The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-03-16
MYSTERIOUS CHICKEN THIEF.
. Dead Possum and the Appetiz-
isg Odor OF q stew.

Mr.. John w. Noble, of Bloomfield, ".
j., ably assisted by four women OF his
family and heartily applauded by inter-
csted neighbors, came out victor in a
joust with possum which took place
In his hencoop the other night.
One morning several weeks ago Mr..
Noble, who Is something OF a poultry
fancier. lost two OF his birds. The coll
orcd population of Bloomfield are hon
est, church-going people, and Mr.. Noble
merely shrugged his shoulders and re-
marked, philosophically Chickens
come home TO roost." But they didn't.
What's more, few days later a pet
bantam took mysterious leave of the
formerly happy hencoop. This time
Mr.. Noble merely scratched his head
and made silent resolution TO catch
the persistent thief, black or white.
quick or dead
For time the hencoop remained un-
molested, and Mr.. Noble began to think
the incident was closed. But the other
night things happened. His ten-year-
old son had gone TO bed, and he and the
three women members of his family
were sitting in the parlor- discussing
music and other things. Suddenly Mr..
Noble sat bolt upright and motioned
for silence. A long, ripping cackling
sound came from the back yard; then
few angry clucks, and finallya chorus
OF piercing shrieks that sounded like
whole poultry show in angry protest.
Mr.. Noble sprang from his chair and
darted for the cellar door. A moment
later he appeared with furnace poker
In his right hand.
Light" he said, with an air OF grim
determination. The chicken thief is
here. Bring lights" The women
glided from the room and appeared n
moment later bearing kerosene lamps.
Then, led by Mr.. Noble, poker in hand,
they passed through the kitchen door
out into the moonlight night and across
the yard to the hencoop. The screech-
ing had not abated.
Mr.. Noble cautiously opened the hen
house door and poked his head in.
"Wow!" sceamed one of the light
brigade as she caught sight OF the in
side Of the coop. Kill him! Kill the
horrid thing" The birds were screech-
ing and flying in all directions trying
10 escape a large and lively possum
which seemed to be in full possession.
The four OF the light brigade became
demoralized and beat hasty retreat
But Mr.. Noble, angered by the sight OF
the chicken thief, struck madly with
ka phaxxaI GVht
A second blow from the poker, how
ever, made him change his tactics and
he darted out the door and made direct
for the light brigade. This ELECTED
more screams and the cries OF Hep"
and 'Polce" brought the neighbors
running 10 their windows. For fully
IS minutes the possum kept things
lively, but Mr.. Noble. encouraged by
cheers from the windows, met his foe
at every turn. At last the end came,
and the possum, with few contemp-
tuous shifts in the direction OF the
light brigade, rolled over on his back
with all four feet pointing the same
way. But his fight had not been all
In vain, for when the battle-ground
was gone over two fine bantams were
found lifeless on the ground.
Next day the possum was placed on
exhibition in the front yard, and those
who viewed IL said IL was a buster.
"Why," remarked Mr.. Abe johnson,
one of Bloomfield's co,ored citizens. TO
his friend Bill Perry next day, EFF dat
possum weighs an ounce he weighs 20
poun's."
"Umph," said Berry, "doan talk like
DAT TO me, niggah. No possum cher
weighed 20 poun's. Yo' know wot hap
pened TO dat liah An'nias in de good
book? How dc angels rose up in all
deere wraf an smote him down. an gath
cred up de fragments, seb ben baskets
full? Well, doan' tell me dat possum
weighed 20 poun's."
Later in the day, however, when Mr..
Berry saw the possum for himself, he
changed his mind
az beg yoah pahdon, johnson, ] beg
yoah pahdon. II dat possum doan'
weigh 90 poun's, / reckon he comes so
powahful close dat you doan' get
smote"
Mr.. Noble was so impressed by the
admiration OF the negroes that he gave
them the prize. And that night as the
reporter was passing little white cot
iage on his way to the station he heard
the familiar strains OF
''Carvo dat possum,
Carve dat possum. chullun,
Carve dat possun.
Carve him TO dc heart"
And. perhaps IL was only imagina.
ton, but there seemed 20 be just the
faintest odor of possum stew.