The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-08-02
3 r T. "A R
q, d a y

WnGA EEHAQkA 1GSRRG11 OeAS $500
gray November morning the camp was
wrapped in silence. Far away to the
east streak OF gold heraldcd the com
ing day.
The giant pines stood grim and black
against the sky. and the little group of
log shelters seemed timid pygmles
nesting beneath Thorn for protection.
There wan a touch OF frost in the air
which set the mans teeth cbattering.
He picked up his gun and strobe blSsk-
~ through the underbrush toward the
little pond some rods back of the camp.
1t was an ideal morning for black
ducks, and unless he was vastly mis-
taken, he told himself, there should be
quite flock of them padding about
the pond. he jammed a shell into Ell
Their bnrrel of the gun, and, swapping
the breeeh shut, he began to move eau
tiously through the woods. carefully
avoiding the broken twiGs lest the noise
of his footsteps should alarm his
quarry.
The last few yards between the camp
and the pond he covered on his hands
and knees, creeping silently forward
and pausing now ana then to peer
through the half light and listen In
tently.
When finally he reached the pond the
band of gold along the eastern horizon
had widened, and the light was consid-
erably stronger. There were the ducks,
lust as he had expected. In the mid
die Of the pond was large flock, while
close ut hand a dozen black figures lay
quietly on the surface Of the water.
Very cautiously he raised the gun,
took a long, cool aim at the nearest
birds and pulled the right barrel To
his unbounded amazement not a bird
rose from the nearest group. The large
flock in the middle Of the pond rose
with a great tapping Of wings and
hoarse croaks Of alarm. he fred at
them with the left barrel, but the dis
lance was too great for the shot to in
dict any apparent damage on the re-
treating flock.
he jumped to his feet and stood
staring at the dozen black dots still
motlonless on the water. To his inf
mite chagrin, he discovered that those
twelve motionless figures were canvas
decoys, two of them with gaping sides
where his shot had told. He had vast
ed his ammunition on the decoys, whilo
the ducks themselves had flown away
unframed.
AS he turned disgustedly from the
pond a peal of merry laughter echoed
from the underbrush. BE made his
way toward the sound and beheld Miss
CuyIer seated on the ground, q gun
across her knees and tears Of nerri-
ment streaming down her face. Pres
ton stared at her In amazed helpless
ness.
''You here?r he muttered lncredulous-
ly.
The girl held her sides.
ST made an early start for black
ducks, too" she explained, "and while
was waiting for. TIE dock to come In
nearer you came stalking along and
and She went into another spasm
of merriment. ''I GOMEZ Saw-and,
oh, I heardg' she gasped, breathleSs
from laughter.
You heard?" Preston said in dis
may. ''I didn't really intend to say
that. 1t slipped out before thought"
IT see," she said mockingly. you'd
better get the punt and fish out those
damaged decOys, or the story Of your
adventure may get around"
Preston turned to her questioningly.
AREN'T you going to tell the story to
the camp?'' he asked.
NO" she said smIlingly.
He looked at her with undlsguised
relief.
You are CFunPE ~ saAO GU
phatically.
She laughed lightly.
$50 long as I'VE frightened all the
ducks out of the vicinity with my can
nonadIng suppose we may as we'll go
back to camp for breakfast" he sug-
gested.
He helped her to her feet, and they
trudged back through the underbrush.
Preston noted that she was doubly
pretty with her short skirt and shoot
ing jacket and the frosty air bringing
out the color in her checks. And OF
course he told himself bitterly, 1t must
needs be before her of all women In
the world that he had made an idiot OF
himself.
Halfway back to camp the girl turn
ed to him irnpulsively.
I'm going to make a confession" she
said.
first rays of the sun were lighting the
tree tops.
lyon didn't blow holes In both those
decoys," she said st fixed the 6rst
one just as you did an hour before you
came. 1t was very dark then. you
see" she added by way of extenuation.
''You took a shot at the decoys, tooF"
he cried.
She nodded slowly.
"You are very generous to tell me
that" he said, with considerable
warmth.
'Its only fair to ten you," she said,
and then added: "You looked so funny,
and it would make such a beautiful