The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-10

n ay prosper in your ungodly scheme for
a while, but in the end fate will reach
out and grab you by the neck and twist
it,
"6ut did my solemn and well-chosen
words Of warning turn Hiram from his
evil ways? Not a bit Within three days
he had his trap fixed. Then he climbed
nearby tree. SORT of hid in the branches.
and sent out a cry like a baby bear that
has been caught N a trap. There's no de-
nying Hiram had talent in his unsancti-
fed way, for that call was the most nat
Cral sounding thirg | ever heard. And be-
fore Hiram had repeated it half dozen
times big she bear came crashing
through the bushes, piked over to where
the door was. and then stopped. Hiram
gave another call, which seemed to come
right from the corner of the pen. In rush
ed the old bear. Hiram pulled a string
and down fell the door OF the pen. Hiram
climbed down from the tree as pleased
and happy as if he had done something TO
be proud of.
It's only rescuing that old bear from
the wild woods and hills, he said, sort Of
eXultant like, and giving her the benefits
of civilization. When the circus agent
carts her of he will show her what life in
great cities is like. Blamed if / don't feel
as if l was the old original White Mans
Burden Bearer And he sweIled out his
chest like a man who has done all kinds
OF d charitable deed.
Hiram sold the bear to the circus
agent for more money than he could have
earned in three months. The next day he
initiated the cry of a wildcat kitten in
dlstressful circumstances, with the re-
suit that in less than an hour he had a
small but active and indignant female
wildcat in the pen. Hiram was the han
piest man in Pike County and began
planning what he would do with all the
money he saw coming.
You've made a good bundle now i
told him, and it's up 10 you to cash in
and get out of the game. Animals with
the intelligence Of Pike County bears and
wildcats won't be made the victims OF a
perennial gold brick game. And I've no.
ticed both bears and Wildcats proving
around as if they suspected that pen of
yours wasn't entirely charitable insti-
tuition.
But Hiram declared he wouldn't stop
while he was fairly coming money The
next day he started after bear Sure
enough. as soon as ne gave the bear cue
cry, down from the hills came a big bear.
But instead OF going into the pen, the
bear kept nOsing about as If she suspect
ed something was wrong. About = mir
ute later she spied Hiram. You could
fairly hear her brains working, she was
thinking so hard. Being an old and ex-
perienced bear. il didn't take her long .
figure out that the bear cub cry had
come from Hiram. Talk about an angry
bear. Size started up the tree With the
air of a bear who was determined 10 give
NJ least one person a lesson on the evil
Of triiing with the affections Of respect
able mother bears. Hiram didn't wait for
explanations. SUt hunted for a higher
limb. Pretty soon he found one whica
would hold him, being a light man. but
yesn't strong enough for an extra sized
angry bear. For a minute Hiram seemed
safe. though far from happy. The bear
was puzzled. but gave every indication Of
being willing 10 wait for Hiram. as long
as he found il convenient 10 stay al The
end OF that limb.
Penned Up in Tree.
Just then a big wildcat, evidently 2
female, came Looping along. Mrs. Bear
sid down from the tree, Waddled oyer 10
the wildcat, and a man didn't need 10 b.
an expert in wild animal nature 10 see
that an im2rOmpru mothers congress. was
in session. Mrs. Bear evidently explained
20 MIS-. Wildcat the manner in which
Hiram was trying 10 play on their a1ec-
lions. Then the old bear planted herself
at the foot OF the tree and waited de-
velOpments. while the wildcat went uD
the tree with the evident intention OF
having ar argument with Hiram
And il was plain Hiram was about %
collide with the real thing. The branch
he was on was plenty strong enough for
the wildcat and she wasn't wasting any
time. Hiram waited until the wildcat was
within a couple feet Of him. Then he let
out q yell. slid OF his branch, and came
crashing 10 the ground. For fear he
might be lonely the wildcat came with
him, leaping on his shoulders. and doing
her best with her claws 10 keep him from
getting blase
Mrs Bear was waiting for the couple.
but although ! hadn't approved OF II ram 2
scheme. ] didn't want him 10 furnish a
meal FOR a justly enraged mother bear. So
] nred my gun ! didu'- nurt the bear.
but she took the alarm. and shUffied on
IN reluctant sort Of way. The wildcat
gave Hiram a couple Of parting digs. and
ducked. too, leaving Hiram a saddenec ana
battered man But was he ashamed Of /
his plan for betraying he affections %
cOnHdlng bears and wildcats Not a bit /
Ny plan was all right he suarled
between his gTOans. but who would have
guessed ] would run up against a Pike
County Bear and Wildcat Protective As !
sOciatloaT
Z. J. WEBSTER