Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-09-09

| tainly his appearance was not calcul-
ated to quiet suspicion, and before he
had passed the street a policeman
touched him his shoulder.
Excuse me, sir" he said, "but l
shall have to look into that basket .
Look into my basket" exclaimed
Pierre in well feigned establishment.
And for why?" he added, holding the
lid down more firmly.
Our orders, sir"
But my cat is in the basket and she
will get away
Il must see for myself, replied the
officer, Il can't take your word for any
thing like that"
At tbs the Frenchman's eyes became
angry. His eyes smouldered like red
hot Goals.
Il tell you, he almost screamed, Its
only a cat, and she will run away from
me, and brought her all the way from
la belle France for my mother-in-law."
Il can't help it if you brought her
all the way from the moon. I've got
to see what's in that basket
But tell you it's cat, and if l open
the basket ever so little she will run,
and monsieur knows mother-in-laws.
Not 500" he asked with a wry face.
Come! Unite those cords. I'm
bound to inspect that basket"
With rueful countenance Pierre
carefully united the strings. The officer
reached out his hand to lift the lid.
Careful, careful" exclaimed Pierre,
placing a restraining hand on the
policeman's sleeve. Il don't want to
chase after my cat again. A bon dieu
knows had trouble enough in getting
her as if u.s. an then he adroitly let
the lid fall away
Instantly black cat sprung out,
and darling between the policeman's
| legs, disappeared. Pierre had placed
the basket on the ground in such way
that when the animal sprang out the
nearest way of escape would be the
shipyard. His calculations were cor
rect, and when the officer of the law
turned, all he saw was black tail dis
appearing through the door in the wall
enclosing the yard
The .F'renchmans entire vocabulary
was then turned loose, and before he
had stopped his cursing in French and
English the policeman aim st wished
he was as far away as the cat. He
honestly felt sorry he had been so in
sistent. The Frenchman's distress
was very great He went so far in his
remorse as to offer to return with
Pierre and help him find his cat again.
At this, however, the clever little
fellow Gained down
bon dieu" he exclaimed, here am
! blaming you because you did your
duty! If my men did theirs half as
well I'd have the finest ship in the SER
vice. You're pardon, monsieur, offer
ing his hand with winning smile,
and raising his peaked hat. 81 admire
you now so much as I blamed you be-
fore. I will find my cat, again, mon
sieur, and then you must join me in a
toast to Americas gendarmes,' and
placing the lid again on the basket,
which had fallen over on the ground,
he picked it up and walked quickly
back to the ship
In half an hour he returned with
smile on his face.
eve got her." he said to the police
man, tapping the basket gently, "and
a pretty hunt I had tooi I'll warrant
she won't get out again if 1 know it"
I'm very sorry, sir, put you to all
that trouble" said the officer, cycling
the basket. @Well, I'll take your word
this time
That's right, that's right" replied
Pierre tits never too late to right a
wrong. Now for the toast do not
forget, eh?" he added, leading the way
to nearby saloon.
For some time the two men stood at
| the bar with the basket at their feet
The Frenchman's ready sallies and
stirring anecdotes Of the sea kept the
crowd around them roaring Then
when he thought he had remained long
enough to avert any suspicion that
might linger in the officers mind, he
| took his basket in his arm, and accom-
panied to the corner by the blue-coated
officer of the law, hailed a passing 1
and was soon out of sight In the
meanwhile the black cat frisked in the
ships hold, for in the basket a fortune
in diamonds was buried beneath some
superfine tobacco.