The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-16

The pine logs blAzed and cracked, the
tree tops sighed In the winter wind and
the dove oooed Its good night song.
Around the log fire sat half dozen hun
ters, orunching with very evident salts
from the Louisiana and Texas border mad
got hold of a camping outfit and man
10 look after the plumber.
Thus tricked out We had left the pa
ternal roof, bound to our Louisiana lakes
for two weeks duck hunt. It was our
man Of all work. our Mascot in whom
the champers. Doc, the Mascot, was u
good workman, one OF the best ever
saw. Whitel Yes, white as any OF Us.
And as for his manners and lingo, they
left us on the shady side OF the fence.
We could never get Doc to touch a
gun. l was certain he was good shot.
i found that out one day when we were
out hunting One Of the boys, Allison
by name, sprang into the lake TO get q
bird he had vowed TO catoh. As he was
leaning over for the duck an alligator
bobbed up behind hun, prepared 10 take
"a bite out of his leg Loo was the only
one who witnessed the alligator's arrival
on the scene.
With no seconds hesitation he snatcned
my rifle and hardly raising IL TO his
shoulder shot the alligator within three
inches OF our friends leg.
We congratulated Doc-said it WAS a
better shot than any one OF the crowd
could have made-but he passed 1t OIL
coolly, claiming IL AS an accident. We
grew to like the quiet fellow, but even
on our last day wa did not know any
more aoout him. lie was simply Doc.
We had been lying around the campfire
telling hunters yarns eaoh trying to
outlie the otner I did not mean that
for pun), when the ducks were handed
around. After We had GOT to our cigars
j remarked:
say. Doc. try your hand The fellows
are coming Munchausen. Can't you give
us decent lie, one that We can kinder
believer
boo was staring at the fire. He was
always looking into the fire with those
gray, calm eyes OF his. The breezy in
dignation at my words calmed on his un-
expected reply:
II cannot tell you lie, but I'll try the
other" A minutes silence. and then:
Perhaps some of you have heard or
Charley Devine, the young fellow who
lived on the border of Louisiana and
Texas and was reported good shot.
Allison answered: "Why, yes. I've
heard nv cousin speak of him--a royal
good fellow, plenty Of vim, plenty OF 20,
the best shot in the country and "A friend
worth having believe he was mixed up
some way with my cousin 8 death. L was
at college ana never heard the straight Of
the story.
4 moments pause and Doc oontinued
II knew Devine. He was good sort OF
fellow. aud you re right about his being
"a crack shot, more's the pity. AS for
friendship do you boys understand the
meaning Of the term? A mutual love for
"a girl is a test which very few friendships
can stand. To wiring the hand which has
taxen from life its chief incentive with
wa rm friendly grasp requires strength
OF character Of which few men ore cap.
able. Charley Devine was one OF the few.
This friend Of his was your cousin. Mr..
Allison.
both boys were fond of sport and both
belonged to a gun club of which Charley
was the crack shot. One season the tur-
key hunting had been especially fiue.
Devine had made an appointment with
his friend Sexton TO 60 early one morning
Oh a hunt. But when the latter stopped
for Deyine he refused TO 60, pleading ILL
pess rs an excuse for laziness.
Sexton not willing to lose the days
hunt. set out aiono for the woods. Half
an hour later Devine. unable TO get to
sleep, flung on his clothes, took his rifle
and started in search OF Sexton. For an
hour or more Charley trsmped around
the woods to no purpose His game Dag
Gas empty, nor had he even seon bird.
Clearly out OF humof, Devine was about
To tramp home when at some distance he
heard turkeys cry. He answered il
with his cat call You boys know how
the thing Is done. Well. he kept up this
game for awhile, the turkey iliDg him
and ne returning the call. Tney were
creeping toward each other the man and
his game. Deyine grew tired. and, after
seeing some dark object move the bushes.
lifted his rifle and tired. Almost instan-
taneously with his shot another report
and a human cry rang oat on tho morn
ing ar--a sound of crashing twigs and a
low groan not ten feet from Devine. He
dropped his gun ard spraDg forward.
Before him stretched on the ground lay
Sexton. Instantly on the sound OF the
two reports the poys had realized what
had happened. Tney had beer calling
TO one another. Dsvino lifted his friends
head iu his arms and tried to stanoh the
blood Ihe sun was beginning TO spread
its first rosy light under the branches OF
the gum and oak. Sexton smiled family
and whispered 1t was the wrong tur-
key. WIS 1t noty I'm GLAD you shot
ilrst. There. Cnad, old fellow. uon't do
that. laying his hand ON the Others
bowed head. 1t doesn't hurt 80 awfully
much. Then he tainted
1.-Two hours later Dsvine's friend was
dead That's all, believe
0oc had told his story simply; no n ote
of change in the even monotonY of mis-
voice.
Yet for oil that the silence was ,ntensa.
Nor did any oue speak Immediately.
Each one was working oat the problem
for him self and seemed half prepared for
what followed. Then Allison asked rs
he threw a chip on the blazing pine,
"What became CT DovineY'
'Deviueg On,sl believe he went to the
bad" Another silence.
How DO you know this of DsvineY'
Questioned. Doc rose from his sittpg
posture, stretching his hands to the fire.