Fights His Rescuer

The family of Jacob Draudt, a grocer at Jackson and Madison streets, haa been in a state of mlnd because of strange sounds, llke the wail of a catamount, which have. been lssulng frora their cellar for the last two or three days, gays the Courier-Journal. The family was considerably lnconvenienced, a wel.1 as lntimidated. The case was laid before a pólice offlcer, who llstened attentively to the sounds that carne from withln the cellar. They carne from a part of the cellar which could only be reached throuh a narro w opening in the sidewalk; the man who went after him took his Ufe In hls hands. Offlcer Prather considerad it his duty as a duly sworn offlcer to keep the public peace to go in after the disturber; so, armed with a hatchet, he began to grop his way through the narrow, dark opening. He had been gone but a few seconds when a wild scream came out of the pavement. Followlng this was a yell of pain from the offlcer. The crowd attracted to the scène was thrown into spasms. Some were for sending for a rescuing party, but all appeared to be more disposed to stand by and listen. Then a yell of triumph from the dark recesses reassured the group and two or three trted bravely to crowd into the opening Following this appeared the form of a black cat, spitting and clawing, but clutched flnnly in a bleeding hand be!onging to Offlcer Prather, whose amutty and scratched face was not long In ihowing out of the darkness. The Mach oat was the property of Mr. Draudt. ft had been in the cellar for five days without food or water and was furious When the offlcer dropped the cat to the ïiound it flew at him fiercely and bured its deep claws in his uniform over his breast He struck the crazed anl-nal one blow with the hatchet and put out what was left of its nine lives.