SATAN THE RACCOON 



placed a piece of matting by the stake to 

 which the coon was chained. He understood 

 that the matting was for his use, and he would 

 cry to be fed while chained out. He used 

 the matting as a dining-table and bed com- 

 bined. The pet bird that was killed was a 

 male catbird. Satan had left a piece of cookie 

 on the matting, and the catbird thought to 

 appropriate it. I was writing, not thirty feet 

 away, and looked up just in time to see the 

 flash of Satan's paw. I shouted, and rushed 

 to the rescue. When I reached the coon the 

 bird had disappeared. Satan looked so inno- 

 cent and surprised that I was led to believe 

 that the bird had escaped. I returned to 

 my writing, and the coon settled down for a 

 nap. An hour later a visitor from the city 

 called to get the loan of a book on birds. I 

 went to the cabin for the book, and when I 

 returned Satan was patting down the edge of 

 the mat. He saw me, and put on his innocent 

 look. He coiled up as if he were about to try 

 to sleep in a new spot. My suspicion was 

 aroused. I pulled away the coon and under 

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