Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-10-31
BUT NONE WANTED THE DUCK
Mystery Shrouded the TransactIoI
of Country Fair Fnkir,

Mystery ShrOuded the TRANSACTION
OF n Country Fair Fnkir.
AT the old settlers reunion at Elms
Mo-, recently there was an operator
along the avenue Of booths they called
the duck man." says the Kansas City
Star. The duck man" manipulated a
wheel with numbers running from ono
to eight Then there were nice, smooth
little paddles numbered similarity. II
cost 10 cents to hold a paddle while
the wheel spun round; and when it
stopped, If your paddle had the num-
Der at which the indicator pointed, you
got the duck. That is what the sign
In front said. And live duck was
there In small cage, where everybody
could see it.
The law Of the land Is not intoler-
ant when it comes to giving souvenirs
as prizes for skill and especially when
a meek, domesticated bird is the offer
Ing. Prosecuting Attorney Durham
came up from Macon to make q speech
and to shake hands with his constitu-
ents. While here, Of course, he viewed
the elephant. They told him every
thing was nice and orderly and that
1t would be waste of good time for
any one to try to sell gold bricks to
that crowd.
The prosecutor casually promenaded
by the spangled man who swallowed
swords, glanced at the beautiful snake
charmer, the Albino queen from st.
Louis and the wild man from Kansas
City. But he hesitated before the
duck man." who appeared to be pros
pering. He saw eight hungry men put
up 10 cents apiece for the chance at
duck dinner. But the winner after a
few whispered words with the duck
man." went away without his duck
Still he didn't appear mad about it.
Another whirl of the wheel, and an
other lucky man left but without the |
feathered prize. Mr.. Durham was puz-
zled. Maybe the duck was glued to it's |
cage. The third winner he accosted
Wouldn't he let you have your
duck?" he asked
The man grinned.
what the blue blazes dye s'pose I
want wild bloomn' dook fer to be
luggin' round wherever l goes for?'
'Well, what's it to you if you don't
get your duck?''
Jaw, nawthin' jist a chanst ter blow
meself; it wearies me ter carry so
much coin in me pockets"
The prosecutor bought a paddle and
adversely came. He tried it again
With a ditto result. Next time he hit
he bull's-eye.
IF you'd rather have the money
lere's a half-dollar,' said the dealer.
why, that's gambling" gasped the
lttorney.
well, then, take your duck"
The prosecutor sent an officer to ar
est the duck man." who made this
xplanation to the justice:
1--WE wasn't playing for anything but
ucks. Early this morning l sent
round to every farmhouse in these
arts and bought up all the ducks they
ad, but even then we run short, and
0 l had to tell the boys that won that
d give 'em half a dollar apiece as Sc
urity till we got another supply Of
ucks. Well have some more in the
corning and then they'll come and get
le ducks and hand the money back"
A policeman depOsed that ducks were
orth 1919 cents apiece hereabouts and
lat the duck mans" solitary bird had
zen on duty the whole week. The de-
,ndant paid fine of SO and quite
t in costs, but the court told him he
oud remit the fine if the winners
me back after their ducks.