Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-11

Then ne added: 1.-THE likes of it has
never been seen before. Naturalists be-
lleve it to be the last specimen of an ex
tinct species. It's rare curiousity. gem
tlemen. I'd like to show it to you if the
boss is agreeable. You can give me what
you like afterward.
No, no, the gentlemen don't want to
see the thing" spoke up the proprietor
testify, as he made movement toward
the intruder.
Hold on. Let US see what the man
has, spoke up one of the men present.
Several others requested that the fellow be
| allowed to exhibit his treasure and the
proprietor gave his consent.
Placing his box on zone of the tables the
faklr opened it, and out stepped the oldest
looking .animal imaginable. X naused.
looked around IN the company, walked to
the edge of the table and then leaped al
most noiseless TO tie floor.
What i'll the world is ?" came from
chorus Of men.
1T looks like long legged rat" said
one.
"A mlssnappen monkey or hairless
posSum, rejected another
us it small Kangaroo"
"What is it?'
"Where did it come from?''
Everyonespresent asked some question
or offered some suggestion at the sipht of
the queer thing.
Il don't know what it Is, gentlemen. said
the fakir. ''-''
Il captured it after a hard struggle"
he added. "Barnum offered me 81 600
| for it, but I'm attached to the creature and
| won't part with it,
Its wor while seeing isn't it? eh
he added with some pride.
| The men thought is was, and gave tie
fellow quite a sum of money.
Inc animal was small, not larger than
a half-grown cat. 1t was entirely bare of
a liver color. 1t walked about the floor,
jumped upon the chair and tables, and APP
peared perfectly at home.
at is certainly the oldest animal have
ever seen, remarked we'll educated man.
The animal is of a cat tribe, | think"
he added, and yet it is an anomaly. 1t
has claws, sensitive, nervous organism,
as shown by movements and the action of
the tail, and yet it has a smooth hide. |
really can't account for such a peculiar
makeup. 1t is contrary to all established
natural law"
Then came a long discussion into which
the shades of Cuvier and Darwin and sew
eral other famous gentlemen were dragg-
ed by the ears. The authorities were
quoted at length.
| The fakir stood near by smoothing the
smooth hair of the mysterious animal, and
new and then accepting a drink from one
or the other of the gentlemen, and listen
ing to the discussion with the greatest of
interest.
1t is difficult to say how long he would
have remained had not young gentleman,
accompanied with a fox terrier dog,
| CHANGED just then to enter the resort.
The dog spied the mystery, emitted
sharp angry bark and sprang toward it.
The hairless creature leaped with grea.
agility to the bar, then to a shelf back of
1t. There was a crash of broken glasses
and croekery ''tobys," thrown by the ami
mails effort to escape the dog.
The latter barked furiously. In vain
his master tried to still him. The fakir
looked nervously at his pet. Every one
else did the same. The creature stood
aloft. Its back arched high, its tail NOV
ing fouriously. The proprietor tried to
dlslodge it, it crouched back and gave a
sharp, ''pst! pst!'
by jove! you can't blame the dog"
octlu VIC young udl. LOU nave no DuSl-
ness to keep such looking cat as that
about, he added.
"Cat?" said every one at the same time.
why, that isn't cat -
Yes 1t is, y said the first speaker, cts
shaved cat. The dog recognizes it if
you don't. A man who would serve an
animal that way ought to be arrested
At this speech every one turned toward
the spot where the fakir had stood but he
had sought safety in flight A glance at
the animal convinced the company that it
was really cat, but that it had been
shaved to the hide from tip to tail to tip to
nose.
1t was really remarkable piece of tom
serial work, and those present agreed
that if for no other reason, the fakir was
entitled to his money as a reward for his
alb lily and dexterty in shaving it.