FOOLED BY A RAT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 179, 3 April 1915, Page 4

FOOLED BY A RAT.

Mangaweka is enjoying a good joke at the expense of one or two of its residents, concerning a burglar scare. The story runs, that one individual, who evidently suffered from insomnia was walking along the main business portion of the town some time afeor midnight. He was suddenly startled by hearing a strange, uncanny tapping, as though someone was attempting to c mmit a crime. He at once hurried to the police station and aroused the constable. With considerable promptness, the latter accompanied his informant to the supposed scene of the burglary. With bated breath and visions of "jimmies,” skeleton keys, etc., loom’ng before them, they quickly reviewed the situation. The "tapipng” still proceeded and so worked up was the civilian that it was with difficulty he was deterred from rushing things by forcing an entrance and "going for” the unseen and unsuspecting burglar The destruction of the front door was opposed by the police and 't was arranged to semi for the owner of the premises, who resided over a mile awajx Upon the latter’s arrival the premises were unlocked and a thorough search rvaa made. They were completely baffled. ' No Tmrglar could be found. Again the "tapping” re commenced, and, guided by the sound a closer inspection revealed a rat *5 nest in the making! The apparent cause of the tapping was sheeted homo to one of Cody’s empty "Tiki” beer bottles, lying alongside the newl.y made nest, which tapped against the wall as the rat moved about. The result of the find was nothing as compared with the disgust felt at being footed by "a rat.”—Mangaweka Settlor/