West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-11-28

use TO roam the country and brave the
guerrillns In search OF native birds to
grace the Thanksgiving board. Jake
knew better. He scented game nearer
home
One OF the characters at brigade head
quarters was an unenlistcd attnche who
In small way acted as purveyor for the
headquarters mess. The officers were al.
why's rendy 10 pay handsomely for any
special dclicacy he could provide. He was
foreigner, more greedy than cute and
the occasion of no little amusement for
the officers and men. On one OF his trips
north In the summer he brought back
three or four young turkeys to raise on
speculation. When the army Travelled
the coop was strapped behind a baggage
wagon or In pinch on the back OF a
mule which the thrifty fellow had picked
up outside the lines
Jake and the purveyor whose sur.
name, Small. was an exact definition of
his stnture and character. were cronles
FOR revenue only. Jake often gathered n
surplus on his raids, and Small relieved
him OF II At mutual profit. BY the
use OF hattery thickly laid On the bum
mer acquired prospective interest In the
yeuDg turkeys. II was a great scheme
he snid, and he would help II out hy
giving points on the care OF the birds un-
I'll killing time With one OF the little
turks he struck up an acquaintance. and
IL was soon known rs Jnke's pct. Every
attention OF the kind and every word OF
praise for his long medicines ticlSlcd
Small, whom the officers affected to toll
crate In camp.
November was upon us we'll into the
second week. Corn was plenty In our
camps at Falmouth, and the birds were
growing fat. Jake was on hand daily
to feed his pet from his own hand. Sun
day found him putting In his leisure al
Smalls quarters, where the turkeys were
under the eyes OF The stable guards. At
sundown, when giving his pet the even
Ing feed, he said TO Small:
Here's bad sign. See his staggcrY"
why, he has done Tint before"
so much the worse noticed it. bur
didn't want TO scare you. The bird has
the blind staggers.'
That's a horse disease"
Turkeys get II, too; them from Mary
land. where you got these"
DO they>dic from 1t like horscsT' ask
ed Small in alarm.
Yes. and what Is more Il il catching
with turkeys. You may lose the lott
"Then I'd better kill this one and save
tht rest
mo, don't do that here. The scent Of
the blood will infect the others. When II
Is dark. let me take him in bag and tic
a stone 70 1t and sink him in the river.
Meanwhile you move the rest of this
ground to the other side OF the stables"
Jake took the pet 20 the river and tied
stone to IL. But the stone had a long
tethcr string and was not thrown into the
river. but anchored in cave hidden
among the trees and vines along shore.
The corn which he fed libcrully was
thrown on the ground, and, being fire.
from whisky, the ''staggers" at once dis.
appeared. A party of amazed fellow
6ummers were entertained I'm the cave Oh
Thanksgiving day, and there was a ban
quet at headquarters on the turks which
Jake's good Offices bad saved for the oc-
casion. or course Small said nothing
then Of the singers" for fear OF spoil.
Ing his long looked for profit. One turkey
had MP and died" suddenly. that vaa all