River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-10-12

glad hand, or form himself into col
umn Of tours to drive him out when
he came.
He had accumulated terrier dog
since the boy went away, to be COM
pany for the old singed cat, to hunt
rats in the cellar, and to watch the
store nights. The dog was barking
down cellar, and the old man went
down the rickety stairs to see what
the trouble was, and while he was
down there helping the dog to tree a
rat Under a sack of potatoes, the Bad
Boy slipped into the store, and finding
the old man absent, he crawled under
the counter, curled up on a cracker
box, and began to snore as the old
man came up the stairs, followed by
the dog, with rat in its mouth. The
old man heard the snore, and won
dered if he had been entertaining q
tramp unawares. when the dog dropped
the rat, and, rushing behind the cOun-
ter, began to growl, and grabbed the
Bad Boy by the seat of his trousers
and gave him a good shaking. The
boy set up a yell that caused the
plaster to fab, and the old man al
most to faint with excitement, and he
went to the door to call policeman.
The boy kicked the dog off, and raised
up from behind the counter, causing
the old cat to raise her back and spit
cotton, and as the old man saw the
Bad Boy he leaned against the show
case, and large smile came over his
face, and he said: Gee, whiz! where
did you get on?"
THE porter was not in, so turned
in the first lower berth l came to-"
said the Bad Boy, as he jumped over
the counter and grabbed the old man
by the arm and shook his hand until it
ached. Introduce me to your friend,
the dog, who seems to have acquired
an appetite for pants" and the Bad
Boy got behind the old man and
kicked at the dog, who was barking as
though he had cat on the fence.
Get out, Tige,'' said the old man,
as ne pushed the dog away ''You
have got to get used to this young
heather" and he Rugged the bright
looking, well-dressed boy as though he
WAS proud of him.
What are good fat rats selling for
now?" asked the boy, as his eye fell
on the rat the terrier had brought out
ST the cellar. 81 did not know you
had added q meat market to your
grocery. Now, in Paris, the rat bust
ness is very important industry, but
/ didat know the people ate them
here. What do you retail them at?
20. set out, l don't sell rats" said
the old man, Indignantly. II got this
dog for company, in your place, and
he has proved himself more useful
than any boy l ever saw. Say, come
and sit down by the stove, and tell me
all about your trip as your letters to
me were not very full of information.
How is your fathers health?"
dad is the healthiest man in
America" said the boy, as he handed
the old man Turkish cigarette, with
piece of cheese under the tobacco
about half an inch from where the old
man lighted it With a match. Dad is
all right, except his back He slept
| four nights with cork life >preserver
strapped to his back, coming over, and
he has got curvature of the spine. but
the doctor has strapped board TO
dads back. and says when his back
warps back to at the board he will
be sound again"
"Say, this is a genuine Turkish Gig
arctic, isn't it?" said the old man. as
be pulled away at it, and blew the
smoke through his nose. II have al
ways wanted to smoke a genuine, i'm
ported cigarette. Got a flavor some
thing like a Welsh rabbit, amt it?"
and the old man looked at the cigar
cite where the frying cheese was soak
Ing through the paper. Gee, but l
can't go that" and he threw it away,
and looked seasick.
Turks always take cheese in their
cigarettes" said the Bad Boz "They