Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-11

and at last came pudging back with a
broad smile between her big gold ear
rings.
And she always knew whether to
give or refuse credit. All sorts Of
queer accounts had she-scattered all
over the countryside.
Uncle Charette was a very silent
partner of the firm. He used to tell
the priest that he had tried and tried
to induce Aunt Charette to give up the
business of selling liquor. Still Uncle
Charette had discovered years before
that he would not have to go into the
woods winters any more; that there
was always spare change for him to
buy his tobacco; that he was never
asked to earn any money for the gro
ceries. Twice a year Aunt Charette
purchased new wool trousers of Cana
dian gray. AS for his 1ong-tailed 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
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
Cbarette declared that it helped his
rheumatism.
When the officers came riding up
to the door on a big sled drawn by
two horses and ran in without knock
ing, Aunt Charette clung 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, and we've got to take
what stuff you've got on the premi-
ses. I suppose it's all in the leanto,
as usual"
When the discovery is made in
prohibition Maine that there is Ii
quOr selling in a community the local
deputy is usually well 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, m'sieu,
yo' can't do nottains lax dat. l 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
Il hain't got anything to do with
that" said the deputy. I've got
search warrant, and I'm ordered to
search and seize"
He ducked past and started for the
leanto. Aunt Charette, her keys jang-
ling, her hands appraised, her tongue
flying like a 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
20 seconds exposure and there wasn't
a smooch on the negative.
'FAh, offeecaire! offeecaire!" she
walled, "dat be just de little sup of
brandy for poor M'sieur Charette, dat
dere man dat set dere. Dom tax dat"
Uncle Charette, putting at his pipe,
only blinked an extra time or two.
"Eef yo' ta' dat, offeecaire, wat dat
poor man do for hees 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 'ocal
trial justice the next forenoon at 9.
At 8 o'clock Uncle Charete eased her
down out of the old-fashiOned chaise on
to the platform before the Justices Of
flee 1t was a slow and tedious job, for
Aunt Charette's avoirdupOis s disposed
in most unwieldy fashion. She was ar
rayed in her best black dress. Uncle
! Charette-this being a state OCCASION
| had on his Iong-tailed 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