Yeatman High School - Yeatman Life Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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I' ', ZI3'LZZlL 2p? ' Qlf-.L TIQQQQQ-'Q'l,li.Qj-.f'fff'. ..V 11 ..A '.-'- l1i1'3'1 ff.iT.T ...'. 155153 I5lLf..fQi'11L7-5 N' 5 i7Zilf'Iff. 3ZZ?'L''fii1 l'f'Z'M'f A , V l l f . f f ,...,.,.. ... V! X ,,,, .., !.,.. U. gf 7 W7 5 2A I ' A , f JS1 Z 'A'A iffgi f'A , . IN TI-IE OZARKS By WILSON YECK In the winter of 1921 and 1922, my bud- dy and I spent nine weeks in the Ozarks mountains of Missouri, in the heart of the Big Piney River district. We had com- pany down there, two real, honest to good- ness dogs. They were Airedales and Hght- ing fools. One's name was Ruby and the other's, Kaiser. He was a small, yellow dog with powerful fore legs and chest. He had a mouth large enough to hold a cocoa- nut. This dog could tree anything from a mouse to a mountain lion. Now, for Ruby. She was only two years old, while Kaiser was going on his seventh year. She was built like him, but was smaller. She could run like a streak of lightning. Could she fight? She could! There wasn't a coon or Varmint that roams the Ozarks that could whip that dog I am going to tell about the encounter Ruby had with a twenty-pound coon one night. It was, for a fact, the greatest Varmint fight I have ever seen. To begin with, it was on the night of the tenth of January that my buddy and I were planning for a real hunt. We had kept the dogs quiet all day to have them ready for an all-night run. We cooked our- selves alittle bit so that we could stand the long grind over the mountains. We roast- ed the dogs a rabbit to give them pep to stand the hard work, too. By this time, my other buddy had come down to go with us. He was a young farmer boy named Charley. After supper, we sat around and waited till it was time to start, for var- mints do not come out until it has become pretty dank. With plenty to talk about and a good fire to look into, time passes quickly, and soon it was eight o'clock. The dogs were getting restless and wanted to go. They knew that we were going hunting. Eight o'clock is a fine time to get out. The varmints stir only from then Page Sixry-Four until midnight. At that hour, they start back to their dens in bluffs or hollow trees. When the dogs tree them in their dens, there is no use to try to get those var- mints, because their dens run away back into the bluff. So, you see, it is better to get them coming from their dens than go- ing back to them. We filled the lantern with oil to be sure that we had enough to last us for the night. We put on our hunt- ing outfits and were ready to go. I had the pistol and the ax, Curley had the shotgun, and Charley had the lantern. We all took a chew of horseshoe for luck. Every time we took a chew, we had good luck. I said to the fellows, Boys, we're going to get something before we get to Wild Cat Hol- low. I hope so, said Curley. Sure enough, if we didn't kill an owl about fifty feet away from camp. We fol- lowed the river down for about two miles, long ones too. By this time, we were in the shadow of Wild Cat Bluff, the Hollow being just around the corner. We were kid- ding each other about getting something before we hit Wild Cat Hollow. The night was still and dark. The stars were shin- ing bright and high. All we could hear was the bark of a farmer's dog on a far-off farm, the hoot of an owl on the top of a large bluff , or the river as it roared over the huge rocks. Now and then we could hear the howl of a wolf on a far-off hillside. We crossed a fence which bordered a corn field. Here there was alarge coon using, as the hunters say. We had seen his tracks in the sand several times before while down that way The dogs were working like a clock, when all of a sudden old Kaiser let out, Ruby right behind him. Charley stopped with the lantern, Curley dropped the gun, and I stood like a statue.

