FOUND BY A RAT

Otaki Mail, 7 January 1924, Page 3

FOUND BY A RAT

Few people would regard a rat as a good omen, but there is one man in Gisborne who is indebted to a rodent for guidance, if not to a fortune, at least to a very handsome little Chrislmas present (says the Herald), xne gentleman in question was working in his garden, when he observed a large rat endeavouring to get beneath the house. The persistent etlorts of the , rodent aroused his curiosity, and. un _ sequentlv, when the rut B^ e eeeded' in his efforts, he. w*<; lollowed by a pair of iutei :rgted eyeg - Th( , attention of tue rat was directed to an obieet lying behind an old fireplace, and subsequent investigation showed that the object of interest was nothing more or less than ft pocket wallet fitted with oaiikuoies. A closer examination of the find showed that the wallet bad evidently been hidden for some considerable time, and portions of it, and some of the notes had suffered to a certain extent by the activities of the rodent, and, possibly, other members of his family. The damage to the notes, however, was not material, and enquiries at the bank elicited the information thai, they were still lagel tender, and they would return the lucky finder a sum 'approaching i'luO. The long exposure to the air had caused the notes to become" quite crisp, ana careful handling was required to prevent them from crumbling to pieces.