CHAPTER XXI. THE CAT AND THE FOX. oe] ae boys had al- ready declared that the cats of Japan were “ queer.” “ And they most all,” said Ralph, “have no more tail than a rab- bit!” fs “The cat is one of the animals that the lively imagination of A JAPANESE MISCHIEF-MAKER. the Japanese connects with many superstitious stories,” said the doctor. “Oh tell us one! Tell us one!” screamed both Ralph and Rick. “Ha—ha! It is’ not safe to say ‘stories’ to you. Let me see if IT have one handy. I will look into my story-bag.” “He has, I know,” whispered Ralph to Rick. The doctor made a great pretense of inspecting and overhauling his coat-pocket. | Then shaking his head he declared that nothing was in the story-bag. “Oh I see somethmy,” said Ralph, picking a piece of paper out of the doctor’s inverted pocket. 209