The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-21
THE WESTERNERS
BY STEWART EDWARD WHITE.
Copyrighted by Mcclure, Phillips & Co.
CONTINUED from Last Sundays News)
NN

THE EATING OF THE APPLE.
One morning Molly found herself
awakened very early by the sound of
whistling just outside. She opened her
eyes to discover Peter, who had occu-
pied one end of the wagon, sitting.
head and ears up, listening to the same
sound. The whistling was young, tune
less. Finally she peered through the
crack in the canvas.
Outside, on the wagon tongue. sat
the Kid patiently waiting, his little
rife across his knees, one bare foot
digging away at the dust. his lips
puckered to cheerful sibilance, his wide
gray eyes turning every once in awhile
to the canvas cover of the schooner.
He discovered Molly looking out. The
whistle abruptly stopped.
Come on out, Molly" said he. Il
ben waiting for you a long time
My. it's so awful early!" ydwned
Molly. What do you want to do?'
I'm going to take you hunting, ="
confided the Kid. We perhaps can
get a squirrel down the gulch or per-
haps a cotton-tail. Come on; hurry
up'
Why amt dressed yet" objected
Molly.
We'll, dress!" said the Kid. impa-
tiehtly.
By this time she was we'll awake.
and the glorious morning was getting
into her lungs. Her eye disappeared.
and in a few minutes she emerged
fully clothed. The Kid looked her over.
~ amt going that way?' he asked,
incredulously.
Course not You wait till l come
back"
She stepped down on the whiffietree.
her heavy waving hair falling in masses
of curls and crinkles over her Shout
ders
oh, Lord" cried the Kid. patheti-
cally. In the entrance stood Peter, his
head on one side. Molly laughed.
Il thought I'd got rid of him." COM
planned the Kid, and here he isl"
Never mind" said Molly, soothing
ly. Il can make him stand around.
Come here, Peter!"
AT the pool of the lower creek Molly
knelt, turning back the sleeves from
her white arms, loosening the dress
from about her round young throat.
After a little she leaned back against
the MOSES and piled the strands of her
hair, watching the interested Kid with
shining eyes.
My, but you're purity" he cried.
She nodded to him, laughing.
They took their way down the gulch.
walking soberly in the road, while Pc
ter skirmished unrestrained among the
possibilities of the thickets at either
hand In the judgment of the Kid,
this was too near town for the best
hunting. The Kid talked.
you never been down here, have
you2''
No replied Molly, i've always
been up in the hills, you know; it's
more fun, 1 think. Do you think we Il
find anything down here near the
road?"
Not just yet; but after we get by
Bugchaser's-Say, you've never seen
Bugchaser's. then, have your"
No" laughed the girl, Il should
think no. What in the world is Bug
chaser?"
1T isn't a what it's a him. He's
and a bobcat. I'd like to go up an see
'em, but I'm scairt of him"
is he dangerous" asked Molly.
Pop says he eats little boys. Hob!
that amt so. of course. But he's
crazy. you know"
What makes you think sou
He chases bugs with fishnet."
oh" cried Molly comprehendingly,
and began to laugh.
The Kid looked at her with offended
reproach.
We'll" he remarked. finally, you
can do what you want: but you betcher
life I'm keepin' away from him."
His eyes were wide with childish
wonder, strangely incongruous III this
solemn, lonely little creature with his
ways of early maturity and his ridicu-
lous cut-down clothes.
There, there" laughed Molly, sooth-
ingly. Il wonder what's up with Pc
teri"
Peter was barking like a bunch of
firecrackers.
Sounds exciting" said she. May
be it's squirrel up a tree. Let's
see.''
The Kid threw his rifle into the po-
sition of a most portentous ready, and
the two entered the bushes. Peter was
discovered, his hair bristling between
his shoulders. jumping eagerly around
some object which lay, invisible. on the
ground. He snapped with excitement.
The Kid ran forward with a shout.
Molly picked her skirts up and follow
ed with equal rapidity and consdera-
bly, more grace. They nearly ran over
large coiled rattlesnake.
The Kid yelled and leaped to one
side. Molly stopped stock still and ut
tered a piercing scream, after which
she climbed rapidly to the top of a
DeTCnSu,
her skirts daintily raised, her eyes
bright with excitement. Peter leaped
madly about. The Kid discharged
rapid, but Intellectual pea bullets at
the reptile.
Il imagine you need a little help"
said voice so unexpected that Molly
nearly fell from the rock. The Kid
gave one look at the newcomer and fled
with a howl of terror. "A most pc
culiar youth" observed Durand, re-
fectively. as he advanced Most pc
culiar-seemingly obsessed of an un-
warranted terror for my person
Strange, I have never acted in any
way brusquely toward him" He pick
ed up a stick, and, advancing with
out the slightest hesitation, killed the
whirring snake with a single blow
You may now descend" he assured
her, turning with exquisite grace to
offer his hand.
He led the way out to the road
Peter followed until within sight OF
the animals chained TO the posts. and
then he quietly disappeared in search
Of the Kid. This was not cowardice
on Peters part, but he had long since
tested by experiment the futility OF
challenging barks.
Molly had recognized the newcomer
from the KIDS description: and her