The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-07
REASONING RATS.
How They Managed to RegaIesThemselvei
on CLAIMS.

on CLAIMS.
81 heard once that clans were tn
best kind of bait for catfish and cells
and thought l would try them go
peck or so of great big fellows ant
put them in nice cool place at the bacl
of the house, as | intended to use then
that night. There were many rat!
about the place. l sat on the bacl
stoop fixing up some fishing tackle, and
looking out at the CLANS on the grass,
saw several of them with their shell:
open half an inch or so and the clam.
peering cautiously out. At the same
time | saw a big rat sneaking from the
corn crib toward the CLANS. l had otter
heard that rats were immensely fond 0.
CLANS, and / knew that clans had e
quick-tempered way of shutting then
: shells down on anything that obtrudec
between them, always much to the dis
comfiture of the intruder. / knew that
the minute that he stuck his nose be-
tween one of those clam shells the clam
would close on it, and 1 anticipated
much fun.
''The rat stole gradually up to where
/ the clans lay. He smelled the tempt
ing flavor of their meat. He went with
in few inches of one of the open clans
and stopped, as if in meditation.
you'll never get that clam without
poking your nose in after it. said to
myself, and I'll bet the clam will have
you before you have it.
But 1 had yet to become acquainted
with Steuben county rats. This rat
wanted that clam, nothing could be
palmer than that, but he evidently saw
that there was peril between him and
getting it. He stood there good while,
thinking the matter over, and at last
turned his back on the clam.
'Pshawp / said. He's going away
without tackling it, and was disap-
pointed.
But found out that this rat wasn't
going away without that clam. He had
figured out that if he once stuck his
nose between that CLAIMS Jaws it would
be all day with him, so he turned and
switched his tail between the shells.
Snap! they came together, and the rat
couldn't help giving sharp squeal,
showing that although he was strategic
he was not above feeling pain.
Maybe that's a smart move l said,
but the clam has got you just the same,
and what are you going to do about it?'
Il soon saw. The rat started away,
heroically dragging the clam with him.
He went off toward one side of the
yard, which was four feet higher than
the road and supported by stone wall
along its edge. At the foot of this wall
was a fagstone sidewalk. The rat
dragged the clam straight to the top of
the wall and jumped off. 1 stole up to
the edge and peeped over. There lay
the clam shell, broken by its fall on the
tagging, and the rat was RECALLING him
self OF the clam at his leisure.
Il returned to my seat on the back
porch, the most amazed and wondering
man that ever lived. That rat had
reasoned the whole plan of his pro-
cedure, and when he had a dead sure
thing on that clam the instant it closed
on his tail. By and by the rat came
climbing back up over the wall and
scurried away to his haunt But he
w ooh 4OIiS d" w hCA lIC Sdilc
back he had half dozen other big rats
with him.
"'He's brought e m in to share the
picnic with him. l said, and there could
be no doubt about it, for in less than
ten seconds seven CLANS had closed on
seven rats tails, there were seven
squeaks of pain, and seven rats went
nh tha on II I'D
clans were carried to destruction
against the stone walk.
well. said l, if the tails of those
rats hold out / won't have any bait left
for tonight
Il concluded, though, TO see them go
the performance once more
and then end the show by putting the
CLAIMS in safe place, as was satisfied
that the talent of the Steuben rat was
Presently the rats came
scampering back over the wall. They
came back to where the CLAIMS lay, but
instead of offering their tails again,
huddled together as if holding confer
ence on the subject. The result of it
was that they all scurried away toward
the corn crib.
They think more of their tails than
they do of CLAIMS, 7 guess said |. The
CLANS II be safe enough now where
they are, reckon, until ! want to use
them
1T was lucky thing for me that
didn't go away and leave them there,
under that impression, for in less than
two minutes back the rats came run
ming. Each rat had something in its
mouth. and as they got nearer saw it
was piece of corn cob an inch or so in
length. Before l had time to think
what in the world these rats were up
to this time ! saw what it was Each
rat went up to an open clam. set the
piece of corn cob upright in the open
ing, and there the shells were propped
open the neatest kind, and the poor
CLAIMS were at the mercy of their cum
ming foe. Each rat dragged his clam
from his shell, and, as | needed no more
evidence of the smartness of those rats
and did need the CLANS. | appeared on
the scene. The rats rushed home with
were left into the house. SO you see ;
there must be great difference he /.
tween the Jersey rat and the rats of old /
Steuben-"-N. Y. Sun
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How the Ruddy Planet Appears Through
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The first sight of Mars through an OBJ .