Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-05-29
Short story
Of the DAY
AN IMPROBABLE ADVENTURE.

Lady Middleton in the Philadelphia
Times.
have been asked to write the story
of what certainly comes under the
category OF things unforeseen-lay
of things So over the borderland of the
probable as to verge on the limits of
the incredible And truly my readers
can judge for themselves as to whether
their widest nightmares ever depicted
a more unnatural adventure, taking
locale" and "personale" into consid-
Grafton.
A few months ago my pen would
have refused to act. my mind to repeat
the subject claiming its obedience. But
now that hope is ripening into assured
ness of recovery, and that she can bear
the matter even discussed in her pres
ence. l feel capable of putting the rec
ord into the form of a story, the adj
venture that nearly cost us--weIl, here
it is:
DO let's go for ride Marcia No
fun stewing in the house such a lovely
day.
oh, bother" was the civil reply
Nov do put those paints away; IA
ture is superior to art, and it's not too
hot for a good gaIlop."
This inducemcnt on the part of my
pretty young cousin, Elsie Camellaa,
succeeded, and I hade her order ne
horses while tidiod up my painting
materials
While Elsie was absent her father.
Lord Dun"&Na came huwicu1} into tho
room, io..-wed by his eldest .uu. Jan
Camellan.
They We're down at the further end
OF the long gallery, as it was callo,,
and at first ] only caught snatches OF
their conversation.
"A deuced bad Job, anyway" ended
Jan.
It's the eighth or tenth case" said
his father
More than that and Macphail can
i'll afford such loss; besides, Douglas
sheep were some of them only killed
and left, and still marketable as nut
ton; but these last were killed and
scattered, what was left of EN-: the
most part had been eaten"
Where were the remains found?"
inquired my uncle.
In the Rhynnie wood, at the far
end, near the loch-three miles at least
from the scene of the last gorging, and
five or six from where Dougal lost his
tups."
Here l interposed: More Of this
sheep worrying Uncle ARCHER"
yes, my dear. bad luck to it-and
what's worse, it's so inexplicable. OF
course, it's dogs-but how many. and
what dogs? A mack of famished
wolves couldn't have done more harm
in four days or so"
Yes" put in Jan; "if Gripper anc
Grasp (patting the two great boar
hounds that were his chief 10Y and
companions) ran 'amock' and did their
cussedest for week they might slay
but couldn't put away half the meat
that has disappeared since the FIRST
alarm last THURSDAY"
Well" said my lord. I've inquired
OF the factor and grieve as to what
dogs are in the neighborhood, and
there are no suspects; and you, Jan,
tell me keepers and shepherds are
utterly hafled. The question is. what's
to be done?"
Here l, who lad been washing my
brushes, generally putting away, gath
cred up the remains and went of to
dress, hearing JAMS latter words Of
I'll take Johnnie and a rife. with
Grasp and Gripper. and go of the way
of Rhynnie wood and see If we come
across a skulking cur Of any sort Who
might be one of the assassins."
And he left the room as ! did. but
by the lower end
In ten minutes Elsie and | passed to
the hall door where stood two OF he
prettiest steeds at the command Of any