The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-30

out-of-the-way places during the night.
and In the morning hardy souls careful
ly examine the traps. and IL an animal
appears inside shoot ~. The result has
been a terrible mortality among wood
chucks. but the wood pussy goes on
its willy way rejoicing. Occasionally
one is caught. There IL a milkman In
Barnstable county who an testify to
n A hotel In his n~eighborhood has
had a most trying time this summer
on account of the wood pussies. Not on
ly was moonlight stroling unsafe. but
often even In the hote! one couldn't he
happy. and complaints went up from all
the guests. The proprietor came to the
conclusion that a wood pussy had taken
up its quarters under the kitchen We
randa. so he balted a box trap and set
II near the steps. Early the next morn
ing the milkman came to the hotel on
his round. II was Labor Day and he
had an engagement with a young wo-
mar from Plymouth. who had come
over to attend the annual picnic. He
made himself respondent in his best
clothes. and had started out with his
milk wagon earlier tran usual. so that
he might be through with his work and
ready for picnicking in good time.
When he reached the hotel no one was
stirring. He left the milk cans on the
refrigerator. and was hurrying away
Wntn. III All uilutks tilOilltnt. hN tatSh
sight OF a queer looking red foN which
he hadn't seen before. Now. this milk
man had a liberal supply OF curiosity.
In spite OF the old Christian Eve and
Pagan Pandora stories. woman hasn't a
monopoly of that cheerful vice. The
box was beside the steps. n the milk
man looking at IL In the dim light. de-
cided IL concerned some new freakish
fad OF the eccentric summer visitor.
IIa x.~alLSJ ANer IN II nnfa4fepNd the
spring. and opened h box.
Cottage breakfasts were served with
out milk that morning. but later In the
day the wagon appeared. and the dri-
yer explained. with a subdued chuckle
that the regular milkman wasn't well.
The young woman from Plymouth went
TO the picnic with snother man who.
so say the gossips OF the village. pro-
posed and was accepted that day. oh,
the wood pussy plays havoc with heart
Affairs down on the South Shore.
Things are almost as bad IN the east
shore. though the tale 81 victims r. not
quite so long. Last summer a number
OF persons prominent in society met the
enemy and were vanquished. At one
| club dinner and dance a young man
! appeared without his wife and answered
inquiries with the convenient headache
| story. In the smoking room he con-
fessed TO friends that he and his wife
| had encountered "a wood pussy the night
before while strohing home from a
| friendly visit and tina his wife wouldn't
| be able to see her friend until after
1 a day or two OF vigorous s~hampooing
He told the tale with such narrowing
details that a young Englishman who
vas among the hearers was impressed
aud appalled,. The bold Briton had q
reputation as a daring rider and polo
player and had shot big game In Africa
He left the club about II o'clock and
started to walk through the woods e
his hotel, which was three miles away
The story of the wood pussy fingered
In his mind. and as he went swinginf
along through the shadows he saw. jus
ahead OF him, a small lac and whits
object. sitting squarely In the middle
OF the road. He stopped short n his
hair rose on md. A Wild boar or a
tiger wouldn't have agitated him. bui
this beast was different. IN each side
OF the road was marshy land. varied by
dense underbrush In which hordes oi
the fearful foe might Turk. The mighty
hunter couldn't 60 around. He dared
not 20 forward. He thought OF tbs
fellows at the club and refused TO g
back. Evidently there was nothing for
IL but to emulate the old man of nur'
sery fame. who sat IN the stile n con
tinued to smile till he softened tn,
ntdIl ~ tlit WV ~ - 80 a'fN
OF softening the heart OF the wood
pussy. but he sat on a convenien
stump and tried to smile while he walt
ed for the enemy to retire OF his owl
free will. He waited patiently. but thu
wood pussy liked Its position and die
not stir.
The game Of freeze out went OF
through one hour. two hours. and q
4: 30 a group Of men bowling along hom'
from the club In a dogcart came upor
the brave Briton disconsolately shiver
ing upon his stump. They pulled up
He warned them impressively n the,
chuckled over his plight: but one Draw
man went forward to r~econnoiter. 4
moment later a howl OF mirth hoatet
back on the air. A rock with a piece
OF newspaper blown round II a hell
up the mighty Nlmrod for three hours
and after that his hunting stories wer'
50 enthusiastically received at the clul
that he shook East Shor sands from
his heels and ven TO Bar Harbor
where no game more dangerous thai
the American heiress abounds.
Municipal authority had tried IL
hand on the wood pussy. but unfore
seen results occurred. The town coun
ell OF one small south shore village wa
moved 10 put a liberal bounty upoi
wood pussies. and a skin. paw or tai
dence OF a violent death, was as GOO
as n check upon the TOWN. treasury
Every one applauded the measure a n
hoped great things: but complication
arose. The thrifty souls OF the SINAI
boys were stirred TO zeal by the pros
pect Of unlimited money for gum drop
and marbles. Day and night the
hunted the wood pussy. The result
were tremendous. The town e~xcheque
became depleted. The officials becam
pashas os many tails. The boys wer
capitalists. But walls OF woe went al
from the suffering families and the vii
lsge school was q place 10 shun Tn
presence OF a small boy was a sigma
for everyone else TO TAX to flight. Tn
school teacher kept sal volatile and Law
ender water on her desk. Finally tn
situation became intolerable. Tn
town council held another meeting. de
clared the bounty OF N adjourne'
school until the youth OF the vtllag
could be reclad. scrubbed and fumigat
"A