The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-09-10
A BARONS BAG OF BIRDS.
The sprig Of Royalty the Victim
Of a Clever Ruse.
Gamekeepers and Poachers Conspire to
Fleece the vaunting Nobleman
An Expensive Sporting Ex-
1erfe1ce


''Be not righteous overmuch," says
King Solomon-if, indeed, that mon
arch was the author of Ecclesiastes.
BE not amiable overmuch'' is a maxim
that might be deduced from it, and
that is now somewhat tardily taken to
heart by the Austrian nobleman whose
name is known in England and who is
a million or so out of pocket for not
having acted upon it earlier. This
nobleman, says the Chicago Times,
married a lady who was understood to
be the heiress apparent to property
worth over one million florins, or, say,
one hundred thousand pounds. Not
that she had any inalienable rights to
it, but simply that her relative, wild
over without children or kindred
was known to have made will in her
favor.
He died few months ago, and a re-
Gently drawn-up will found in his room
not only makes over the entire prop
erty to two strangers and one benevo-
lent institution, but explains this leg
acy as the result of an adventure with
grouse. The story is amusing in itself,
to say nothing of its interest as throw
ing light upon an impending lawsuit,
which will probably take high rank
among Austrian causes celebres. For
the will is about to be contested by
the lady, who ne yer did anything to
incur the anger of her wealthy rela-
tive, and who maintains that he was of
unsound mind when he drew up his
last testament. Her husband, Baron
X, unwittingly but mortally Of
Tended the touchy old gentleman,
and one million forms is the price of
his excessive amiability.
The wealthy Count Y, paid visit to
Baron x. last autumn, and Immediately
after his arrival explained that he had
come to do VIII at he had never done in
his life before-to shoot grouse. He
held the opinion that, being an excel
lent shot with revolver, he must like
wise be a good marksman with gun,
and he had, in fact, laid a wager that
he would not return empty handed
from his first days shooting. Count Y.
was quite serious in ali this, and hon
estly believed he could accomplish his
desire with the greatest ease. Baron
X, however, knew better, and con-
sidering that the count was not only
somewhat deaf, but likewise very near
sighted, kindly resolved within him
self to facilitate matters as much as
possible.
With this object in view he called up
the head gamekeeper. Ferdinand, +"
he said, Count Y. is going out for a
days shooting Thursday. I'm afraid
he's very bad shot, and yet he insists
on showing us that he can work won
ders. Now, I want you to arrange
matters so that, whatever he hits or
misses, he may feel convinced that he
has shortened the lives of few birds.
You understand? The details you may
work out at your leisure. Make no
blunder." Ferdinand said only ''H'mi''
in his masters presence, but he used
very wild words later on and not hitting
upon any likely idea himself, he called
on his assistant, Franz, and instructed
him to mature plan.
Now, Franz is man of many re-
sources, and his name has become
proverbial in sporting circles in Aus
tria as willy Ulysses. A few hours
later he unfolded a project to his senior
which caused the latter to split his
sides with laughter. Franz was to
hunt up daring poacher, who had
been twice wounded while trespassing
on these very estates, and to ask him
to appear at certain place Thursday
with some recently shot birds and to
drop one or two after each of the
counts shots. The plan was agreed to,
the poacher promised to be invisibly on
the spot, and the various stations at
which he should succe ssively drop the
grouse were determined upon.
At length the morning dawned and
count and baron were early on the
field, accompanied by the faithful
game<eepers, who looked as reserved
and sad as undertakers. 81 don't see
anything about here" murmured the
count after a time. ''It's true I am
somewhat nearsighted, but" ''Lool
there, your excellencyl Look there
You are in luckl'' shouted the head
gamekeeper at the top of his voice, en-
deavoring to look the while as if he
were only whispering the information
into the sensitive ear of his master.
guest.
His excellency became furried, tool
out his monocle, fixed the spot pointed
out to him, and said: ''Well, !
don't see Oh, that black mass, dt
you meanP" eyes, your excellency
There are half dozen there if there i.
one. Now is the time, your excellency
to fire. The count shouldered hi
gun, to the mortal terror of the baron
who feared he should be called to hi
last account before that days shooting
would be done; then he shut one eyt
and pulled the trigger. Something wa
seen to fall.
Splendid shot, that, your excellency
I saw the bird fall. He's, done for" In
stead of hurrying to the place where
the feathered victim was supposed t.
lie the gamekeepers allowed the coun
to go before them, so that he nigh
see the handiwork with his own eyes
Arriving at the spot he stopped, picked
up something dark, fumbled at it
few seconds, drew out a brace o
grouse, looked in stupefaction at tn,
two gamekeepers, who were desper