Graham guardian., 1911-12-29
HE SHOT "A BEAR
Strange Story Involving .
'Possum, Related by
Mr.. De Grimm

1t was freezing cold and ! was
hurrying home TO get next to the
CRATE and enjoy its welcome warmth
when | was accosted by an elderly
man, who seemed strangely familiar,
yet he said nothing, was perfectly
quiet, after greeting me with
Hello, Plea! Merry Christmas.
The voice sounded like that Of my
old friend De Grimm. and q second
look convinced me that the dear old
man. whom had not seen for years,
was standing before me.
We'll, well, i cannot tell you
how glad I am to see you again, Mr..
De Grimm. Where have you been
and when did you arrive in Safford?'
why. Plea. old friend. ! came in
last evening. | am stopping with
: my old friend, Wiley Jones, for few a
.<6ays before return to Culiacan,
%where have settled on a ranch and
lived the past seven years. ! am SO
glad to see you. Plea. often
sthought Of you during these years
Aof absence from my native land"
a well, Mr.. De Grimm, you are
boxing we'll, never better. sup
pse YOU are still a philosopher
Yes, the human race still inter-
ests me to such a degree that re-
tain my habit, like DR.. Platt, Of
diagnozing the men and women |
meet; not to find out their aches or
pains, just to realize their little
troubles. their joys and superstitions.
! will always be interested in the
human family"
Yes, | believe that, Mr.. De
Grimm. / don't doubt but that
you have something interesting to
relate Of human frailties, perhaps?'
Well, that is so, Plea, listen:
Funny SO many strange things hap
pen at midnight, seemingly in ac-
cordance with the belief Of most
people, always little superstitious,
you know: that at that hour the de-
parted spirits have little vacation
and return to earth to, stretch their
limbs, or mayhap throw scare into
some belated and hilarious individ-
ual, who has been imbibing the
fluid that makes you feel good. es-
pecially these cold mornings, and
how strangely true this is Of Stafford
at this time of snow and frozen
pipes. the harvest time for Rogge
and Haralson. the town plumbers.
~WelI, as ! was saying, things
happen at midnight that are so
queer and fiesh-creeping. that our
innate superstition gets the best OF
ualand we are afraid, we fear the
Unknown. But to my story, it was
this way;
Several nights ago. just about
twelve, when the lights in Patsy's
place went out, and Billy Robertson
and Tom Wanslee were vending
their way home, a terrible noise was
heard in the chicken house Of dear
friend Of mine. who lives above the
canal several blocks south of the
Bank Of Stafford.
The noise sounded like some i'm.
mense beast tearing around in a
fury, and the chickens. including
the roosters. were screaming with
fright. My friend awoke as in a
dream and called to his wife: Dear,
/ do believe someone or something
has got into our chicken house, and
i can see our Christmas dinner get
ting away from us.
You had better get up and save
it. urged his faithful better half.
Go, Immediately, and see what it is.' !
He arose hastily. for he has al
ways been an ohedient husband.
Jumping into his clothes and pulling
on his boots, be beat it for the
chicken house, Cautiously opening
the door, he saw sight that froze
his blood in terror 1.-THE night was
cold, tool, and he drew back fear
ful that the horrible shape would
+, spring upon him.
"Slamming the door, he ran back
to the house and exclaimed to bis
wife, in excited tones: MY dear,
there is a great big grizzly bear in
our chicken house. 1t must be ten
\ feet high and very ferocious. 1t
has eat up nearly all the chickens and
4 it will soon come to the house. We
must do something at once. /,
might devour the boys, or you, dear
wife. Let US arm ourselves and
protect our lives
Grabbing his shot gun, my friend
neryed up to do heroic acts, crepl
from the house and followed the
trail leading to the chicken house
where all was strangely quiet
Reaching the door, he slowly opened
il. being careful to make no noise
All at once a grea. black paw
smote him across the shoulders, ant
as he staggered back. the though
of saving his dear ones became up
permost in his mind. and as the beal
advanced upon him, he pulled th'
trigger and everything became
blank.
When he returned to conscious
ness the first thing he saw was III.