Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-08

dian gray. AS IOr MS 1Ong-ta1led coat
Uncle Charette seemed unable to wear
that out for the reason that most of
he time he went about in his shirt
sleeves.
And though Uncle Charette never
went out into the dark leanto, still on
a corner of the kitchen shelf stood a
little earthern jug that Aunt Charette
never allowed to be less than half full
of brandy. She had to pour some into
it from the key every day. Uncle
Charette declared that it helped his
rheumatism.
When the officers came riding up
to the door on big sled drawn by
two horses and ran in without knock
ing, Aunt Charette chung to the arms
of her chair
La bon Dieu! Wat ees eet?" she
cried.
"Aunt Charette, you've been COM
planned against" said the local depu-
ty sheriff, land we've got to take
what stuff you've got on the premi-
ses. suppose it's all in the leanto
as usual"
When the discovery is made in
prohibition Maine that there is Ii
quor selling in community the local
deputy is usually we'll acquainted
with the location of all the liquor de-
posits.
''W'at!" screamed Aunt Charette,
but in sorrow, not in anger. "Wat!
TAX ma leetel stock? Why, msieu,
yo' can't do nottains lax dat. geet
ma pairmeet from dat man-w'at
YOU call heem, de county attornee.
Here-here-here it be- and with
trembling hand she poked under the
deputy's nose the receipt showing
that she had paid fine at the last
term of court. She insisted that it
was a permit to sell liquor. Aunt
Charette believed that it was
81 haint got anything to do with
that" said the deputy. 1--WE got a
search warrant, and I'm ordered to
search and seize"
He ducked past and started for the
leanto. Aunt Charette, her keys jang-
11A51 AC1 up1 O10Ou, .ACl GOuS uC
flying like shuttle, followed on his
heels. Uncle Charette sat wholly silent
in a corner. The only sign of emotion
he displayed was to blink every 80 Sec
onds. So absolutely impressive was he
that I, unseen, took his photograph in
a 20 seconds exposure and there wasn't
a smooch on the negative.
"Ah, offeecaire! offeecaire!" she
walled, "dat be just de little sup of
brandy for poor M'sieur Charette, dat
dere man dat set dere. Don tax dat"
Uncle Charette, putting at his pipe,
only blinked an extra time or two.
"Eef yo' ia dat, offeecaire, wat dat
poor man do for bees dreenk tomorrow
mornin'? Please leave dat" The Off
Ger could appreciate the situation. He
left it.
Aunt Charete stood at the door until
the teams disappeared in the dusk far
down the street.
A rough inventory at the storehouse
that evening indicated that Aunt Cha
rete had 500 worth of liquor in stock.
The officers left word that Aunt Cha
rette must be at the office of the local
trial jusu1ce the next forenoon at 9.
At 8 o'clock Uncle Charete eased her
down out of the o1d-fashioned chaise on
to the platform before the Justices of
flee. 1t was slow and tedious job, for
Aunt Charette's avoirdupois is disposed
in most unwie1dy fashion. She was ar
rayed in her best black dress. Uncle
Charette- being state occasion
had on his long-tai1ed black coat. The
faces of both pere perfectly expression
less Evidently Aunt Charette had ex-
hausted all her emotion the Afternoon
before
They sat side by side in the Justices
office mute, never moving, never turn
ing their heads while all the other
asses of seizure were disposed of.
1t had been a wholesale raid through
the village. All the men and women
who had been raided owed money to
Aunt Charette. All gave bonds to ap-
pear at the higher court. All went
away.
'Well, Mrs. Charette," said the JUS
tice, "you are charged with single sale,
with nuisance and with keeping tip
ping shop. Have you any lawyer here
or any defense to put up?"
To the surprise of all Uncle Charette,
who had been all these years the silent
partner in this firm, was the one to
speak.
"she have no lawyer" said he; "she
have nottins to say"
well, I shall have to impose fines
amounting to about $500 on her." said
the Justice Aunt Charette gasped-
that was all. Uncle Charette said moth
ing.
''You appeal, don't you" asked the
justice. ''You know you can appeal
and give bonds, and then your wife
10 - 80: 01e