Tilda and the Gangster 5

Last year was our first suckering day, having moved into the area in March of that year. While we were on the way home from Miss Trudy's we happened upon a strange sight. Bertie and Joe, our faithful Morgans, were plodding along with the buggy behind. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we were savoring the memories of all that had transpired. I recalled the silly girls who screeched when when the most handsome boys chased them with a large wet sucker. Henry kept intruding upon my musings with his own adventures of suckering day. And Papa was breathing deeply and sighing as he does when all is right with the world.

Suddenly, the air was filled with a rattly huffing noise coming from around the bend ahead. We were just passing Hausfeld's woods heading west. Since the road ahead curved to the north, we could hear but not see the source of this awful racket.

Papa pulled our buggy off to the side and kept a firm hold on the Morgans' reigns. I got the impression Papa had a pretty good idea what was coming around the bend. I, myself, suspected what we'd see.  As we waited and the sound grew louder yet, Henry was hard pressed to keep still. He really, really wanted to see what it was. Soon enough, after one especially loud cough and sputter, around the bend came an automobile.

I had seen autos occasionally in Muenster, but Henry had been too young when we left to have a keen memory of them. He was jumping and hollering from his buggy seat. Papa was trying to settle him and I myself sat spellbound. But it wasn't the auto that held me rapt; it was the occupants of the vehicle. Both men were very sharply dressed and quite handsome.

The driver of the automobile pulled to a stop next to our buggy. "Good Evening, good sir. Would you be able to direct me to Warroad? We seem to have gotten off the beaten track."

"Yessir, I could certainly tell you the way. But it's quite a long drive yet, even in your fancy transport.   You'll be awfully late arriving. You're better off spending the night at our place. It's just a few miles ahead. We aren't a fancy establishment, but it's a lonesome area you have to pass through. The country up that way is only thinly settled. Not many folks likely to be out to give you a hand should you have any trouble along the way."

"We'd be much obliged to you for putting us up. I think you'll find us well-paying guests."

"No payment necessary. Just follow along behind the buggy. The Morgan's will lead the way. Bertie, Joe, giddup."

Well if Henry was excited before, he was doubly so now. Imagine an automobile in our very yard!  I was still intrigued by the handsome strangers. That ride home from Hausfeld's corner had never taken so long.

I knew, however, having been the lady of the house for so many years already, that I had to pull my concentration back to the task at hand. These men were certainly too high class to get a blanket in the haymow. Henry and I would have to sleep there. I'd have to freshen up Papa and Henry's big bed for the gentlemen. Papa would have to sleep in mine. Thank goodness we had been given an extra set of sheets when Mr. Quinle passed away last winter.

And supper! What did I have on hand that I could serve to such fancy guests? I thought I had a jar of peaches tucked away. There was cheese in the cellar and I could have Papa cut some ham from the smokehouse. I had a few soft potatoes that I saved back last week when I put the potatoes in the ground for the coming summer. If I boiled them and served them with butter and the last of the remaining dried herbs from last summer, that would have to be good enough. It was too early to have any fresh greens or other vegetables on hand.

When I looked up from my planning, Bertie and Joe were just pulling the buggy into our yard.

"Henry, you take care of the horses," Papa reminded. I could tell Henry wanted to get a good look at that car, but it would have to wait. First things first. I winked at him by way of encouragement and then I scurried off to get started on my tasks.

When I had the beds changed and the supper on the table, I found Papa and the men visiting on the front porch. Our front porch faced south, so it was a pleasant temperature early in the year. We had a porch swing which I had begged Papa to build after seeing one in the Sears Roebuck catalog. And we had two wooden rockers. It was not extravagant, but it was my favorite spot on our property. It pleased me to see such fine gentlemen relaxing amidst our simple things.

Henry was with the men, and he was not antsy. I assumed he'd had opportunity for a good look at their auto.

"Tilda, I'd like you to meet Mr. Karpis and Mr. Barker from down St. Paul way."

"Pleased to meet you, sirs. Supper is ready. If you'll come to the dining room, I'll get the food on."

