The Coconino sun., 1925-01-23

This pathetic letter from Jim
Rupe:
Dear Friend:
| have just had terrible exper-
ience and must tell you about it.
About week ago, at four o'clock in
the morning, my wife. poked me in
the ribs. When | awoke she told me
there was something after the chick
ems. AS a brave and responsible citl-
zen / went to investigate and believe
me, never again will / be brave if
ever | fully recover from the results
of this effort.
Just as | rounded the corner of the
chicken house | met little black and
white animal. With great presence
of mind | Immediately recognized it
as a skunk. | admit / was puzzled
for moment as to the proper pro-
cedure, but fortunately | remembered
conversation with my practical
neighbor regarding the nefarious crea-
lures. He said that if picked up by
the tail, these animals were perfectly
harmless. AS there seemed to be
nothing else to do, reached down,
x
lifted the little rascal from the
ground. Whether or not it could have
done anything is still matter of
doubt with me, but the fact remains
that it did not. 1t simply hung there
quietly. Having seized the animal |
found myself in a serious predicament.
| didn't want it and couldn't let go
without taking risks about which | did
not care to think. But in spite of this
grave outlook my great presence of
mind did not desert me. | called my
wife and had her procure a stout
string and tie it firmly about the ami
mails tail. She objected and predicted
disaster, but ignored her, feeling my
self to be master of the situation. |
then tied the string firmly to the
clothes line and, leaving it hanging
by the tail, hunted for club with
which to kill the creature.
My wife retired indoors as | ap-
preached the skunk. 1t Immediately
began to struggle wildly, as if divin-
ing my attentions. My first blow
missed completely, so / swung again,
hoping to finish the unpleasant bust
ness. My intentions were good, but
my aim poor. SIIuCh SlIllCI lto Csiil
or the string. The force of blow
jerked the intended victim loose. 1t
was purely an accident, but the
skunk did not SO interpret it. Almost
the instant it struck the ground, the
animal fulfilled it's well-known func-
tions. In the confusion, the skunk
escaped, but l do not feel that under
the circumstances / was to blame.
The clothes l had on were ruined
and my wife has locked me out of
the house since. She won't even put
out food for me unless | first retire
to the barn, where | have slept for
a week Do you think that fair?
When she married me she promised
to share all my joys and sorrows. |
have never noticed her passing up
any of the joys, but this particular
sorrow she has absolutely refused to
share. When | remind her of this
she admits readily enough such a
promise, but says there was nothing
said about sharing theSresults of my
stupidity in tackling a business |
knew nothing about. She even added
the gratuitous statement that in
town | was all right, but as a farmer
| was hopeless boob and showed no
signs of being anything else.
Very truly,
JAMES RUPE
P. S.-How long does it take this
smell to wear off? Is there anything
that will hasten it? | can't get close
enough to my neighbor since this hor-
rible affair to ask him. Ny wife even
says that this letter will have a bad
odor, but am sure you will not mind
that. J.R.
'Iet Us Helm The Yellow Jackets f"