barter the bone and blood of his only friend. ”

“ But in the collie's day he was never so low down as to sell a pal. With an inarticulate cry he turned up his collar and dashed into the rain and caught a down-town car.
Trade was light in Greenshaw's that night. Through the misty glass he saw the fat-faced bartender mechanically waiting on several loungers. The dog was not in sight. An awful fear gripped his heart. Had the bartender already loosed his rage? "Damn him! He's a murderer," choked the Marvel. Then a voice inside his head calmly corrected, "No; you're the murderer." ”

“ Why not dogs. Dogs is more intelligent. Simply needs the cutting of a certain muscle at the roots of the tongue. Do that and they'll pick it up in no time."
"Good! Say, can yuh make him do it ag'in?" gasped the bartender.
"It ain't a case of making," gently corrected the Marvel, glancing anxiously toward the door and fearing some one might enter before he developed the nub of his scheme. "Once that talking muscle's cut they'll gab all the time if you'd let 'em. ”

“ He had owned many dogs in the history of his act, but none so dependable and companionable as Wonder. He recalled their personalities as the man ahead leisurely negotiated for a ticket. He forgot humans as his lasting friendships had been confined to his four-footed companions. ”

“ Just now they're fetching a good price in England, but they didn't oughter be worth more'n twenty or twenty-five dollars. Veterinary charges five for cutting the muscle."
"Will yuh take fifteen beans for that pup?" demanded the bartender.
The Marvel frowned, the Wonder howled softly and scratched at the door. "I wouldn't think of selling if I didn't have to beat it to Syracuse," muttered the Marvel, pushing his hat back from his wet forehead. "City's no place to keep a dog in. Say; tell you what I'll do. ”

“ When it comes to delivering the rhino the boss always sends for yours truly. See? An' whaya think? He says to me, 'Don't git—touched.' Why, gen'l'men, I can tote a million scads through this dirty ward an' never lose a penny. It makes me laugh. Me, Caley, the speed-boy, gittin' touched. I says to the boss, 'Forgit it.' See?"
"You're the stuff," admiringly cried the Alderman. "But when I heard you was lickin' 'em up in Carty's place and that Smiling Jimmy was in the bunch I told Greenshaw here, 'Good-night to Caley's roll if he's got it with him.'"
"Good-night nothing," indignantly cried Mr. ”

“ Guy in here had to catch a train. See? This dawg begin talkin' like four of a kind. Struck me in a heap. See? The guy said talkin' dogs is common as fleas in England. All yuh have to do to make a dog talk is to cut a muscle in the t'roat an' he spins it out jest like a parrot."
Greenshaw stalked forth, followed by the amused Alderman. "Say, you mutt," he growled. "'S'matterwitchyou? Kidding me?" And his gaze became dangerous. ”