A Street Troubadour 



though Chippy, had she seen, might well have 

 shuddered at the idea of that threatening noose. 

 It was the last day of the lining. Biddy 

 had in some way given Randy to understand 

 that no more hair was needed, and, proud and 

 bustling, she was adding a few finishing touches 

 and a final hair while he was trying some new 

 variations of his finest bars on top of Farragut's 

 head, when a loud alarm chirrup from Biddy 

 caught his ear. He looked toward the new 

 home to see her struggling up and down with- 

 out apparent reason, and yet unable to get more 

 than her length away from the nest. She had 

 at last put her head through one of those dan- 

 gerous hair nooses, made by herself, and by 

 mischance had tightened and twisted it so that 

 she was caught. The more she struggled and 

 twisted the tighter became the noose. Randy 

 now discovered that he was deeply attached to 

 this wilful little termagant. He became greatly 

 excited, and flew about chattering. He tried to 

 release her by pulling at her foot, but that only 

 made matters worse. All their efforts were in 

 vain. Several new kinks were added to the 

 hair. Other hairs from the nest seemed to join 



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