Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-20


which he Rld t%Aen A. this last year
and it had proved q most congenial
study. Next year he was TO enter the
university with view TO the ultimate
study of medicine, but in the mean
time, SO fond had he become OF this
department OF nature, that most of
the time he was found wandering in
the woods of Birka in search OF rare
MOSES and other plants.
John todd had never forgiven Alec's
frolc with the SOW and seeing the lad
proving about the woods as he uroVe
home In his cart, and concluding he
was there for no good, he made it his
business TO interview the gamekeeper
SO that he might have an eye on This
young poacher For what else could
he be doing there in the early morning
hours; or silently emerging from the
dusk Of Tie woods III the gloamins@
He was coming home through the
wood one afternoon with his hands full
OF rare specimens he had found when,
in the long grass through which he
waded, he heard a rustling and faint
peculiar cry, and, investigating, saw a
poor hare caught in trap, evidently
set by some poaCher In moment he
threw down the plants and STOPPING
with the greatest difficulty succeeded
in liberating the poor struggling ami
NAL, whose leg was broken in the
trap Before he could rise to his rect
again there was rush and crack
ling of twigs behind him and strong
hand seized him by the coat collar.
"Catched in the Gerry act" cried y
voice in triumph, and, turning, Alec
recognized the red aad triumphant
visage of the Birka gamekecper.
In the act of what?' demanded
Alec, trying to shake off the iron grip
on his collar as he rose to his feet.
lis II a crime to liherate poor harm
less hare from trap like that"
"A bonny story If | hadna come
on you the moo yed suue liberated The
hare 1t would haze filled your
mithers pail pat fine, I've nae doot."
Let me go" said Alec, in a voice of
repressed anger.
Ma Ma! | never let go baud o
poacher," Chuckled the man
Let me go, say. You know per
fectly well | am no poacher. If You
don't ii will be the worse for you!"
ma! Ma! Wen ava up to the big
hoose first" laughed the man, with
provoking coolness.
once more, will you let me go?"
demanded Alec, with eyes flashing
omnously and face flushed scarlet.
Cant you believe my word?"
Yer wordr' sneered the man. Il
woudna believe yc on your oath.
We're naething but a lazy vagabone.
trailin' ABBOTT doin' naething but
roa in and S,calin' when ither folk
are workin'.'
Alec was blazing and jerking vainly.
IF you don't let so hold of my coat
I'll blacken your eyes for you and give
you the biggest humping ever you
got in your life"
"Try't--" leercd the man, but the
word had scarcely escaped him when,
cleverly slipping the sleeves of his
coat, Alec turned and presently all the
stars in the armament seemed to dance
before the astounded man He as
saycd to return the blows which rained
thick and fast on him everywhere, but
he struck bindly into the air; he
could not see for pain and fury.
Alec picked up his coat and walked
away, forgetful of his plants
gamekceper swearing and vowing
vengeance, He neither heard nor
needed him; the thought of what all
this outburst OF fury would cost had
taken all the anger out of him. Three
years ago, the last time he had been
before the justice, he had vowed that
neyermore should his mother be
kept his vow. But now the thought OF
her distress, the possibility of being
disgraced by Jail at the very outset
Of his career, was more than he coIld
bear.
His mother listened to his account
VI lIc ARRAY Win SURPRISING CdluHcSoi
but when he spoke of the possibility of
being sent to Jail she looked at him
with peculiar smile. mo, you wod't
go to Jail, Alec" she said, with quiet
firmness.
What's to prevent it, mother? That
rascally old gamekeeper will swear
anything against me and I've have
no friends-no witness TO prove the
truth of what | say"
I've shall see!" said his mother,
mysteriously.
In few hours later the village was
agog with the news that Alec Marin
had been summoned for assaulting the
gamekeeper in Blrka' woods, and next
morning the little court house was
filled with onlookers anxious to know
what Alec had been doing now. With
the gamekeeper there was but little
sympathy He was hard man and
had been heard TO express no little
contempt for the leniency displayed by
the laird to poachers
When Aecs name was called out
and he was led forward, to the cur