Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-24
THE HAUNTED FIELD.

in the gun--a set of rogues, rascals
scamps, tramps, vagabonds and robbers
Game prsservings dear work, sir; bu'
there, don't think want to spoil your
dinner How should you like me to
come into your yard, or field, or garden,
and shoot or suffocate. or wire your tru
keys or peatcwls"
"But, my dear SIR" l said, 81 don't
keep turkeys or peafowl."
"Or 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 unp:eserved grounds OF
the sparrows."
Don't be fool, Dick" said my uncle
pettishly. You know we'll enough what
| mean And l maintain, SIR he con
tinued, growing very red faced and pro
tuberant as I" his eyes, "that every poach
er is downright robber, and If were a
Magistrate ="
"Wouldn't shoot them, would yon, sir2"
said Jenny, 1oguishly.
Hold your tongue, you puss,' said my
uncle, shaking his fist playfu fully at the
bright, saLcy, eyed maiden you're as
DAD as ElCk
Oh, how ardently 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
up in despair. But won't; hang me, if
/ do. won't be beaten by the hypocrit-
ical, canting dogs. Now, look here; one
hound whines out that he did it tor hun
ger, but ii won't do, that's tale; while,
'tore George sir, if man was really driv
en- TO that pitch, Id give him the worth
of a 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 Hardly 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, 'theres 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; ior he keeps in the back grun', and
finds the powder and shot, and gifts rid O.
the birds. War hawk to him if do get
hold on him, though"
But do you watch well?" said.
"WatCb, sir? I've watched my byes
outer my head Almost and then he's
lodged me. Hyes amt 10 good to him.
Why. don't believe chap fitted up
with telescopes would get round him.
The guv nor swears and goes on at me
and Bill, bat what's the good O that when
you're arter fellow as would slip outer
his skin if you he'd holt on him? Now, I'll
Just tell you how he served me last week.
Ig,ts simple looking chap, a stranger
to these parts, but regular deep one, to
come over and keep his hye on this here
Mr.. Ruddle. So he hangs about the pub
tic, and drinks with first one and then
with another, so that they thinks him
a chap outer work: ana larst of all he gets
friendly With Rudde, and from one thing
to another gets On talking about TEXANS
and ares.
"'Ah,' says my chap, there's some
fine spinneys down our way. Go out of
night there, and get a sackful of birds
when you likes "'Nothin' to what there
is here says another.
"'Why,' says my chap, we've one chap
as is the BEST hand at bit o night work
as ever I did see. You should see him
set sheer or ingle, he'd captivate any
mortal thing. Say he wants few rabbuds
he'e a'nOst whistle EN- outer their holes
Ftzzans'll run their heads into his ingles
like winkin'. While, as fur 'ares, he
never sets wires for Them
4" why not? says one on 'em.
"'Oh. says my chap, 'he goes and picks
EN- up outer the fields, just as ne likes.
'''Ha, ha, har laughs lots on EN- there
all but Ruddle, and he didn't
"'What dyer think O. that, ole man,
says one.
"'Notbin' at ALL says Ruddle, DO i
it mysen.'
"For you see. he was a bit on, anc
ready to lalk, while mostl1ngs he was al
close as a hegg.
"'Bet you a gallon on it, says my chap
"'Done, says Ruddle.
"And they settles as my chap and Rud
die should have walk mex day, Sunday
and settle it.
Mex day then, these two goes out to
gether; and just ketching sight on 'em,
knowed something was up, but in cours
didn't know my chap, and my cha
didn't know me; and I sits at hom
smoking pipe, for l says to myself
says-'Browsem,' I says, there's suthir
up and if you can only put salt on tina
ere Riddles tail, you'll soon clear tn
village. You see, l only wanted to brin;
one home TO him, and that would hav
dore; tor he'd only got off two or tire
times before by the skin of his teeth. an,
while three or four of Lis tools was kick
ing their heels in jail, my gentlemen wa
feathering his nest all right.
$50 my chap aud RuddIe goes al on
VERY sociable, only every now and the
my chap ketches him a-cocking one
his gimiit eyes round at him. while b
looked as knowing and deep as an oil
dog fox Bye-and-bye they gets to
field, and old Ruddle tells my chap t
stop by the hedge, and he did, while Rud
die goes looking about bit slowly an
quietly, and last of all he mounts up on
gate and stands with his hands over hi
hyes. Last of all he walks quietly rigt
out into the middle of the pasture, an
stoops down, picks up hare and hole
it kicking aud struggling by the ear
when be hugs it up on his arm, strokil
on it like you'd see little girl with
kitten.
MY chap feels ready to burst himse
with delight to see how old RuddIe ha
f.tIan info the iran. First.rat.. IL wa