The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-11

inquired as to the distance to the next
ranch. I answered that it was several
miles. still wondering what il all meant.
LOT L considered IL rather an unusual cir
cumstance to meet a young girl and a
big flock of turkeys i'm that lonely noun
tain region. She noticed that l was evil
IDENTIFY puzzled, and. smiling. relieved my
mental perturbation by informing me that
she was driving a flock of turkeys to San
Antonio, where she expected to sell them
or ship them TO some larger city.
Now, for the first time. il occurred to me
that had long ago heard that farmers in
early times i'm Missouri used to drive their
turkeys TO 81. Louis as they did their cat
Tie ana mules. l was now deeply interested
ana anxious to assist the young lady i'm
any way that l could, though / was fully
aware Of the fact that the girls of tho
IeNas frontier are amply able TO take
care or themselves. So far as this particu-
lar mountain belle was concerned il re-
CURED only cursory glance to convince
one that she was neither afraid OF beasts
nor bandits. bright Winchester swung
from her saddle within easy reach of her
hahd' and she managed the restless must
dhs alier the manner of trained cow
ooy' After moments reflection she in
formed me that she lived up on the head of
tDat
accompanied by her brother and another
young man, and that they were prepared
TO camp out but always preferred to stop
near some ranch. l told her that I in
tended TO camp myself, ana that. being
lamiilar with the road, / had selected The
ment NV
Well she said. IF you do not object
10 sharlhg your camping place with US,
"a IL.
IilS lot reply, she was off like a flash
and before l got my horse unbitched a
young lexan of rather pleasing appear
ahce came up with an ak on his shoulder
Lohowed by the van of the flock of birds
Ihey gathered about him, uttering their
low calls as it they knew that he was go
ing to do something for them.
Our BIRDS" he said, ARE very fat and
they are so tired l will have 10 fx them
place to roost."
While was wondering what he vas on
ing TO do he began to cut the bushes 60
mat ne could bend them over almost hort
zohtaliy. The birds were so thick about
MS Ieet that he could hardly move vithout
stepping on them, and they seemed 10
know exactly what he was doing and were
eager for him to finish the lob They
gathered about him, uttering their low
calls OF distress, and the moment that he
Deiit Oush over they would fly upon it in
such great numbers that many would be
crowded on. The big gobblers seemed TO
prefer TO secure positions in The branches
OF larger trees. There appeared 10 be no
end of the flock, for they were all coming
over the hill, and the moment thew heard
the sound of the ak they would turn their
heads to one side. and after listening for
an instant they would run to their master.
manifesting the greatest delight when
they discovered that the days journey was
ended.
The young girl, accompanied by her
orother, VINO was driving a light wagon,
came into camp laughing and chatting as
If they We're in the happiest frame of
mind. She had no sooner dismounted than
the birds showed their preference for her
care by gathering about her in great num-
bers. Several of them flew up on the
pony's back, while one succeeded in reach
ing the young girls shoulder She talked
to them as if she was sure that they I'M
derstood every word she said, and after she
had procured Ratchet they followed her
from place to place, while she assisted In
cutting down the bushes
After few moments the great flock was
restlessly occupying places on the roost.
though they watched their little mistress
very closely, and frequently two or three
of the birds would fly from their places
and run to her, uttering their low calls.
They would look up into her face, and
turn their heads to one side, as If they ex-
pected her to do something for them
They are all right now" she said, as
she stood looking at them in evident ad-
miratlon.
"They are so tame and seem to have so
much affection for you" said l, that 1t
certainly must distress you to part with
them"
"Oh, you have no idea," she said, chow
much it grieves me; but I have others at
home and doubtless will be able to raise
another flock next year"
There were 500 birds In the flock. aud
during the evening while talking with the
young men about the campfire l learned
that the young lady's name was Alice
Joyce, and that she had already made
quite a handsome little fortune raising
turkeys. Her brother laughingly told me
that she was known In the Western coun-
try as the Turkey Queen of the Gauda-
loupe. He said that she had been raising
200 or 300Nurkeys every year for the past
seven or eight years and that she got
"her start" as he put 1t. from a setting
of wild turkeys eggs that she found in the
woods THE BIRDS he added. ARE much
larger and the meat of better flavor than
the ordinary tame turkey" They certain
ly live in region of country which is the
natural home of the wild turkey, for l do
not believe there Is another spot on earth
where these birds are as abundant as they
were few years ago In the mountains
on the headwaters of the Gaudaloupes.
Even at this lime 1t is doubtful If there is
another locality in the United States where
big gobblers are more plentiful but from
the fact that the wild birds feed on cedar
berries, there are only certain seasons
when their flesh is fit for the table.
Chicago Markets.
Chicago, Jan. 1O.-A light speculative de-