Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-04-18


row, mayn't 1, mother? You know I'll
be fifteen next week, and you prom
| ised me a birthday treat" and AL
fred's dark eyes snapped in pleased
anticipation.
81 suppose 1 shall have to keep my
word" sighed poor, overworked Mrs.
Mullen. "But I'm afraid. There are
so many accidents"
"Pshaw! mother. Ed Gates amt
fourteen an he's had gun for over
a year. I've shot it lots, an l know
how"
"Well, well! Yes, you may have the
gun" Then as Alfred ran gleefully
to tell little Ray the good news, Mrs.
| Mullen turned to the bed where lay
| her paralyzed husband and added:
poor boy; it's the only birthday
pleasure he can have, with that mort
gage overdue and you fiat on your
back with a stroke"
'If grandpa hadn't been so odd"
said the weak-voiced invalid, 1--WE
might have plenty of everything now.
L GILL Set w llctI hS SNSI toulu Y
done with the money he received for
the back meadow" o.
ooh, Wen get along somehow" re-
piled Mrs. Mullen, cheerfully, as she
rearranged the pillows of her pa
tent.
That Easter Monday dawned bright
and clear. Alfred rose with the sun,
and outdid his record in the speed
with which he performed his morning
| duties.
"You are quite a soldier" said his
mother, with a smile, as the boy
shouldered the ancient smoOthbore.
And indeed he did look like hunter
| in his top boots, the hunting jacket
his sister Nell had improvised from an
old grain sack, and the big powder
horn and shot bag dangling at his
side.
''Dood-by! Well Diet a bear for AL
| fie's birthday" shouted Ray, as he fol-
lowed in the wake of his brother and
Hero to carry the surplus game.
This gun pears to take pretty
good load" said Alfred, as he rammed
down a generous handful of shot.
ED Gates never was half that full
when loaded. Guess it's because this
is an old-fashioned one"
Tramp tramp, they went through
the woods, until Rays short legs be-
| gan to wobble, and every log tempted
him to rest a while. Finally he plump
down upon one with the announce
ment:
"'Taint no use. Tan't go no farzer,
tall"
"All right" said Alfred. "WeIl
rest" They had not sat there long
before they heard an inquisitive
"Squa-squaw from tall beech tree.
ITS a fox squirrel" whispered AL
fred, crouching behind log.
Pretty soon Mr.. Foxy frisked down
the tree, where he was brought to a
standstill, clinging head downward,
| by Rays shrill voice:
There he ISL There he isv'
BOOM went the old gun, and in
spite of his tired legs, Ray made them
spin as he ran to pick up the dead
squirrel. Holding the poor victim by
the tail and shouting, you're a big
hunter, Alfred! You's killed him.
the boy suddenly noticed that the
sportsman was nowhere in view. He
toddled back to the log, where the
sight Of Alfred lying fiat on his back
brought tears to his eyes. "Oh, dear"
he cried, "you's shooted youse'f, too!
However will get homer
Alfred was rubbing his eyes in a
dazed way and asking, "What is it?
Where am I?' But the sight of Ray
and the squirrel quickly restored his
memory. 81 must of knocked that
tree over" he muttered, rubbing his
shoulder
Upon examination he was surprised
to find a piece of iron protruding
from that part of the tree peppered by
the shot.
"That's funny" he said, breaking it
off; and then he exclaimed "oh! ohF'
"Id rather be whipped" remarked
Sheriff Giles to his deputy, than t,
execute this foreclosure, an poor old
Mullen stiff in bed. You go, John, an
you can have the fees"
Thank you, but wouldn't do it for
q hundred dollars"
"The sooner a job Of this kind is
done the better" soliloquized Giles, as
he drove over to the Mullen home
1t was certainly a cruel thing to
have to do on Easter Monday but the
laws officers have no choice but to
execute the laws.
CHEEKY Nell was singing at her
work.
"We'l have a few cookies for tea
tomorrow, and that can of cherries"
she thought; then, if Aft should hap
pen to shoot a rabbit, Or Oh, how
de do, Mr.. Giles? Come right in."
''Thanky, miss. Ahem! Is your
| father at home"
why, to be sure he ISL" replied the
girl, in wide-eyed surprise, evidently
startled by the sheriff's unusually
! gruff voice. "You know he"
Never mind what / know. Busi-
ness is business. l must see him.
Nasty job mis-" he added to himself.
Hearing the mans voice, Mrs. Null
len appeared In the kitchen. At a
| glance the situation was revealed to
her, and she turned very pale.
"How de do?,' said Giles. "Tve got
to read this paper to Mullen. Where
| Is hep
Don't oh, don't. 1t will kill him,
weak as he is"
Hang it, woman, I must perform
'