The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-28
PROFITS FROM OFFERS.

beach to be found anywhere on the Pa
cific coast of the United States is the
wide expanse of spotlesS and glitter1nS
sand which lies between Gray's harbor
and the Quiniault river. There may be
seen an unbroken area of twenty miles
in length, and at low tide from three to
five miles in width, which would make a
moonlight playing ground for the hours
There are many tower-like structures
each Which si1a excite the curiosity of the
many coast line steamers plying between
San Francisco and northern ports IheSe
are the towers or shooting boxes Of sea
otter hunters They are built OF tai,
slender poles, generally four IN nuInper,
sunk to great depth and fixed securely
in the sand and surrounded by small
box covered with a roof to protect It's oc-
cupants from the burning sun Cleats
securely fastened to the poles from bot
The hot sun which blazes fercely on
this wide expanse of white sand during
the months of July and August heats 1t
almost to q burning point and the waters
of the incoming tide, rolling and curling
over this hot sand. become deliciously
warm. This is the playing ground of the
sea otter. the place where they come to
They have their homes in the far off
rocky Islands, where there are no SAND
and deep, and come here like people to a
watering place, to spend the summer eI
this warm water in a perfect ecstasy Of
delight. They leap and play about in
beautiful skins by hugging the sandy bot
tom and allowing the ocean swells to
drive and throw them about as they will.
Although offers have the tiInid1ty
which is natural to all wild animals, they
are better able to protect themselves than
any of the other animals which have
their homes in the sea. The swiftness of
them easily to catch any kind of small
fish, and thus they can appease their hum
ger with the daintiest of food
No shark can catch them; they could
be twenty feet away while Mr.. Shark was
turning on his back, and if the shark
were directly beneath them they could
throw themselves 1--WE feet in the air like
ster was swapping his jaws The hunter
is in his box, the tide is coming in. and
practiced eye he eagerly scans the COM
ing roller. He has been here every day
touched by his side. Today something
All at once he starts and mutters a
will soon know what it is, for the swells
are coming swiftly and the distance be-
tween h1mSelf and the OBJECT he has seen
viii be quickly lessened- Yes, there it is
again; there is no mistake. 1t is an otter,
not more than 500 yards away. The hun
ter lays down his glass and there is $500
$500 worth of beautiful, shining fur
plainly visible to the naked eye.
The man in the tower picks up his
Sharp's rifle, inserts a 120-grain cartridge
in the chamber, and there is a wicked
wistful CLEAN in the keen eye of the
hunter he raises his weapon for the
a report, which is scarcely distinguish
able in the roaring of the breakers to the
no object and with lightning rapidity he
loads and fires his piece. The otter will
not be, more than ten feet away from
trigger when he gets there, and that
hunfer ean mt mt af 99p a da{ deer at goo
is enjoying himself in the dangerous COM
pany of murderous bullets, which are do
ing their best to find him.
Another huge breaker brings him within
200 yards of the blazing rifle A quick
rms he hmm for
half round; there is an unnatural splash
which tells the man something has hap
glass to see there is blood in the water,
and this tells him that there is a big
hole somewhere in that $500.
No need to shot again; no otter could
bleed like that and not be washed ashore.
there will be no more offers in sight to-
day. He sees his game almost opposite
the shore That skin is his and its pos
session means that he will have every
thing he wants for another year if he
does not fire a single shot.
The fierce CLEAN of desire has left his
session. He is wild with joy. How he
wishes he could get down from that tower
pc throWn up on the sand. but he must
wait until the tide falls little. One OF
old. is moping lazily along. the beach: his
quick eye detects something Like a
frightened wolf he leaps over the sand
and is soon beside the dead otter.
With yell of delight he flies toward
the Snanty on the DUH to tell his mother
and the half dozen or so other little half
breeds what has happened, and they all
come trooping down the beach as fast as
their legs can carry them.
The tide is going out now and the blood
of the otter stains the sand which has
lured him to destruction, and the ebbing
ripples tenderly caress for the last time
the pretty animal which has been their
playmate all its life. and the sea will
moan for the free-born thing which has
always had a. home in its bosom.
Some way another the news spreads
quickly and other hunters and crowds Of
Siwashes come trooping toward the dead
otter from all directions.
VIII Wadsworth was in the city this
afternoon visiting his parents He left
for Lawrence where 1.-THE Prisoner of
Zenda'' the company he is with plays