Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-07-30

THAT HoRRID RAT.-Mr. Osander was
busily engaged last Thursday afternoon
waiting on his numerous customers when
he was surprised by the entrance of Mrs.
Ossnder, Who told him she was going to
dinner at Mrs. Phaiuteezy's and wouldn't
be home till nine o'clock, but would
leave the key under the mat, so that he
could let himself in when he went home,
in the meantime remarking he could get
his dinner down town and she would
take John Henry with her. Perhaps
some Of our readers may have wondered
at the scarcity of dogs on Main street
last Thursday afternoon. While Mrs.
Osander was making these domestic ar
rangements John Henry had enticed,
inveigled and led away all the black and
tans and crop ears he could up to the
pasernal abode to get at q rat he had
seen Jump out of u Mormon wagon and
ruu under the front porch the day before.
By we'll applied boyish devices and un-
der the influence OF sundry straps and
strings he had induced full bevy Of the
ours to appear on the scene of action aud
then given them to understand that
meath the porch lurked the deadly foe.
John Henry punched with a pole and
scratched with hoe aud the eleven dogs
deployed at irregular intervals around
the porch and along the flower bed,
scratched with might and main, yelpiDg
Historically the while and now and then
pausing to discuss the question which
had dug the deepest hole, to the intense
and uncontrolled delight of John Henry.
But as the sun went down in summer
radiance behind the mountain and the
darkening shades of twilight melted into
mellow moonlight ray and stars came
twinkling forth, the youth! remembered
twas time to join his ma at Mrs. Phain-
teezy's. Some faint hope of cake like
wise impelled him to desist, so he locked
up and put the key under the door mat
like good little boy. Now in tlusher
times and fairer fortunes consign-
| ment of steel traps had found their
| way to Phoebe and weighed down
by the heavy burden of freight and
| other expenses had found no pur-
chasers. John Henry had, il a moment
of abstraction, became possessed Of one.
and now batting it liberaily 40 set and
placed II on the porch for tia sole and
exclusive use and benefit of the rat He
! then carefully dismissed the CANNES, &C.
celebrating their speed by sending mis-
siles and CALCULATIONS. Now it happened
that Mr.. Islander was late getting HON e
from the funace meeting that night
and Mrs. o. aud John Henry had retired
after waiting for him. Seeing the house
dark he naturely concluded they were
still detained at Mrs. Phainteezy's, fol
Miss Bilderback and Miss Pinnteight
were to have been there also and IN theil
company time few by on light and fleet
ing wing. He felt under the mat for the
key, according to contract, but as tina
useful little article was in the lock or
the inside OF the door he didn't find it
Then with sundry mutterings he CON
menced to feel around the porch for it
sweeping his hands around in circlint
swoops, till in lis efforts he thrust his
hand in something that brought HIM to hi,
feet. A terrible, cold, vice. jawed some
thing that shut down on his hand anC
held on like wild beast. AT once Their,
rose so wild yell, as prone to earth BIT
bowling fell, while something, what. ht
eOuIu LOU toiI, ueIu 10 MS mana Hkt
grip of-well the noise walked up JohI
Henry any how, who, with juvenile in
stnct, thrust his head out Of the window
and yelled fire." as only boy can
That sad and agonizing shrek of anguish
had likewise reused from her lonely pill
low his mother who thrushed her heat
through another window, made nigh
vocal with the melody of her cleal
soprano as she shouted thieves" whil
the unhappy Mr.. Islander pranced il
agony, bowling with pain and total,
unamiable. AS the rays of the settinl
moon cleaned along,,the barrel of re
volver in the hands of well-meann,
though somewhat basty neighbor, Mr.
, Islander in an ecstacy of pain jumpe,
from the shadow of the porch to tn
grass plot and thereby saved his life
Investigations and explanations followed
the trap was removed and he entered
He explained the matter as well as b
could to Mrs. Islander as she bandage,
his hand and said he thought 1t wa
Snakes" and when she ridiculed tn
idea and said there were no snake
around here he only shook his head an
looked at her with sweet. said smile
John Henry has lost all interest in tina
rat