The Badger Chase

      Mobeetie, Texas, the 1930's : Otto Bruce came upon a Badger, caught in a steel trap, down some sandy path. Since Cefus (Claude Enos) usually caught skunks in traps to sell the fur skins, Bruce decided to claim the badger's skin for possible sale. $$$. Bruce managed to free the chain's anchor point, and proceeded to lead the aggravated animal on a path toward the house. Hopping and jumping to avoid those snapping jaws, Bruce was about blue in the face. In those days everyone called him "Preacher". It seems that a bunch of folks were working in the cotton patch and there happened to be a minister among them. Well, Otto Bruce noticed that the pant-leg of the Preacher's over-alls had a hole,  maybe up close to a hip pocket. Bruce found a straw or plant stem and proceeded to tickle the Preacher's person through the hole. When the other's witnessed this prank, Otto Bruce was known thereafter as "PREACHER"

by Claude Morgan

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