Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-06-29

notion was carried with applause that
shook cans Of tomatoes and boxes of sar-
dimes of Jake's 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.
Tae 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
Gap swarmed with people Of both sexes
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 Pacheco, while long
rows of tables 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.
A scene of equal hustle and activity,
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 tho
invading hosts.
"Pack your gsnsg OF course; every
man of us" said Ike Bledsoe in answer
to query as the column began TO form.
"Pm a peaceable citizen, and we amt
huntin fer trouble, but we may want to
fire n salute, you know. Leastwise the
woods is full Of bears. and we may be late
gettin home. / was treed by grizzly
once just because I'd left my gun to
home"
Bursts of laughter greeted Ike's ironic-
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 Lnck a motley army 500 strong
of almost every race and color under the
sun and headed by the flies and drums of
a strolling band of minstrels marched with
swinging stride down the winding road
between the solemn pines and redwoods
toward the Gap
The Gapers heard their coming miles
away and, forming as many couples as
there were ladies on the grounds, went
out to meet them with waving banners Of
welcome and a lively burst of music from
their own excellent band
The Pot Luckers heard the advancing
music with quaking hearts. That their
raid was anticipated upset even their
leaders, and only by heroic effort on their
part was the column kept In motion as the
Gapers drew near.
They're on TO our game, BILL" said
Ike Bledsoe, galloping up to his lieutenant
just as their own music wavered and came
to sudden stop. ride ahead and start
that music again and keep 1t goin II you
have TO shoot couple of drummers II
that stops, half this rabblem take 10 the
woods in no time. Come on, boys" no
shouted to tho faltering ranks, they're
comm to meet US. No flunkin now. I'm
peaceable man and don't want to hurt
nobody, but I'll plug the first man that
makes break to run"
Without stopping their music or break
ing the step of their guests the Gapers
'about faced" and escorted them to the
grounds, where the leaders were conduct
ed TO chairs en- the speakers stand with
their own committee. the rank and file to
desirable seats under banner inscribed.
"These Seats Reserved For Pot Luckers."
The embarrassment and chagrin OF the
Pot Luckers, which, as Ike Bledsoe after
ward declared, "made every man OF 'em