Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-01-11

gale ana an overflow at the top. This dam
was very large and deep, and in il was an
abundance Of ali kinds Of fresh water FISH
and ;errapins. and il enabled the miller 10
raise large 1oeks Of what ere termed pud-
die or tame ducks.
About four days before the time Of the
supper Mr.. Yates went around again.
Having no luck he sauntere.i along to
wards the mill, and as he reached it he sSw
a flock ofabout seventy-five or eighty ducks
swimming and enjoying themselves
Thinking that he might be able to supply
the insufficiency OF Wild ducks by having
tame ones, he went TO the mill and saw the
miller, whose name was Wimpsets Tel
ling him OF his troubles and Of being una
BILE to procure wild ducks. he said
-'Wimpsett, viii give you two dollars
for shot at those ducks, and / have what
kill"
: "Oh, no." said Mr.. Wimpsett That
would never do; the ducks belong TO Mr..
Key and am sure you would NOS kiln less
than dozen and should not be able to
pay hinn."
ar Yates walked into the mill and
placed his gun behind the door and went
across the road where he had some bust
ness with a friend. AS soonr as he was
gone Wimpsett went and took the gun from
i:s place, and with ramrod, having fine
screw, he withdrew the wad and relieved
the gun of its entire load of shot
In the course Of half an hour Mr.. Yates
returned, and, taking bis gun, started for
home. followed by Winpsett. As soon as
they reached the dam, Wimpsett said to
him: "Well, Mr.. Yates, I have thought
about the matter of the ducks, and will
give you chance; you can have the shot
for two dollars" Thereupon Mr.. Yates
handed him the two dollars, and, stepping
back about thirty PAGES, took deliberate
aim at the ducks, which had swum into
the inclosed compass, and fired. Ofcourse
the result was not duck was killed He
was about to express his surprise and con-
sternation, but soon determined to let the
matter pass, saying to Wimpsett as he left,
II have had bad luck, but after awhile
will come round and try it again"
. Two days afterwards the same bad luck
attended him, and he went to the mill
again, and he told Wimpsett that he would
be willing TO take another shot if he would
give him one for two dollars. He had,
however, taken occasion before reaching
the mill this time to put in an extra large
load of shot. Then putting his gun behind
the door again he sauntered out to take
short walk.
As soon as he left, Wimpsett not sus.
pecting anything wrong, repeated, as he
thought, the same trick by Withdrawing a
load of shot from the gun. When Yates
returned he took his gun, and started again
and was followed by Wimpsett, who, when
nearing the ducks, said: swell, Yates, as
you had bal luck last time, l will give you
another chance" With that, Mr.. Yates.
handing him the two dollars, stepped back
at what he thought proper distance, and
ieveling his gun at the ducks, which were
huddled together, fired again, land when
the smoke was cleared away, to the SUR
prise and CONSERVATION of poor Wimpsett,
twenty-five ducks lay stretched out upon
the water. Wimpsett pressed his hands,
and in horror said: ooh, my God; am
ruined / am ruined! Mr.. Key will
surely discharge me-"
MIR. Yates, however, bagged his ducks
and went home and prepared the enter
tainment, which was pronounced of the
highest order, and in the midst of it, when
the wine began to flow, jokes were in or
der, and among others the landlord was
called upon for one.
He answered by telling the manner in
which he had procured the ducks, to the
great modification of Mr.. Wimpsett. His
story was told in his peculiar style, and SO
pleased them all that Mr. Key determined
that Mr.. Wimpsett should not only not
be called upon to make good the loss, but
should have the four dollars.-GEoRGE
COTTON in Baltimore Sunday Neus.