Iron County register., 1905-10-12

glad hand, or form himself into a col
umn Of fours to drive him out when
he came.
He had accumulated a 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 U1der sack of potatoes, the Bad
Boy slipped into the store, and finding
the cd 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 a rat in its mouth. The
old man heard the snore, and won
dered if he had been entertaining a
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 good shaking. The
hoy set up yell that caused the
plaster to fall, and the old man al
most 10 faint with excitement, and he
went to the door to call a 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 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 a 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
heathen," and he hugged 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
of the cellar Il did not know YOU
had added a meat market to your
grocery. Now, in Paris. the rat bust
ness is a very important industry. but
l didn't know the people ate them
here. What do you retail them at?"
80. get out, l don't sell rats" said
the old man, Indignantly. Il got this
dog fer company, in your place, and
he has proved himself more useful
than any boy ever saw. Say, come
and sill down by the stove, and tell me
all about your trip, as your letters to
me we've not very full of information.
How is your fathers health?"
9Dac is the healthiest man in
America" said the boy, as he handed
the oit man a Turkish cigarette, with
a piece Of cheese under the tobacco
about half an inch from where the old
man lighted it with 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
dad's back, and says when his back
warps back to fit the board he will
be sound again"
Say this is genuine Turkish Gig
arctic, isn't it?" said the old man, as
he puifed away at it, and blew the
smoke through his nose. II have al
ways wanted to smoke a genuine, i'm.
ported cigarette. Got flavor some
thing like Welsh rabbit, amt it?'
and ths old man looked at the cigar
cite wsere the frying cheese was soak
ing through the paper. Gee, but |
cant 60 that" and he threw 1t away.
and looked seasick.
Turks always take cheese in their
cigarettes said the Bad Boy. They