The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-18
THE EVENING STORY.
Break o, Day.


When Preston stepped out into the
gray November morning the camp was
/ wrapped in silence. Far away to the
east a streak of gold heralded the
coming day.
The giant pines stood grim and
black against the sky, and the little
group OF log shelters seemed timid
/ pygH11es nesting beneath them for
protection. There was a touch of frost
| IN the air which set the mans teeth
ehattering- He picked up his gun and
strobe brlskly 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 a flock Of them padding about
the pond. He Jammed a shell into
either barrel of the gun, and. swapping
the breech shut, he began to move
cautiously through the woods, care
| fully 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 for
ward and pausipg now and then to
peer through the half light and listen
! intently.
When finally he reached the pond
/ the band of gold along the eastern
horizon had widened, and the light
was considerably stronger. There We're
the ducks, lust as he had expected.
/ In the middle of the pond was a large
/ flock, while close at hand a dozen
black figures lay quietly on the sur
| face of the water.
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
4 large flock in the middle of the pond
4 rose with a great tapping of wings
and hoarse croaks of alarm. He fired
at them with the left barrel, but the
distance was too great for the shot
to inf1ict any apparent damage on the
retreating flock.
He jumped to his feet and stood
staring at the dozen black dots still
motionless 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
wasted his ammunition on the decoys,
while the ducks themselves had flown
away unframed.
AS he turned disgustedly from the
pond a peal of merry laughter echoed
from the underbrush. He made his
way toward the sound and beheld Miss
! CuyIer seated on the ground, a gun
/ across her knees and tears of merri-
ment streaming down her face. Pres
ton stared at her in amazed helpless
you here?" he muttered incredu-
/ lousy.
The girl held her sides.
Il made an early start for black
ducks, too" she explained, "and while
was waiting for the flock to come in
/ nearer you came stalking along and
| and She went into another spasm
of merriment. Il came-I saw-and,
oh, 1 heardi'' she gasped. breathless
You heard?h' Preston said in dismay
/ Il didn't really intend to say that. 1t
slipped out before I thought"
L 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 snilingly.
/ He looked at her with undisguised re-
you are a trump" he said emphat-
ieally.
80 long as I've frightened all the
ducks out Of the vicinity with my can
nonading I suppose we may as well 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
course he told himself bitterly, it 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 impulsively.
I'm going to make a confession, she
said.
They passed under a tall pine. The
first rays of the sun were lighting the
you didn't blow holes in both those
/ decoys." she said. I fixed the first
one Just as you did an hour before you
came It was very dark then, you
see" she added by way of extenuation
You took a shot at the decoys, too!'
The cried.
she nodded slowly.
you are very generous to tell me
that he said, with considerable
ITS only fair to tell you. she said,
and then added: You looked so funny,
and it would make such beautiful
story to tell the camp. Now you have
will hold my tongue in check.
Preston looked at her gratefully.
"I'lI tell you what let's do" he said
suddenly. Lets pool our secrets"
Our duck secrets2" she asked
| "AI our secrets he said taking hel
/ hand and drawing her to him. Let's
establish a community Of interests
for two"
The girls glance dropped.
Tiff YOU think best'-she began
"J do" he declared earnestly. Now
wen go back to camp and announce it
It will make almost as good a story as
the one they will never hear"
HARRISON SMITH.
(Copvright 1905, by T. c. McClure.)
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR
TFrom the New York Press.l
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