Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-01-14

the air turning 1t over and catching It
squarely in the pan. Just a simple turn
of the wrist. Of course 1t was dead
easy and we found ourselves wondering
why it was not practiced through the
country, but come to think prosiac peo-
pie of the east had not learned many of
the bright things and short cuts taken
by the plainsmen of the West-and this
was one of them. Well, the next step
was to mix the pancake batter. Harry
soon had sack of -four open and enough
out to make bushel of cakes. This we
reduced about one-half
The dilemma that confronted US now
was how to mix that batter. OF course
each of us knew exactly how mother
mixed it and there was no doibt about
it being the only proper way. But our
dear old mothers differed 80 extremely
in their formula for mixing batter that
it was poser for the time being to find
common ground upon which we could
meet and amicably adjust this fine point.
AS this was our first disagreement and
we were to be companions in many try
ing times, each was willing to give in to
quite an extent, providing it did not re-
fleet too much upon mothers manner of
mixing batter. The formula finally
agreed upon was, lard, one pint; water,
one pint; salt to taste; baking powder
according to directions on box and -four
sufficient to make thin batter. Accord
ingly the batter was soon made and q
sufficient quantity placed in the pan.
1t fell to my lot to make the first trial.
Of course it was easy enough, but If
Harry would just 60 into the wagon for
something or look the other way for a
moment, but he was determined to see
just wherein 1 failed, so he could make
clean job of it. Well, as nearly as l
could judge the thing was ready to turn,
but for some unaccountable reason it had
not raised particle. In fact it was
even smaller than when it was first put
in the pan. Perhaps it was the kind of
batter that would raise after it was
turned over and with this consoling hope
loosed it from the pan, gave it a couple
of preparatory tosses and launched it
into the air. The wind was blowing
steadily and as the cake raised and took
the turn the wind caught it and the fabby
object darted off as if jerked away by
some spiteful, invisible hand. 1 had no
notion of letting the elusive morsel
escape in this way without at least max
ing an attempt at capturing it and as it
darted away shot the pan out after it.
In doing so, caught my foot against
that of Harry's and fell across the fire.
In making this dive also knocked the
coffee-pot over but caught part of the
cake. AS the coffee-pot was new and the
lid fit tight it did not come off and but
little coffee was spilled. But the pro-
voking laugh from Harry, reminded me
that had nearly made failure in turn
ing my first "Slap-jack".
Harry was extremely anxious to prove
his superior skill as an artist in this
kind of work and lost no time in placing
a good quantity of batter in the pan
which he held over the fire, with smile
of confidence that would have done
honor to a frst-class artist. But as the
time approached to make the final turn
the confident complacent expression on
his weazened face changing to one of
doubt and anxiety, but he finally grasped
the handle of the pan with both hands
and with good toss shot the leathery
Slap-jack into the air. 1t rose at least a
couple of feet and as it took the turn
the wind shot it out over the fire, while
Harry stood there holding out his pan
as if fully expecting the truant cake to
return in due time to its proper place.
To say that Harry was terribly cha.
grinned, would be putting it very light
ly. He realized that was quietly en-
Ijoying his discontinue as he had mine.
But he soon turned to me with serious
OoolOu duu III llS NOlCc Ludl
one would think almost contained teal
said, "Dave, knew there was not enough
grease in these cakes" We bad both
profted by our experience in trying tc
turn cakes in the wind and after this
stopped in the shelter of the wagon
where we became, as we thought, quite
expert. -Jl
| We did not pitch our tent or make {
regular bed as it was little late; and
to be honest about it, we knew less about
putting up tent than we did abou
making cakes. Consequently each stored
himself away in the wagon as best ht
could. We had come out here to get a
little experience in roughing it and we
we're determined to meet all conditions
without a murmur, but at times l coulc
not Danish the thought of coy room a
home with its soft feather bed. scram
bled out in good season in the mornin.
and aroused Harry. He was doubled uI
on some sacks and boxes and crawl lee
out with limp, but declared it was ia
ahead of his old clearinghouse, ant
that he had slept nicely.
ITO be Continued
i JUNCTION JINGLES.
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