Arizona silver belt., 1889-11-09
ANTICS OF AN APE.
Trying to Catch Stray Monkey in Paris-A Question of Ownership.

Poe'S tragic tale of the murderOuS an- tics of an ape in Paris has just found a comical counterpart. Oddly enough, both dramas were enacted in the same locality, that is to say, not far from the morgue. A bevy of newly enlisted conscripts, with painted pictures on their hats, were crossing the Point Neuf, arm in arm, keeping step to the music of the ''Marsel- laise, " when suddenly they saw small but nimole monkey leaping and bound ing in front of them, making zigzag course, from one side of the bridge to the other. frightened at the water on either hand, and too beaddled in ni1d to think of making a straight and swift es- cape to the end of the bridge, and thence to his home. The young conscripts, for getting their country and its national song, gave a scream of delight, broke ranks an1 gave instant chase after the lively Little beast. Tho raw recruits, un- diciplined yet eager for action. performed prodigies of valor in running against and knocking one another down, and whisll- ing of one anothcr's picture covered hats, but no one of the hunters caught the monkey. lie. dodged deftly belwee., I l-lC NOllCCliNt lNf,S OI lliC NAlOlS and was as brisk in his "new departures as the IrisiIman S flea. Soon the melee, Ike a travelling gust of wind, was trans | ferred from the bridge to the adjoining quai dc Ia meggisserie. Here the numer- ols paseers by. on seeing the fun, at once | joined in it, adding to the hafi1etl military force fresh civil reserve, The spectacle was eXllilarating The crowd became dense. and everybody was soon stupidly looking down and around, here and there, expecting the monkey to be found under somebody s feet.
 "Poor thing, he will probably be trampled to death," exclaimed some | humane voices.
 But this apprehension was soon put at rest. A hundred merry threats sud denly burst into a ringing cheer. Had the monkey been caught? No. He was farther than ever from such an igno- minious fate--he had climbed tree!
 ''I.ook at the little brute" said stout gentleman, who had legal portfolio under his arm, chow he is grinning at us! showing contempt to the court and jury"
 Two cr three ragamufins, veritable gamins. then climbed the monkeys tree, almost as ninlbly as if they had been monkeys themselves. Did they get their hands upon their Sin1ian brother? Not at all! He hopped from branch to branch, and, on heinz botly pressed, mado Q final and splendid jump-better than anything done on the trapeze at the ippodrone-landing himself safely on tho next tree. Tho gamins were badly laughed at. Nothing so ill succeeds as ill slccess, as Talleyrand might have ob- served. But the gamins were not to he disconcerted by a laugh nor outwitted by an ape. The young rogues attacked the next tree, and the next, until the monkey, having no more trees to leap into, skipped at last to the only remain ing rcfu;e, which was the top of lamp post. On this low pinnacle of evident danger his chances of maintaining his liberty and life might have been small. except for the opportune interference of Q tall policeman. who said:
 ''Stand off, boys, I will reach up and tazo him down, quietly.'
 Whereupon the gentle giant ou'- stretched his long right arm, and grazed the willing captive, who showed mani fest signs Sf relief at thus receiving tho protection Of the law.
 Was the sport now over? Certainly not It was, in fact, rebegun.
 Who IS the owner of this animal? Let him step forth and claim his pro- pcrty," said the officer, nlagisterially.
 1.-The monkey is mine, 5 replied whis- kered young man, with unkempt hair and an uncanny look.
 No; he is mine, replied a small boy, smaller even than any of the ganins who hcd climbed the trees.
 "You arc little liar" reioined the uni,cnVt rlan.
 ''You gro big thief" retorted the co1Tag70l5 lad.
 h two minutes the popular interest i'll this dispute grew to fever heat There was something in the honest, scared, tear ful look of the little boy that excited the sympathy of the bystanders. A police man is, of all men, prc-emineDtly sus- picious. The policeman who held the monkey gave searching and suspicious look at the grizzly whislerando who stood as claimant.
 ''Give the monkey to the little boy" cried several voices in the crowd.
 Not without evidence replied the officer. ''So, now, my little man, can you prove to me that this monkey is yours?"
 -'Yes, can," cried the boy trirm- rhantly; this is he monkey, and l have his wife in my pocllst!''
 Whereupon, to the astonishmcnt and delight of the applauding crowd, the lad ,.rew forth from his pocket a tiny pet fc- -nale monkey, the animal which the French call the gucnon. The evidence was complete, and, as the French journ- alists say, the incident was closed. Kansas City Journal.
 TonoIulu,s TeleDhonc Svstem