Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-01-22

bird accurately. Bud reached the edge
of the woods plunged in and had not
gone ten yards before he heard a
strange, rafting cry. He knew II from
the description he had heard lie went
In it's direction. In minute b. saw
Il great big scuttle round the hole OF a
beech. Buds heart jumped into his
throat. II was the first living ivory.
billed woodpecker he had ever seen.
The tree trunk was between him and
the bird. He rounded 1t cautiously.
The woodpecker left the tree with
cry. Buds shotgun went to his shoul.
der. There was report and the bird
wavered. Another report and the
woodpecker, flying another few yards,
tell limp to the ground behind some
bushes. Bud dashed forward with a
great hurrah in his heart. He reached
the spot where the bird had fallen. He
knew from the way II went down 1t
was dead-but where as II? Not a
leather could he find. To little drops
of blood stained the fallen leaves and
that was all. Bud searched for three
hours and then went home with a sor.
row in his heart such as he had not
known since his wife died.
The morning of that woodpecker cpl.
sode Bill Withers was skirting the
woods in the hope OF getting glimpse
Of Bessie. He had retriever dog with
him that was thrashing about in the
woods and fields by turns In the nerv-
out way that such dogs have when
their owners are not on hunting bent.
All at once the retriever burst from
the woods and dropped something at
his masters feet. Bill picked il up.
He knew II was an iyory.billed wood.
case at the capital in Jefferson City.
He knew of Bud Jackson's almost in.
sane desire to get hold of a Missouri
killed ivory bill. He had heard the
two shotgun reports that Immediately
preceded the bringing of the bird to
him by his retriever. He put two and
two together and smiled.
Everyone knows something OF the
mania of the true collector. The story
of the confirmed old bachelor who'got
married to sour.visaged old maid be.
cause she had china teacup that
would complete his set. unquestion.
ably Is true. The stamp collector
gives the tenth of his fortune to get a
Cancelled two-cent stamp that happens
to be OF color shade peculiar to IL.
self. The true bird collector is per.
haps more of an enthusiast than any
Of the others.
Bill Withers managed to get word
TO Bud Jackson that he would like to
meet him at the Debatable Ground the
next morning. Bud might come with
an armed escort II he chose. Bill would
have one. They met the next morn.
ing. Two mountaineers with rifles
were behind each party to the confer.
ence. Bill howled an invitation to
Bud to drop his gun and to come to the
center of the disputed land for a con.
ference. Bud agreed. They met.
Mr.. Jackson" said Bill Il want to
marry Bessie and she wants to marry
me- I'll tend to my old man. He's got
so he does pretty much as | say, and
he'll even shake hands with you"
None of your breed can have Bess,"
said Bud, sour'like.
But Bess wants me-"
you can't have her" This in a
growl, and the two men turned and
separated When he had gone about
three yards Bill Withers turned and
called out: Bud, look here"
Old Bud wheeled about. Bill was
standing there with one hand uplifted
and holding by one foot the finest. spec
linen of an ivory-billed woodpecker
that Bud had ever seen or heard Of
do you want it, Bud?" said Bill,
ITS in the flesh and I'll swear it's Mis-.
souri, killed"
Buds eyes popped His frame shook.
In his face was.a great joy
Bill" he said, and his voice trem.
bled. "Bess is yourn."-Edward B,
Clark in Chicago RecordHerald.
ca vou. uTo 4 AN eions 40 Al. NIL