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The old poacher

Ohiosam

*Supporting Member*
11,707
191
Mahoning Co.
It seems there was this notorious poacher, that lived in the woods not far from town, gorging himself on venison and ruffed grouse the year round, and was famed far and wide for his cunning and sagacity in avoiding the clutches of the law. But, when a new game warden was appointed for the area he soon heard about the Old Poachers wicked ways and vowed to apprehend him in short order.

And so one cold windlass night he snuck out to the Old Poachers cabin and hid a few hundred feet from the building, figuring he could follow the old reprobate on his early morning expedition and catch him litterally red handed. It wasn't until nearly 5:00 AM., that a light appeared in the cabin window, and shortly afterword the Old Poacher came out onto the porch in his long johns and hollered, "Warden, you'll catch your death of cold out there, c'mon in here and have a cup of hot coffee..!"

The warden, half frozenand totally baffled, went in and had a cup of coffee, but warned the old man that he was determined to cure him of his anti social attitudes and lawless habits. Reckoning the poacher had somehow got wind of his mplans he resolved to take no chances next time and a few weeks later, announced to his deputies and friends and even to his wife that he would be out of town visiting his mother in a distant city, he once again snuck out to the poachers cabin under the cover of inky darkness and lay in wait for the old man.

Again the light came on about 5:00 AM., and again shortly thereafter, the poacher appeared on the porch and bellowed," Warden, you must be plumb froze!!! Better git on in here and warm up!! the coffees b'iling." The warden blue with cold and black of mood, went in and had a cup of coffee.

Years later, hearing that the old man was on his death bed, the lawman went to see him.

"How in the name of sin did you know I was out there in the bushes??" he asked.

The old man chuckled, "Warden," he said, "I've been walking out on that porch and hollering like that for forty years..."