Read Motor Matt''s Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot Page 22

  QUEER CALIFORNIAN TRADERS.

  The queerest "traders" in all vast California are the odd littleanimals known as "trade rats."

  They never steal, but give miscellaneous articles in exchange for whatthey take.

  A paste-pot left overnight in an assay office was found in the morningfilled with the oddest collection of rubbish.

  This was the work of trade rats. They had stolen the paste, and leftin exchange a piece of stick, a length of rope, some odds and ends ofwire, and an unbroken glass funnel.

  A trade rat's nest, found in an unoccupied house, was composed of ironspikes laid in perfect symmetry, with the points outward. Interlacedwith the spikes were two dozen forks and spoons and three largebutcher-knives.

  There were also a quantity of small carpenters' tools, and a watch, ofwhich the outside casing, the glass, and the works were all distributedseparately--to make a good show!

  We are unable to state what this particular trade rat left in exchangefor all this "loot."