The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23

ly an hour all ending in the failure of the
ferret who was undoubtedly fighting at a
disadvantage from the light falling full
on his eye whenever he approached the
rat, the shrewd rodent wisely keeping his
original position and never for a moment
losing sight of his immense advantage.
Finally the stable man, in order to prove
whether the choice of this position depend
ed upon accident-for there had been a
warm discussion of the matter among the
three witnesses of the fght-entered the
room, quickly closing the door after him.
and stood himself under the window
frightening the rat from its place. But
the moment the ferret attempted to make
his approach the rat, evidently aware Of
the advantage he had lost, tried to creep
between the stable mans legs, thus losing
his natural fear of man under the danger
which awaited him from his more deadly
foe. And that was where the rat lost out
for the ferret caught him from behind and
in another instant had a death grapple on
his plucky antagonist. And the stable
man and the fremen admit that they were
downright sorry to see the rat killed.
xxx
There have already been numerous mid
night raids upon private coal bins in vari-
GUS parts of the city and one of these noe
turnal grand larcenies-for such acts I'M
doubtedly come under this head nowadays
resulted in a most unexpected climax.
The head of family on North Alabama
street made the startling discovery last
week that a good-sized hole had been made
in his precious pile of hard coal which
he had shrewdly purchased during the
summer and slowed away in a shed in the
rear of his house. Try as he would he
could not discover how the thief had man.
aged to effect an entrance into the shed. as
both doors leading into 1.-THE one opening
into his back yard and the one opening
into the alley behind his property-were
securely padlocked and bolted, and showed
no evidences of having been tempered with.
But there was no doubt that some of the
coal had been removed from that shed in
a most unaccountable manner and the
owner of the high-priced fuel made up his
mind to put a stop to further thieveries of
the kind or die in his attempt to save his
property.
Last Wednesday night Che had made the
discovery of the robbery that morning) he
seated himself on a soap box and, muffled
up in an overcoat, awaited developments.
He waited patiently for nearly two hours
before anything happened Just as he was
about to give up his lonely vigil and retire
TO more comfortable quarters, he heard a
light footstep on the paved alleyway out
side. and he was on the alert in an instant.
The moon was shining brightly by this time
and by the hazy light that made its way
dow the sentinel of the coal bin could
easily distinguish little black hand ap-
preaching noiselessly under the alley door.
which lacked a few inches of meeting the
ground. The owner of the coal, who had
been expecting a burly robber at the least.
was petriied with establishment he real
lied that the thief must be child. Quite
fascinated, he sat motionless on his soap
box and watched the proceedings. The
tiny black hand came farther into the shed,
cropping along the ground until il found its
way 10 the pile of COAL which was just
within its reach: the little fingers closed
over one small lump and then were quickly
and silently Withdrawn under the door.
Again and again this was repeated. and
the man on the soap box, indignant as he
had been over the loss of his coal. could
scarcely repress chuckle of amusement
as he became aware that his valuable
property was disappearing in such tiny in
stallments.
Suddenly, as the little hand was max
ing its noiseless journey under the door for
the twentieth time. the sentinel reached
forward and clatched il in a firm grasp.
The shrilI scream that rang out into the
night air from the other side OF the door
awoke the echoes Of the neighborhood.
Now I've got YOU said the proprietor
of the coal bin. What dc you mean by
stealing my fuel. you rascal?