The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-11-02
pot.nas anes WAITING.

We were going TO lend the "blonde"
Potchee to friend, who said he was
troubled with rats--great big ones
that lived in his barn. ate up the feed
and frightened the horses.
"Why.o of course you can have him."
said ''the man who is fond oil ani-
mails to the man who wanted TO be
rid Of rats. Here, Just take him in
to the carriage with you and carry
him home. Then let him out in your
barn and" But the man who wanted
to he rid of rats by this time was
sitting mp on the carriage seat with
his legs drawn under him, and look
ing with positive alarm at our blonde
Potchee, who was circling wildly
about in the bottom of the carriage
squealing aud scratching with his
long claws, in no mood to go a.riding
Hadn't you better put potchee in
covered basket?" said I. coming
forward just then TO the rescue of
poor Potchee. ''See. he is afraid of
the horse. You must hold him in
your arms like this" and | took the
trembling Potchee, who clung wildly
to my neck with all four paws, tore
my dress, scratched my hands, and
hid his long, pointed nose under my
arm. ''You must let him cling to you
like this and pat him so, aud call him
nice Potchee and good Potchee,"
and scratch his ear"
The man who wanted to be rid Of
rats looked as il he would do n great
many things before he could bring
himself to touch Potchee, but as he
was very anxious to be rid Of rats, he
let me tie Potchee in y basket, and
consented to take him home after he
had been firmly tied down.
How that basket did wobble when
the carriage finally drove off! Why
1t almost hoped out on the ground.
The man who wanted to be rid of rats
put his feet on it hard, and poor,
trembling Potchee was carried away,
protesting with all his might from the
depths of his prison.
"How long do you think they will
keep him?" I asked of the man who
liked animals.
"Oh, for day or so, answered he,
looking meditatively at the carriage
which had just bobbed out of the gate.
81 will give him until tonight to
return" said /, and then dropped into
the hammock to have q good laugh
over the whole affair.
Late that evening / went to the door
to see some one, whose voice from the
darkness informed me hastily that the
Al. 4 Il |. Il tl,.,N
he had gotten away, in fact, was being
guarded that moment by eight small
boys with clubs and stable man.
The voice said that he could not re-
main longer, as he must return with
all speed to watch the escaped animal,
and would the imam who was fond of
animals" please come as fast as he
could.
recognized the voice in the dark
as belonging to the man who wanted
to be rid of rats, and reassured him,
telling him that ''the man who liked
animals" would come right down and
attend to the capture the "Pootchee"
as our friend called him.
And so he did go right down-the
lHuu L huOW NnO linus tNcu
as far down as into the coal hole 1t
self. I did not see it, but they told
me how some boys held him tightly
by the heels, and how watch, paper
aud keys dropped from his pockets as
he hung upside down in the coal hole
and secured poor, trembling "Pot-
chee," who by this time was almost
frightened to death.
They brought our poor blonde pet
home, and put him in the cage again,
and he is there now, running up and
down, rubbing his nose against the
bars.
As for the man who wanted to be
rid of rats he says he wants no more
"Potchees" to help him, and that. for
his part, he would rather have the
rats.
As for the man who likes animals,
he is still laughing over the adven-
ture. Amy Z. Hope, in N. Y. Ex-
aminer.