The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-11-16
BUT NONE WANTED THE NM
Mystery ShrOuded the Trance.
OF : Country Fair F .I,,

Mystery Shrouded the Tr.n.
Of = conntry Fair Fak,. oa'
At the old settlers reunion Of M
Mo-, recently there was an ona. us
along the avenue Of booths thev 80" "i
the duck man." says the Kansas 1 ou
Star. The duck man. maninu,s.e NV
wheel with numbers running frons
to eight. Then there were nice sr. ons
little paddles numbered similari1r
cost 10 cents to hold a paddle w,u =
the wheel spun round; and wba mA,s
stopped, if your paddle had tba 49, II
Der at which the indicator pointed ~
got the duck. That is what tho -. wv
in front said. And live dnc,, su
there in a small cage, where eyervhos
could see 1t.
The law of the land is not into,..
ant when 1t comes to giving souvon,a
as prizes for skill and especially wha'
meek, domesticated bird is tho oa.. a
ing. Prosecuting Attorney Dunbo.
came up from Macon to make snooas
and to shake hands with his constis.
ents. While here, of course, be viawas
the elephant. They told him ovo,r
thing was nice and orderly and tbs.
1t would be waste Of good time 70,
any one to try to sell gold bricks =,
that crowd.
The prosecutor casually promenade
by the spangled man who swallowod
swords, glanced at the beautiful snail.
charmer, the Albino queen from 81
Louis and the wild man from Kans.,
City. But he hesitated before tbo
duck man." who appeared to be nros.
pering. He saw eight hungry men nut
up 10 cents apiece for the chance at ,
duck dinner. But the winner, after ,
few whispered words with the duck
man." went away without his duck
Still he didn't appear mad about Il
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 its
cage. The third winner he accosted.
wouldn't he let you have your
duck p he asked.
The man grinned.
what the blue blazes dye s'pose i
want wild bloomin' dock fer to be
luggin' round wherever l goes forw
"Well, what's it to you If you don't
get your duck?"
Jaw, nawthin'; jlst chanst ter blow
meself; it wearies me ter carry 30
much coin in me pockets"
The prosecutor bought paddle and
adversely came. He tried it again
with ditto result. Next time he hit
the bull's-eye.
IF you'd rather have the money
here's half-dollar," said the dealer.
why, that's gambling!" gasped the
attorney. F..
"Well, then, take your duck"
The prosecutor sent an officer to ar.
rest the duck man." who made this
explanation to the justice:
I'VE wasn't playing for anything but
ducks. Early this morning I sent
around to every farmhouse in these
parts and bought up all the ducks they
had, but even then we run short, and
so had to tell the boys that won that
I'd give 'em half a dollar apiece as Sc
curity till we got another supply OF
ducks. Well have some more In the
morning and then they'll come and get
the ducks and hand the money back"
A policeman deposed that ducks were
worth 1871 cents apiece hereabouts and
that the duck mans" solitary bird had
been on duty the whole week. The DE-
PENDANT paid a fine of $25 and quite
bit in costs, but the court told him ne
would remit the fine If the winners
came back after their ducks.