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Show MART GRAHAA -BONNER. THE PUMA "Sometimes," said the Puma, "I ntn known as the MountHln I. Ion, "It Is always well to hnve another name to full hark upon. Isn't it?" auld the Snow Leopard or Ounce politely. "I have two names myself. I am known as the Snow Leopard and the Ounce, at doubtless you have already heard." "I have heard that and I know that that Is so," said the I'unia. "lUit whatever do you mean when you nay that It Is always well to have another name to fall back upon?" "Why shouldn't I aay thaTT asked the Snow Leopard. lie had been calling himself Snow Leopard of late, though for a long time he had cared more for bis name of Ounce. ."You may say so, and I don't suppose there Is any reason why you shouldn't any what you want to aay. Hut I don't see any sense to It, and usuully you're a sensible beast." "Thank you, thank you, Pm obliged, said the Snow Leopard. "Hut I cannot see why one should want a name to full back upon. "A name Isn't comfortuhle. It's not a sofa cushion such ns people have. "Anil It's not a nice rug or a soft bit of ground It's nothing to full back upon that I can see." "Oh, yon misunderstand me," said the Snow Leopard. "I simply meant It was nice to have an extra name to use in case you get tired of one. "I didn't mean that you had to actually actu-ally fall on It In order to enjoy It." "I see, I see," said the Puma. "Well, I am glad to have It explained to me. C "Oh, You Misunderstood Me," Said the Snow Leopard. and I am also glad that I have two names. "I am still more glad that I have traveled, I have been all over the country before I came here to the oo. "Other relatives of mine have traveled trav-eled a great deal more than I have, too. "les, we swim well, we travel far, we are quick and we are wonderful climbers, but we're not nearly so wild and dangerous as some people make us out to be. "Not nearly so wild and dnngerous. But then I sometimes think people like to feel all animals they know nothing about are very wild and dangerous. dan-gerous. "If it makes them happy, well and good." "All that you aay Ig true," said the Snow Leopard. "You're also as good-natured In the oo as out of It. In fact, I think you're a nice old animal. Mr. Puma.1' "But I'm not so very old," the Puma protested. "I meant that as a little affection." said the Snow Leopard. "That's good," said the Puma, "I am glad you want to be affectionate with me, and I am glad you think I am a nice creature, for I like to be nice and thought well of, I do. I do. "After all, even a puma can be human." hu-man." "Even a puma," said the Snow Leopard. And then they began pacing about, taking some exercise, and dreutnlng of other days when they roamed wherever they chose to roam without fences to slop them and without any one to give them their food at certain hours. The days were different here, and the nights were very different. Put differences were apt to come even In the life of a snow leopard and a puma. They both knew that. But the snow leopard could not help complimenting the puma upon his good disposition In the zoo, for It was the truth. Mr. Puma was very good nntured. The keeper would have agreed with the snow leopard If he had been around and had been able to Join In the conversation. |