ived matter, for through an incautious giggle on Tod's part the
animal discovered him, and started for the foot of the tree. Now a bear
can climb a tree about as good as any one, and Tod knew it, but lazy as
Tod was, he had a mind for emergencies, and seizing a handful of
chestnuts, he threw them at the bear. This second interruption attracted
the animal's attention, and he began devouring the nuts, evidently
something he was exceedingly fond of. After that to keep the bear out of
the tree Tod was obliged to throw down handful after handful of
chestnuts, the meanwhile despairing of his situation. He searched his
pockets, and, lucky thought, there among the trash were two small rifle
cartridges.

Selecting two of the largest nuts, he bored a hole in them and inserted
the cartridges. Waiting until the bear had finished his last handful and
stood greedily eying him, he gently threw the loaded nuts to the ground.
Anxiously he watched as the bear nosed around in search of them. In a
few moments one of them was found, but before the greedy animal munched
on it he secured the other. Now it was funny, but the bear seemingly
wanted to tantalize Tod, and lifting his head, stood looking at him
without attempting to chew the loaded chestnuts. Tod was scared, and
tears came into his eyes. The bear made one or two steps towards the
tree, and then hesitating, sat back on his haunches, with his eyes on
Tod, and commenced chewing.

Suddenly a very comical look of surprise came over that bear's face, and
almost instantly an explosion took place. Tod claims that the bear
jumped six feet into the air, and when he fell back on the ground again
he never waited an instant to learn what happened him, but scampered off
in the funniest lumbering fashion. Tod waited till he thought it was
safe, and climbing down, made tracks for home. The boys let him in at
the games on Halloween to hear him tell his story again, as they had by
that time substantiated it by the blood tracks of the bear.

HUBERT EARL.

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[Illustration: Royal Baking Powder]

[Illustration: If afflicted with SORE EYES USE Dr. ISAAC THOMPSON'S EYE
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=CARDS FOR 1896.= 50 Sample Styles AND LIST OF 400 PREMIUM ARTICLES
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[Illustration: BICYCLING.]

Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our