Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-01-05

udO0 u "uOle 1Ot VI u4Ouey. nc UuOcI.
took to put on a great deal Of style then
had his house fixed over and sent to
New Orleans and got French chef,
and the first entertainment was a big
possum supper to q lot Of his cronies
from New Orleans. You just ought to
hear the colonel tell about it.
''That Frenchman didn't know how
to cook possums, and he brought them
in roasted and swimming in cream
gravy with lot of chopped vegetables
all over 'em, a In something or other.
The colonel called him to the dining
room and asked him about it. Then the
colonel got so mad at his dinner being
ruined he grabbed big fat possum by
the hind legs from the dish and slam
med the chef over the head with it and
ran him down the front steps trying to
hit him again.
The colonel said he agreed to pay
that chef a hundred dollars a month,
but any cook who couldn't fix a possum
right wasn't worth two bits year. He
sent the chef back on the next boat
and sent for Aunt Venus, Uncle Jeff's
wife, and she cooked the possums next
day."
Uncle JEFF stood chuckling.
Il wuz dar. Yo' jes' oughter seed dat
Frenchy bounce down dem steps. He
wuz fat, an de colonel he wuz fat too,
a-makin' lick at i'm wild every jump
wild dat possum all smeared over wild
cream gravy! he wuz de maddest wife
man ever seed. De guests ain quit
latin twell yit. I reckon. Hit shore wuz
funny"
IAN right, have your way about the
frost, Uncle Jeff," conceded Tom.
"Only want to help catch a possum
and eat it If it is cooked right
"Now OATS de way ter talk. Yo'
leave de huntin' ter me en- Unk' Rube,
an de cookin' ter Mis- Venus, en- all
we axes yo' boys is ter furnish de ap
pertites en- don founder yo'se'fs."
I'VE can furnish the appetites all
right" assured Joe.
"Well right after supper yo' all put
on yo' ole clo'es, en- me en- Rube'll git
de dawgs en- de res Of de f1xin's."
Joe stayed to supper, and about half
past Z Uncle JEFF sounded his horn as
he came up the front drive. accompa-
MED by four yelping dogs. Uncle Rube
came from the rear Of the house carry
ing in one hand light, sharp az and a
lantern in the other. Slung across his
back and that of Uncle JEFF were bun
dies Of very rich "fat" pine cut in
splints about the size Of finger and
about four feet long. Each carried an
empty sack wrapped about the cord
that held the pine splints.
what are those pine sticks for?' in
quired Tom.
Torches" answered Joe, who was
an old hand at the game. Take four
or five Of those long splinters, hold
them together In your hand and light
the other end and it makes the best
sort Of nght-harder the wind blows
the brighter It GETS"
"Whar we better go, Unk' Rube?'' in
quired Uncle Jen.
II spec we stand a better chance
over in dat big ole feel by de creek.
Dey's some simmonses lef' on de trees
yit down dar. I come thoo dar yes
tiddy and seed whar possums been
feedin'. Den dey's plenty black haws
down In de bottoms en- choke berries
en- red haws too. Dey's plenty~er feed.
en- T bets we gits or posSum er so"
"Au right, lead on, les be. going
somewhere" said Joe, with 1mpatlence.
Uncle JEFF sounded his horn. The dogs
leaped joyfully with frantic yelps and
sprang ahead.
The party cut through the stable lot,
down through the lower pasture and up
the long slope Of the hill where the old
field lay on the other side. They walk
ed single file into the mysterious night,
Rube with the lantern leading. then
the boys. and Uncle JEFF bringing up
the rear. As they reached the crest Of
the hill they stood still few moments
while the dogs ranged in front Of them.
Directly one Of the dogs broke into cry,
Joined by the others shortly.
"Uh, huh! Hear dat? Done struck er
trail erready!" exclaimed Uncle JEFF in
triumph.
"Hot trail, too," observed Uncle
Rube. Wen git dat ole possum in or
mighty few minutes"
The dogs were making the silent
woods ring with their musical notes as
the two men whooped encouragement.
The trail led directly down the long
slope and into the sweet gum fats near
the creek.
MAXIM fer de swamp" said Uncle
JEFF. There was q pause in the trailing
cry Of the dogs, and the long drawn
out notes gave place to short, excited
yelps.
'"Treed, by granny-treed already!
Come on!' called Rube, striking trot
in the direction Of the dogs and yelling
encouragement to them so they would
not desert the quarry and take up an.
other trail.
Dancing about the base Of tall, slim
sweet gum tree were the four dogs,
Jumping up with forefeet on tho trunk
and baying in frenzy Of excitement
"Dar he-dar he!' cried JEFF In Joy,
peering up in the darkness. 'Way up
in de top. See inn"
Tom could merely see IN indistinct
blur against the starlight through the
bare branches.
II guess SO. l see something!'
"Climb or cut?' inquired Uncle RUDE,
unslinging his bundle of splinters and
making two torches, which he lit and
gave the boys to hold. As the fat pine
sputtered and dared the light disclosed
two pin points Of green light shining
from the dark object.
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