Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-26


shared his memories. Ted said little, con-
tenting himself with insisting that Charlie
would not have done any better in similar
circumstances; but Charlie of course stoutly
denied this.
NEXT morning, true to his threat to give
~ the squirrels new bait, Charlie made
small popcorn ball and started away to the
woods with it. He found his trap still un-
disturbed, and taking out the ear of corn,
he put the ball on the spindle and set the
trap. 1t was a large, old-fashioned box
trap, originally made for rabbits, the top
ner, and being held aloft by a string con-
nected with fgure-four device at the back.
"There!' he soliloquized. Il think if 1
was squirrel I'd 60 in there and try that.
Hope III get one this time. Woolly is pretty
lonesome" Woolly was the name of large
gray squirrel that he had had at home for
several months which was so tame that it
never failed to explore everyone's pockets
for nuts whenever it was let out of its cage.
Charlie returned home, and soon started
for school. The story of Ted's fright was
too good to keep, and before the latter had
arrived there he had detailed it to several
schoolmates, much to Ted's disgust.
L Hill when that afternoon Charlie made
his way through the underbrush to examine
his trap. His heart gave an extra thump as
he came out into the little open space and
saw that the trap was sprung. He ran up
eagerly, and placed his ear close to the top.
He heard a slight movement inside, and
Strengthened up, his face aglow.
"Got one, sure!" he exclaimed. Thought
the popcorn would fetch 'em. l s'pose,
though, it might be a red squirrel, after all.
He knelt down and tried to peer in the hole
at the back; but could see nothing. "Guess
it's gray, though he added. "Never saw
anything but grays around this side. I'll
take it home and see"
the bulky trap under one arm. At the first
step there came an unearthly yowl and
furious scratching from inside the box.
Charlie gave jump, stumbled, and almost
fell. There was another yowl and startling
commotion inside the trap. AS he regained
his balance the cover was raised slightly and
he caught the glimpse of the edge of a paw
adorned with formidable claws. He put
down the trap and sprang back with a white
face.
"My cracky!" he exclaimed, as he caught
his breath. "Theres wildcat in there! l
thought it was awfully heavy. It's that
pOpCOIll ne pduSSu dIlu iOOkcu
about at the trees in a perplexed way. The
yowls had ceased; but the imprisoned crea-
ture was still moving about in lively man.
ner. The next moment it seemed to redou-
BILE its efforts to escape, and the cover began
to bob up and down slightly.
Charlie sprang forward and placed his
knee on it, his look of alarm deepening. at
must be big one," he said with poorly sup
pressed excitement. There was another dis
NAL yowl, and he sprang up; but instantly
sank down again as the cover was once more
slightly raised. He rested minute or two
and gave his courage chance to rise. Then
he said, "Well, you needn't make such
fuss: I'm going to take you home anyhow"
and holding the cover in place with his left
hand he again bundled the box up under his
right arm and started. The yowls and
screams from the box came in quick sue
cession; but Charlie marched on.
He had not gone twenty steps when sud-
denly from behind him and little up hill to
his right there came an answering cry,-not
the same but certainly similar. Charlie
stopped in his tracks. ats mattel" he said
in a hoarse voice. He set the trap on the