Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1894 — ONLY A RAT. [ARTICLE]

ONLY A RAT.

B»» H. Dr»w M Cr*w4 aad Bad Lota of Fu. A boy ten years old suddenly appeared on Monroe avenue, near Randolph street, the other forenoon with a rat-trap held high in his hand. The trap contained a rat—an old veteran —who had probably eaten twenty times his weight in Michigan cheese. For years and years he had been too fly for those who sought bis destruction, but the pitcher had gone to the well once too often. He was squealing and squirming about, but there was no one to pity. The boy had scarcely gained the street when there was a rush for him, and men and boys were heard shouting: “He’S got a rat!” “Lemme git my dog!” “Good gracious, what a whopper!” “Don’t let him git away!” The man who knows all about rats was there, of course. Also the man who baamade the killing of rats a specialty all his life. ’They worked their way to the front “You don’t want to fool with that rat,” cautioned the flrat “I think I know* my business,” bluntly replied the second. “So do I.” * “Don’t Interfere with me.” Three or four dogs were brought into the crowd. The man who is always willing to boss the job also got off a street car and elbowed his way in to demand: “What’s all this fuss about? A rat, eh! Now, then, everybody stand back. Gimme that trap.” The U>y demurred. It was his trap and his rat He felt that he ought to be consulted. “Let ’er go, Gallagher!” yelled one of the crowd., “Where’s your rat?” “Somebody hit the man with a red necktie.” A policeman now appeared. He began to use his official elbows to open a path for his body, but the crowd resented the action, and began to hustle him until he threatened to collar some one. Meanwhile the two men who knew all about rats were jawing with the man who wanted to boss the job, and the boy was declaring that his brother would lick the man who stole his rodent. “You’re a liar!” “Hit him one!” “Look out for the cop!” The crowd began to circle around, and the boy fell down and lost his trap. Some one picked it up and shook the rat out, and dogs and men and boys were all mixed up, and falling over each other. In the confusion the rat got away into the sewer, the policeman rapped three men on the back with his club, and the crowd dissolved, leaving about a dozen hats kicking around on the battleground. Then a lot of people shook their fists in the air, and another lot called somebody a liar, and everybody went away mad and threatening to get even if itj took him a whole year.— Free Frees.