Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-06
Known TO be rnfled before. proved I'm.

equal to the strain OF so extraordinary an
occasion. He fairly screamed out the final
worda emphasizing them with swipe of
his big felt hat across the top OF bench,
illustrative of the clean sweep he proposed
making of the viands of the lucklcss pic
nickcrs at tho Gap. His mastery diplo-
macy was at once recognized by shouts
and cheers of approval, in which the
voices of Ike Blcdsoe and Easy Bill sound
cd loudest and longest. Pot Luck was
ready to act ms one man. Johnson
strategy, Bits executive ability and 1ke's
oratory had been the brilliant features Of
many n victory In the bitter rivalry long
wagcd between Pot Luck and the Gap,
and not Pot Lucker ever hcsitatcd where
this trio led the way.
The committee went directly into ex-
ccutivc session and laid all necessary plans
to gather the largest crowd of men ever
collected In Pot Luck and march in a body
down to the Gap on the morning of the
Fourth, now ten days away.
The ditch and flumc long contemplated
by the Pot Luck miners was suddenly
found to be an immediate necessity, and
word was sent down to the valleys and to
ncighboring camps that 200 extra men
were wanted to begin work upon it July l..
Not tramp came to town but was offer
ed n chance to do light work for his board
until after the Fourth, n move which of
itself almost doubled the population of
the town, the news spreading with such
mysterious rapidity that every Weary
Watkins within its reach quickly turned
his face toward Pot Luck as the Mecca he
long had sought. Pot Luck knew the Gap
never figured upon entertaining more
than 800 or 600 people at the most and
determined to- muster at least that number
in it's invading host.
Less than n week before the Fourth,
that the Gapers might not have time to
discover the trap set for them, Pot Luck
sent this reply to their invitation, an epis.
tie upon which 'Ceptin johnson and the
whole committee expended much time
and ingenuity:
To the Chairman and Members Of tho Fourth
Of July Committee of Dutch Bills Gap:
GENTLEMEN ASp FEILFR CITI2ENs-In ac-
ceptin the invitation so cordially extended us
10 participate in the good time you intend
havin on the Fourth allow us, on behalf of the
citizens of Pot Luck, to thank the good people
of the Gap fer courtesy which is doubly ap
prociated on account Of our present boom
havin upset Our own preparations fer cele
Nratin. We asSl1e you that every Pot Tucker
who can afford TO knock off work will he dowr
to YOU on our nations glorious birthday.
THt FOURTH or July COMMIT EE OF Po1
Luck
/ This reply had the precise effect intend
ed-namely, it assured the Gapers that
the Pot fuckers were as good as them
selves at bluffing. and big Jake Tohmer'
fat sides shook with laughter when a,
( their chairman he read II TO the committee
/ fpI hat .h,,, 1n-
/ Luck had accepted the invitation in good
/ faith
Jake reared again. Good faith moth
in" said he They want MS to think Sc
and go ahead and prepare for EN-, ant
| then not a Pot Llcker come near our cele
bration That's their game We WASN'T
/ born yesterday not all Of us. The ide,
/ of boom at Pot Luck That's toe
/ good. >"
And so things went on, the Gaper.
max ing preparations for their usua
crowd only, while Pot Luck strained it
| self to add men enough To its population
! to "eat the Gap out of house and home,
as Ike Bledsoe put It,
Two days before the Fourth Jake Toh
mers boys, Fritz and Jake junior wen
| fishing far up the creek toward Pot Lucl
1 ~
| element.
"Dad," said the breathless Fritz, dash
ing into his fathers grocery, 1.-THE Pc
fuckers are goin to bu st our Fourth wild
open.
! eco long, you young rascal said hi
father. what you tryin to play on YOU
old dad now? They amt goin to cele
brate at all up there"
That Just it, dad. and say, tn
woods is plumb fun OF men up that wa,
meier saw such droves OF EN-, an me AZ
.Jakcv heard 'em talkin an they re- ever
one of EN- goin to march down on IL
Fourth Of July mornin an eat an drin,
| up evervthine in sight, run all the Gaper
OF the dnncir floor an off the groun's a
lust par'lyze us gen rally. Them's tn
very words they said amt they, .Jakey:"
A great light suddenly flashed upon tn
! mind of Jake senior Not waiting to hca
Fritz news confirmed he spread "A bi
sheet of wrapping paper on his counter
hastily penciled a call for "A meeting tina
night not only of the Fourth of July com
mittce. bur all good citizens of the Gan
and tackled it IN outside his door.
Jakc's grocery store wouldn't begin +
hold the Gamers who answered the call
and the publlc pulse ran so high that
seemed nothing but bloodshed could result
Some Of the more impetuous Gamers wer
for arming every man and going to NEE
the Pot fuckers half way This was give
IN as too hazardous. Pot Iuckers wer
known to be fighters to a man and woul
doubtless greatly outnumbcr the Gapers
Others suggested moving to a grove
( dozan p,ilns down tina river aarlv in III