Evening journal., 1905-05-22
B r E A X. 4
o. d A y
Tcopyright. 1905. by T. c. Mcclure

nesting hcneulu lntm IoI protection. !
There was a touch Of frost in the air
which set the mans teeth chattering.
He picked up his gun and strobe brisk
ly through the underbrush toward the
little pond some rods back Of the camp
It 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. lie jammed a shell into Ell
ther barrel Of the gun, and, swapping
the breech 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 pauslng 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 wldened, and the light was consld-
erably stronger There were the ducks,
Just as he had expected. In the mid
die Of the pond was a large flock, while
close at hand a dozen black figures lay
quietly on the surface Of the water.
Very cautiously he raised the gun,
took a long. ceol aim at the nearest
birds and pulled the right barrel. o
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
tance was too great for the shot to in
hict any apparent damage on the re-
treating 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 vast
ed his ammunition on the decoys, while
the ducks themselves had flown away
unharmed
As lie NuNnEu uNrEnnANNAN AAWAA AAAt
pond a peal OF merry laughter echoed
from the underbrush. He made bis
way toward the sound and beheld Miss
Cuyler seated on the ground. gun
across her knees and tears Of merri-
ment streaming down her face. Pres
ton stared at her In amazed helpless
ness.
'You hereY he muttered incredulous-
ly.
The girl held her sides.
81 made an early start for black
ducks too" she explained, "and while
I was waiting for the flock toacome In
nearer you came stalking along and
and She went into another spasn
OF merriment. Il camel saw-and
oh, I heardr she gasped. breathles
from laughter.
"You heardY Preston said in dis
may. ~ didn't ,ally intend to sal
that. 1t slipped out before thought"
Il see" she said mockingly. "You'C
better get the punt and fish out thos'
damaged decoys. or the story Of you
adventure may get around"
Preston turned TO her questioningly.
"Aren't you going TO tell the story 4
the campy" he asked.
mo" she said smilingly.
He looked at her with undlsguiseI
relief
"You are a trumpT he said EN-
phatically.
She laughed lightly
$50 aAtf3 as I've frightened all tn
ducks sas Of the vicinity with my can
nonadlng suppose we may as well g
back to camp for breakfast" he sug
gested
He helped her to her feet, and the.
trudged back through the underbrusf
Preston noted that she was doubl
pretty with her short skirt and shoot
ing jacket ana the frosty air bringin
out the color in her cheeks. And o
course, he told himself bitterly, it mus
needs be before her Of all women 4
1 the world that he had made an idiot o
e himself
Halfway back to camp the girl turr
I ed to him impuisively.
i "I'm going to make a confession" sh
said
I They paused under a tall pine. tn
first rays Of the sun were lighting tn
: tree tops.
'You didn't blow holes in both thos
decoys." she said. Il fixed the frs
+ one Just as you did an hour before 20
came. It was very dark then. yo
? see" she added by way Of extenuation
"You took a shot at the decoys, too
he cried.
She nodded slowly.
"You are very generous to tell N
that" he said, with considerabl
warmth.
ITS only fair to tell you" she salt
and then added: "You looked so funn,
and It would make such a beautlfl
story 20 tell the camp. Now you hay
story on me equally as good. Th'
Will hold my tongue in check"
Preston looked at her gratefully.
"pll tell you what let's do" he sal
suddenly. Lets pool our secrets"
"Our duck secrets7' she asked.
"All our secrets" he said. taking he
hand and drawing her to him. Let
establish a community Of interests
for two"
The girls glance dropped.
Tiff you think best she began.
Il do" he declared earnestly. mo
we'll go back to camp and announce /
4 A IL. -. q