The Pet

Mr. Philo Gubb, graduate of the Rising Sun Correspondence School of
Detecting, and paperhanger by trade, put down the pail of flour paste he
was carrying and stared in amazement at the remarkable creature that
came loping toward him across the open field. A small hickory thicket
lay on the far side of the field, and beyond that were the circus
grounds where the World's Monster Combined Shows were showing, and Philo
Gubb's first -- and correct -- impression was that this was some wild
creature escaped from the circus. The horrid creature was the Tasmanian
Wild Man, escaped from his cage in the sideshow.

Under one arm Philo Gubb carried his straightedge, used in trimming the
margins from wallpaper, and around this were wrapped his white overalls.
As the Wild Man approached, Philo Gubb drew the straightedge from the
roll and prepared to defend himself. He was a tall, slim man, somewhat
resembling a flamingo in build and appearance, and as he swung the
straightedge in two hands he looked like an agitated and long-legged
bird frantically waving signals. But he was prepared to defend himself
to his last drop of blood. He was ready for a desperate and murderous
fray.