River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-24
THE HAUNTED FIELD.


would, by iove; that is if l had dust sho
in the gun---a set of rogues, rascals
scamps, tramps, vagabonds and robbers
Game preserving's dear work, sir; but
there, don't think I want to spoil YOU
dinner. How should you like me tc
come into your yard, or field, or garden
and shoot or suffocate, or wire your tru-
keys or peatowlg"
"But, my dear SIR" l said, 81 don't
keep turkeys or peafowl."
Cor cocks, or hens, or pigeons, or
ducks continued my uncle, not noticing
my remark.
"Bat we don't keep anything of the
kind in London, my dear sir; the tiles
and leads are the unpreserved grounds of
the sparrows."
don't be fool, Dick" said my uncle,
pettishly. "You know well enough what
1 mean. And maintain, sir" he con-
tinued, growing very ed-faced and pro-
tuberant as to his eyes, "that every poach-
er is downright robber, and if were a
Magistrate ="
"Wouldn't shoot them, would yon, sir2'
said Jenny. roguishly.
"Hold your tongue, you puss,' said my
uncle, shaking his fist playfully at the
bright, sarcy-eyed maiden; you're as
Dad as dick
Oh, how ardentiy l wished she was in
one particular point of view.
My uncle continued:
ever since I've been in the place the
scoundrels have gone on-thin-thin-
thin till it's enough to make one give
mp in despair But won't; hang me, if
| do. / won't be beaten by the hypocrit-
ical, canting dogs. Now, look here; one
| bound whines out that he did it tor hun
ger, but it won't do, that's tale; while,
fore George sir, if man was really driv-
en- to that pitch, I'd give him the worth
of dozen of my birds sooner than have
them stolen"
Well, really, one could not help con-
doing with the old gentleman, for he
was generous and open handed, and ever
since he had settled in Hereby and work
| ed hard to get his estate into condition,
the poaching fraternity seemed to have
made dead set at him.
was down at Hareby TO spend
Christmas, as had been my custom for
years, and on going out the day after my
| arrival
"You see, SIR" said Browsem, the
keeper, ''there's no knowing where to take
| him. I've tired all l knows, and, pom
my sivvy, sir, don't know where to hev
| him. 1t warn't him as gave me that
dressing gown, but it were some of his
set; for he keeps in the back grun', and
finds the powder and shot, and gifts rid O
the birds. War hawk to him if do gel
hold ON him, though"
"But do you watch well?' said.
"Watch, sir9 I've watched my byes
outer my head Almost and then he's
lodged me. Hyes amt no good to him
Why. I don't believe chap fitted uT
with telescopes would get round him
The guvnor swears and goes on at me
and Bill, bat what's the good o. that wher
you're arter fellow as would slip outer
his skin if you he'd holt on himf Now, IL
lust tell you how he served me last week
/ gets a simple looking chap, stranger
to these parts, but regular deep one, t.
come over and keep his hye on this herr
Mr.. Ruddle. So he hangs about the pub
tic, and drinks with first one and ther
with another, so that they thinks hin
a chap outer work; ana larst of all he get
friendly with RuddIe, and from one thina
to another gets ON talking about fezzan
and ares.
"'Ah,' says my chap, there's SOM
fine spinneys down our way. Go out o
a night there, and get a sackful of bird
when you likes !" 'Nothin to what Their
IS here says another.
"'Why,' says my chap, we've one chal
as is the pest hand at a bit o. night worl
as ever l did see. You should see hin
set sheer or ingle. he'd captivate an.
mortal thing. Say he wants few rabbuds
he'e Almost whistle 'em outer their holes
Fezzans'il run their heads into his ingle
like winkin' While, as fur ares, h
never sets wires for Them
"'Why not? says one on 'em.
"'Oh. says my chap, he goes and pick
EN- up outer the fields, just as ne likes
AHA, ha, ha 7 laughs lots on 'em there
all but Ruddle, and be didn't.
"'What dyer think o that, ole man
says one.
"'Nothin' at ALL says Ruddle, DO
, it mysen,
"For you see. he was bit on. an
, ready to lalk, while mostlIngs he was a
close as a hegg.
"'Bet you gallon on IT, says my char
"'Done, says Ruddle.
t sand they settles as my chap and Rud
. die should have walk mex day, Sunday
: and settle it.
| Mex day then, these two goes out tc
gether; and just ketching sight on EN-,
knowed something was up, but in cours
! | didn't know my chap, and my cha
5 didn't know me; and | sits at hon
/ smoking pipe, for | says to myself
( says Browsem,' says. there's suthiI
: mp and if you can only put salt on tbs
/, ere Riddles tail, you'll soon clear III
!. village You see, only wanted to brin
I one home TO him nd that would hay
: dore, ter he'd Of got off two or tire
: times before by skin of his teeth. an
while three or of his tools was kick
ing their heel III, my gentlemen Vi
i feaihering bis ii right.
e so my chs 4 Rnddle goes alon
t VERY sociabA IL every now and the