The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-10-02

One OF the best known residents OF
pudds Hollow was Ephralm Stark
weather. more Familiarity known as Old
Eph. Old Eph was a little, dhed-up
man. with brlstllng eruy chin whiskera
and a twlnkllng eye that looked out
from under bushy brows No one
knew how old he was. for he had been
the nrst settler at Pudd's Hollow and
those who had followed him could not
Remember that he ever cooked any
younger Gene Tompkins. the post
master. said he recokoned Eph was be-
tween 100 and 200 yean old but be
~woaldn't venture TO say that lac
wasa't nigh onto 300"
In the face Of all these speculaiions
ola Eph kept his peace, aud when the
hoys asked him solemnly u ne reihehi.
bered seeing Gen. Washington ana
whether or not be was present az
the hattie OF Bunker IlIll, his eyes only
twinkled slyly. aud be passed u OF a.
q 1oke. For he knew ms well as any
one that the boys were only m run
aud that they enjoyed nothing better
thar 10 visit him Ia his little house by
the creek and to look at the rifles ANA
ehotguns that hung on the mfiers, or
hear him tell how he shot the bear or
coon whose hide be was stretching on
the boards at the back OF his wood
shed.
Old Eph was famous hunter, fisher
and bee man. lie knew the woods az
well as mos, men know their own sit
ting r00ms-whero the partridges
squatted, where the ducks fed In the
nee beds and the pools where the best
lahi fishing was 10 b. found. Aud.
besides this, when be was la the mood
b. could tell the most wonderful
Eforica, and this alone was enough 10
endear him TO all the boys Of Pudds
Hollow.
one sunny afternoon In late Sepiem
her Fnnk Staples. Con Blgelow aud
l'red Horn walked up the grassy
wagon noad from Pudd's Hollow 90
the home Of old Eph. As they climbed
over The siile that led 10 the house
they saw the old man working with q
number Of pals. crooks and tubs. In.
deed. he seemed 10 have oil the utcn.
els that he owned out IA hls back
gard near the we'll house.
wonder what Eph's DOM" said
Con, with the greatest interest
"P'raps he's trying 10 Keep n lot Of
llsh alive IN the tubs" put IN Fred.
who was the youngest OF the three.
-N0," answered Frank, with some
disgust; "old Eph wouldn't b. that
foolish"
But they al qulckencd their steps,
and when old Eph saw them he
Etr1lghloned up and smiled.
-Hullo. boys" he said, with the
greatest good nature.
And at that moment they pecpcd into
the tuhas
Honey" they oil shouted IN breath.
And honey u was. tubs and pals and
pans Of Il. 10 say nothing OF the gen
cruua supply daubod on Eph's mouth
and hands.
-fIave a blteY" asked the old hunter.
and then without waiting for a reply
be dipped up generous supply OF rich
yellow comb on three shingles aud
passed them 20 the boys. The honey
melted rapidly away. aud then the
boys BEGAN 10 ask questions.
'Beon hnding bee trees. Ephy'
~WaHl. now. whafd you s'p0se this
come from. anyhow Think u growed
In my eardenf" aud the old man
chucklcd 10 himself lie was IN rare
good humor over his SUCCESS
"Whend you find ~" asked Con.
"lasi nlght-an' Molly an me have
been dnwin' IN honey ever since"
"Where was x. EphY asked Fred
eagerly.
'Waal, now. that's p'Inied. isn't ~
P'raps you'd like 20 20 aud ind H.
I've Gcon whole families IN the same
IN before chr and old Eph kept the
locniion or the tree quite 10 himself.
''f'Gce," he said ''P'raps there's an.
other tree around near there. aud
may want 10 get moro honey fore
many days"
When the boys heard this they were
much excited. but tease MS hard a.
they could they wcrr unable to mud out
anything more about H. So they be-.
gan 10 Joke old Eph about his age. II
MAS what they Tell hack upon when.
ever they couldn't persuade the old
hunter 10 do just M they would have
liked him % DO Close In the corner OF
The house they sat In the shade nib
bling away ON the honey, and laughing
aud talking about "Melhusalcm," as
Fred cnlled the Biblical patriarch. Old
Eph worked buslly IN the sun getting
his honey ready TO take 10 town. lie
listened 10 the joking IN the greatest
good nature. sometimes mliying frank
about his shooting or Fred about his
fcar Of the water. but always heaplng
up the ehlnglcs With honey as often as
they were passed up
Toward shutdown the boys loliercd
on toward home.
IN tell you what" said Con. sud.
denly, "old Enh knows where that
tree In, aud It's probably got 40 NJ
200 pounds Of honey In u. why can't
We rustic and hud Il ourselves. amd
max, Foiie money"
Lets do It. Let's do ltg exclaimed
fnnk, much excited by the suggps.
ton.
Fred was quito M fascinated hy the
plan az were the other two BOYS: hut
while they were discussing 4 hls face
Cuddeuly grew grave
THAT would hardly he fair 90 old
Eph," be said
"Novcr you fear about that" sall
Con. 'Old Eph didn't tell ms whore ID
Is did hoi And IL we ind 10. we nnd
q ounelvos. don't WEI Well. then.
guess we've got right 10 look for ID.
haven't we. Frank
Frank agreed wlta him heartily. and
End although not fully convinced.
could not resist the temptation of tax.
ing part IN the fascinating adventure.
Frank had once been out with Eph.
when he was hunting wild bee trees.
and he was confident that be knew all
about Il. And both Fred and Con had
heard 30 many stories told by bee men
that they also felt familiar with the
sport.
Early the next morning the three
set out for pndd's Hollow. and walked
out a grassy Nad until they came 60
0 deserted clearing about a mile from