By this time I was nervous as could be about the country fare I laid out. But after seeing the gentlemen take such pleasure in our front porch, I was somewhat reassured. After Papa said the grace, and I saw Mr. Karpis and Mr. Barker tuck into the supper, I was even more comforted. I would have thought they hadn't had a decent meal in weeks. They complimented me profusely and I felt my head swell with pride. I know I oughtn't to feel such pride, but it is somewhat gratifying to give others pleasure with the work of my hands.

Tilda and the Gangster 4

Fred carefully laid out a square of mackintosh before kneeling down to his work. He struggled a bit with the process, but changing a tire was all a part of the age of the automobile. Except in the cities, the roads in those days were not much more than muddy tracks. A car jounced and slid around terribly and a flat tire was an expected part of any road trip.

After the battle with the tire and all its parts was finished, Fred put his tools away and was just folding up his mackintosh when he heard the approach of a horse drawn conveyance of some kind. But above the sound of the approaching vehicle, he heard the most awful crooning he'd ever heard.

Silvy, Silvy, all on one day,
She dressed herself in man's array,
A sword and pistol all by her side,
To meet her true love she did ride.

The noise was awful!

She met her true love all in the plain,
'Stand and deliver, kind sir,' she said,
'Stand and deliver, kind sir,' said she,
Or else this moment you shall die.'

"I might want to die," thought Fred.

Soon the rig came into view. Fred recognized Alvin seated beside a woman of somewhat advanced age. She was driving a farm wagon pulled by a bay and a piebald and singing her old woman heart out. If one could call it singing, that is. The cackling and croaking noises were certainly not in any way melodic.

"Fred, my friend, this is the Mrs. Josiah Higgins," Alvin had to shout to be heard. "She has graciously offered us her home for the night or for as long as we desire to stay."

The said Mrs. Higgins finally stopped her verse as Fred turned to introduce her.

"Mrs. Higgins, ma'am, is my long time friend, Fred. Fred is somewhat apprehensive of becoming beholden to others," Alvin offered as explanation. "I will have to briefly discuss your hospitable offer with him."

"Well, don't take all day about it. I'm itching to have a ride in that auto of yours before it gets dark."

After a short discussion, the men decided to stay the night with Mrs. Higgins. It was a decision they would come to regret. But for now, Alvin eagerly hopped back into the wagon with their hostess. He had taken a fancy to her eccentricities. They continued a short distance past the DeSoto until Mrs. Higgins found a spot wide enough to turn the wagon around easily.

Just as Mrs. Higgins had maneuvered the wagon toward home, Fred fired up the DeSoto. Mrs. Higgins' faithful team jumped and jerked and pulled the wagon into the field along the road. The bay pulled one way and the piebald the other, each snorting and bucking and kicking. Even so, they somehow managed to drag the wagon substantial distance across the greening fields with Alvin and Mrs. Higgins clinging to the seat for dear life.

Eventually the horses wore themselves out of their panic. Mrs. Higgins got down and whispered her own peculiar brand of sweet nothings in their ears. They were soon calm enough for her to climb back aboard and steer them toward home.

Mrs. Higgins did not miss the opportunity to serenade the company once again.

I'll take you home again, Kathleen
Across the ocean wild and wide
To where your heart has ever been
Since you were first my bonnie bride.

After listening to Mrs. Higgins' latest selection, Fred mumbled under his breath, "And starting the car scared the horses? Would somebody please explain that to me?"


"Man, oh, man, I thought we'd never get rid of them, Miss Trudy." Oskar sighed. "We've got lots of work ahead of us if we want to be ready for our next guests."

Tall and lean Oskar Carlson was Miss Trudy's neighbor. He was always on hand to help out when she needed a man around the place. But they also shared another, more nefarious hobby. Oskar helped Miss Trudy operate her still, deep in the woods between her barn and the Fish River.

"Oskar, we've plenty of our product ready for the gentlemen to sample. If they want more, they will know where to find us. I am quite certain that ours is the finest product of the sort in Minnesota's northwoods.