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ff 2 1f,, A,V, , A.,A, , ly had receding gums. Upon inquiry I found that the person with the pronounced case of receding gums was none other than my room-mate, Harold Chase. Although it pained me to convict him, I could not let affection interfere with my manifest duty. The guilt of Mr. Chase was established without doubt when I asked him if he liked house-work. 'Can't say that I do, he said, but I prefer it infinitely to the work-housel' 'I We prophesy a great future in the sleuth- ing business for this brilliant young begin- ner. He is now a nationally famous figure, having risen to fame in thirty-six hours. You can imagine what happened when Hal saw the paper. Of course, he wanted to commit murder upon the spot, but Bob gently reminded him that 'fAll 's fair in love and warf' and in making bets. ' 'How about staging your little blowout tonight at the Ritz? Oh, boy, won't I or- der some food! I have to meet several re- Igorkters at the Ritz tonight, anyhow, said o . ,...,...,,,..a.,5 l ,, ,zz Q ,..,....,J Yes, just wait till the reporters get my story, Bob Dana! And wait till Professor Kilgary gets his hands on you! I'll prob- ably get the reward for the recovery of the mummy and you'll get ten years for steal- ing little Prince Elhaz. He who laughs last chuckles the loudest, my boy. 'fSayl said Bob, his face going white. You don 't really suppose they could arrest me, do you? Don't know about that, said Hal. 'tForty thousand is a lot of change to con- ceal in onels own roomfl Bob went to see Professor Kilgary that morning. The professor was not easily won over to the idea that the pilfering of Elhaz di Ghurgiz was a harmless, practical joke. However, after the interview, Bob came out smiling. He carried the message of the learned man's forgiveness. A cer- tain remark of the professor's, however, rung in his ears. t'Dana, he had said, You are a fine chap and I like you personally, but that does not in the least keep me from the de- cision that you are a perfect fool!'l 'txt NSW f 0 V' 6 -, Se-4 f1.f7Q'.5b g Page Sixfv- Three

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7' f ' f ::::mz'ffzi.,M-. -.,,,- 1.,': ,.', ' L'3:f.:, .,., '., Come on, boys. Itls that coon,', said Charley, as he started to run with the light. We followed close behind him. By this time, there were a growl, a whistle, and a few more growls and whistles. This time it was the old Coon We were after. We finally got to where the fight was, and sure enough there was the big coon and the two dogs were having it out with him. Kaiser rushed in and got his hold around the coon's neck. They rolled and fought a- round on the ground until Kaiser was tired. Then we took Kaiser off and turned in Ru- by. She made one dive and had the old coon by the neck. Over and over they went,, first one on top and then the other. Down the hill they tumbled. Still Ruby held ony she wouldn't let go. They fought - V 'iffy ,Z .. ..,.. . , .,,.. ...... ,,,.,.,. ,.-,,, ,..,.. ,.....,,..-M.. ..,., ...,...., ..... ,,......,.... , ,,,,,,,. .. ....,.,,....,,,,,,,J around at the bottom of the hill for a while until the old coon got loose. Up the hill he went Ruby right behind him. When he reached the top, he turned. He rose on his hind legs and made one dive for the dog. He got Ruby by the ear, and of all the howling and whining you ever heard, Ruby did it. He had Ruby going for a while, and down the hill they went a- gain. When they hit the bottom, Ruby was on top. She had her hold for good this time. The old coon was clawing and biting as hard as he could, but still Ruby wouldn't give up. She had him pinned to the ground. She was bearing her strong white teeth into his neck. He began to weaken, and soon he was stretched out on the ground, a dead Coon. iifiig MILADY'S COIFFEURS By ADDIE BEIMES Can't help criticizing them 'em. Wonder where they all come from, The hair styles seen around this place, The down fall of the human race. One day her hair is Hat and curlyg Next day it stands out big and bulky. Monday we think she's had it sheared. Tuesday it's long as Santa's beard. 5 A. M., a short pigtail, 10 A. M., big as a whale, 2 P. M., all frizzled out. 11 A. M., we begin to doubt Whether it is all her own, Except by right of purchase. Page Sixly-F116