Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-05-18


an get regular Jobs at the Fifth avenue,
Windsor, Brunswick. en- Metropolitan
hotels. Rats In abundance In not dc.
srable."
He laid his pipe on the step again and
said, reaectively:
That's as ugly lookln' customer as I've
seen this many day. Bell hight, but
I'll get him bare handed just to show you
| the sport"
Another rat, much larger than the first,
with scrawny legs and an emaciate1 body,
was standing by the hole he had Just
emerged from, and trying TO open the
| little wire door. When the little man ap-
preached him the rat elowly retreated, but
did not go as though frightened, as his
| fat predecessor had, but rather as savage
cur retreats, turning half around toward
his pursuer every few steps, When he
had reached the corner he stood at bay.
The man edged up toward him, but be-
fore he got within jumping distance the
rat shot of along the wall. He was
driven back several times, and he became
uglier at every defeat, until at length the
little man was ready to spring at him,
when the rat made q noisy squeak aud
jumped straight for his throat 1t bounded
from the floor with q spring OF extraor-
dInary strength, and shot at the mans
throat as though driven from . cannon
with It's teeth all showing and its long tail
straight. The rat catcher threw up his
arm, hitting it a savage blow, which drove
it against the wall, whence 1t fell to the
door with thud. In an instant 1t got on
Its feet, and made another furious spring
at the rat catcher's throat This time he
lodged 1t. The rat, when Ii came 10 the
floor then, started for its hole, but, failing
TO get in once more, ranalong 10 the corner.
The little man was cireling about It, con-
stantly uttering the squeaking call through
his teeth.
''Ill get him this time, " he said calmly;
be's bad one, but III get him"
He slowly approached the rat, which
was again at bay In the corner, but when
ever the animal sho we'd any disposition to
jump he would retreat. These tactics
were kept up for some time, till tho rat
started once more toward its hole. That
was the fatal step, for the instant it started
the catcher threw himself for ward and
pinned it with botn hands 10 the floor.
His recklessness In diving forward was as
remarkable rs his success in always catch
ing the rat.
''Ah you big villain, youl"
"Will you keep away from herein
Gall night, sir. He won't hurt yen now,
will you, me boys" and he gave the beast
two or three vicious elaps before he depos-
tied 1t In the bag with its fellow. f'Pve
tackled many. but he was as ugly house
rat as ever seen, an man who don't
understand handlin' of 'em would be spt
to get hart, sir. I'll show ycu now how
7 catcnes the most Of EN-"
The reporter noticed that nearly half a
dozen big rats were on the floor, huddled
behind the harness closet. They had
slipped out OF the holes unnoticed, and
sKurried around for concealment during
the fight. The catcher took his long tongS
and crept tow ard them with the implement
open and held well In front. O1e of the
rats started along tie wall, and the catcher
sprang after it ana caught it by the tail as
il ran along with his big tongs, and held
1t dangling up to view. This was thrust
into the bag, and the others soon joined it.
"Now we'll have the pleasure of
waitin'," observed the little man, as ne
sprinkled more of the thirst-inspring
powder in thc holes, relIt mis- pipe, and,
turning the gas almost out, seated himself
on the lower steps of the ladder and fell
into deep meditation. For an hour he sat
thus, without speaking, and, while the
reporter roasted, listened TO the occasional
clicking of the little door and the monot-
onous pAtter of the rats feet as they scam
pered to and fro on the bare floor. When
the little man turned up the gas, there
was a sight At least half q hundred
black and brown little animals were scud-
ding around on the floor. The repugnance
that men naturally feel for rats seemed TO
have no place IN the feelings Of the stumpy
little rat catcher, who sailed into his work
with great vlgor. Olly twice did he en-
counter any opposition, and then 1t was
short lived. At the expiration of half an
hour they were all squeaking together IN
the big bag-a turbulent mRss of ras.
He went outside In the yard, and brought
in little terrier 10 guard the place till
morning, and then, swinging the bag on
his shoulders. he went out into the street.
"What do you do with them all9" we
asked.
Il have a number of degs for trainln,
an they're very fond of rats"
The little man went trudging up the
street in the early morning, with his huge
burden of scrambhng rats oVershadowlRg
hls figure