Bvr it just shows his good nature: he's always wiling to help. When the "Stonehand's Rest" started their new Slate Club for 1938, The Spike offered to give them a hand.
"Looking for a new treasurer?" he asked.
"No," said the landlord, sadly. "We're looking for the old one."
As he was leaving the pub a tramp came "Can you help me, Spike?" he asked. "I haven't had a bite for two days!"
So. The Spike bit him.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.