The Pet by Ellis Parker Butler — Read

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.