Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-18
DAILY SHORT STORY
BREAK o'DAY.

east d streak of gold heraIded the COM
| ing day.
The giant pines stood grim and black
against the sky, and the little group or
log shelters seemed timid pygmies
Nesting beneath them for protection.
There was a touch OF frost in the air
which set the mans teeth chatterlng
He picked up his gun and strobe brisk
" 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. ne told himself. there should be
quite a 1Ock OF them padding about
the pond He damned a shell into Ell
Their barrel of the gun. and, swapping
the breech shut he began TO move eau
tiousIy 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 and 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 cQnsid-
erabIy stronger. There were the ducks,
Just as he had expected. In the mid
die of the pond was "a large flock. while
close a 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 bird
rose from the nearest group. The large
flock in the middle of the pond rose
with great tapping OF wings and
bOarse croaks of alarm. He fired at
them with the left barrel. but the dis
lance was TOO great for the shot TO in
fict any apparent damage on the re
trea ting flock.
He jumped to his feet and stood
staring at the dozen black dots still
motionIess 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, while
the ducks themselves had flown away
unframed.
As he turned disgustedIy from the
pond a peal Of merry laughter echoed
from the underbrush. He made his
way toward the sound and beheld Miss
Cuyler 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
ness
You here?" he muttered incredulOus-
Iy.
The girl held her sides.
Il made an early start for black
ducks, too" she explained, land 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, heard" she Asped, breathless
from laughter.
You heard:' Preston said in dis
may. Il didn't really intend to say
that. II slipped out before | thought"
Il 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 70 tell the story to
the camp" he asked
mo" she said smilingly.
He looked at her with undisguised
relief.
You are trump he said en-
phatically
She laughed lightly.
80 long as I've frightened all the
In. 81 bn mi rr-{fI,
nonading | 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
out the color In her cheeks. And OF
course. he told himself bitterly, ii 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 impuIsively.
I'm going TO make a confession" she
said
They paused under a tall pine. The
first rays of the sun were lighting the
tree tops.
You didn't blow holes In both those
decOys." she said. Il fixed the first
one lust 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, too
he cried
She nodded slowly.
You sre very generous to tell me
that" he said, with considerable
warmth.
It's only fair TO tell you" she said.
and then added: You looked so funny,
and IL would make such a beautiful
story TO tell the camp. Now you have
story on me equally as good. That |
will hold my tongue In check"
Preston looked at her gratefully.
TN tell you what let's do" be said |
suddenly. Let's pool our secrets"
"Our duck secrets ?" she asked.