The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-06-29

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motion, was carried with applause that
shook cans of tomatoes and boxes of sar-
dimes off Jakes grocery shelves, while his
stock of lanterns and tinware suspended
from numerous hooks in the ceiling nod
ded and changed in approval like so many
liberty bells.
Then the Gapers set to work in earnest.
The time was short, but what they lacked
in time they made up in energy The hot
July sun had barely pushed its face above
the eastern mountains on the morning of
the Fourth before the picnic grove at the
putting the finishing touches to the extra
preparations for entertaining the expected
horde from Pot Luck.
Two big fat steers instead of one, six
fat sheep instead of three and dozen in
stead of six fat young porkers were al
ready smoking over the barbecue pits,
done to juicy brown crispiness known
only to the art of Jose Pacheoo, while long
rows Of txbles groaned under the weight
of other good things. Everything the
larders of thrifty Gapers could supply was
there, with such boxes and baskets of
fruit and such stacks of melons as only
the foothills of California could furnish.
n oSCl6 IA C4QtA UuoUA6 anu ttCblVlUY,
though animated by far different spirit,
was transpiring up among the pines at Pot
Luck that bright July morning where
their chosen leaders were marshaling the
invading hosts
Pack your gunsp OF course; every
man of us" said Ike Bledsoe in answer
to query as the column began to form.
I'm q peaceable citizen, and we amt
huntin fer trouble, but we may want to
fire salute, You know. Leastwise the
woods is full Of bears, and we may be late
gettin home. was freed by grizzly
once Just because I'd left my gun to
home ~ y
Bursts q ls Aug greeted 1ke's ironio.
al declaration OF peace" and as the an
wills at the Gap began to boom and echo
across the valley and up the canyon TO-
ward Pot Lock q motley army 500 strong
Of almost eyeryyrace and color under the
sun and headed ID. the flies and drums Of
q strolling band OF MINISTRIES marched with
swinging stride down the winding road
between the solemn pines and redwoodi
toward the Gap.
Tho Gapers heard their coming miles
away and, forming as many couples a.
there were ladies on the grounds, wen,
out to meet them with waving banners o.
welcome and q lively burst of music from
their own excellent band.
The Pot Luckers heard the advancing
music with quaking hearts. That theil
raid was anticipated upset even theil
leaders, and only by heroic effort on theil
part was the column kept in motion as tht
Gapers drew near.
"They're on to our game, Bill" sale
Ike Bledsoe, galloping up to his ieutenan
just as their own music wavered and cam,
to sudden stop. "Ride ahead and star
that music again and keep it goin if you
have to shoot couple of drummers. i
that stops, half this rabble'll take to thu
woods in no time. Come on, boys" b.
shouted to the faltering ranks, ''they'r
comm to meet u.s. No flunkin now. Tn
peaceable man and don't want to bur
nobody, but I'll plug the first man tina
makes a break to run" -e
Without stopping their music or break
ing the step of their guests the Gaper
''about faced" and escorted them to tn
grounds, where the leaders were conduct
ed to chairs on the speakers stand witt
their own committee, the rank and file t.
desirable seats under banner inscribed
"These Seats Reserved For Pot Luckers
The embarrassment and chagrin of tn
Pot fuckers, which, as Ike Bledsoe after
ward declared, "made every man of EN-
feel like within down to his boot tops,
disappeared quickly before the friendl
spirit manifest ON all sides, the orator o
the day closing his address with thes
words:
"To our fellow citizens of Pot Luck
who have honored us so proudly by thei
presence in such numbers here today, W
extend the glad hand of fellowship am
welcome. Pitch in, gentlemen of Pc
Luck. and enjoy yourselves. Everything
on the grounds is yours, and you're a
welcome to it as you are to the water tina
dashes down yonder mountain side or t
the balmy air that floats up to us over tn
tree tops from the bosom Of the broat
Pacific" II
When the tables were spread, the ladie
devoted themselves to their guests, ant