Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-11-21

cOlOred woman, tndI Oh cereaih u"J
and date Miss Rose and the sergeant
were to take two mile walk to GER
tain limestone cave on the banks or the
river.
Every man has o friend somewhere
n he will only hunt him up. After
thinking things over Joe decided to go
to old man Barnes, who kept saloon,
eating house and sort of menagerie
In town, and when his case had been
stated the old man replied:
Easiest thing in the world, my boy
You want to run that sergeant on the
ranch and make hero of yourself at
the same time"
"But he don't look like a Teller who
could be rum" was protested.
MAKE no mistake, my boy. You can
run his coat tails out straight If only
you go about IL right"
But how can / make a hero of my
self"
THAT'S part of the game. Now
listen TO me-"
Three days later the sergeant rode
up TO the ranch with his chest pulled
out and complacent look on his face.
He felt that he was winner. He was
going TO honor the rancbman's daugh-
ter by taking her into Uncle Sans
service.
His welcome wasn't quite as genial
as 1t might have been, as Miss Rose
was beginning to feel conscience strick-
en- about Joe Whitman. She had found
l,nt sha oil
Joe very much, and when girl will
admit that and be sorry that she fiirted
with another man at the same time she
is very near the point of loving.
The horse was left at the stables, and
the pair started for the cave on foot.
On the way the sergeant got ready to
propose, but rattlesnake created
diversion. He made ready second
time, but stray steer had to be
dubbed away, and so the river was
reached without q recruit being added
to the army.
The cave contained three rooms and
was accounted wonder. A torch that
had been prepared was lighted, and the
couple entered the dark mouth, but
first room when they were saluted by
such a growing and clawing and roar
ing as held them spellbound for mo-
ment. Then as monster bear came
rushing at them from one Of the inner
rooms the doughty sergeant broke for
daylight and fed at his best pace. The
calls of the girl were unheeded. He
In txua In a n rTnU
to become bears meat. He wanted a
wife, and Company G wanted a second
laundress, but he would try TO find the
woman in town. He covered the mile
to the house without break and then
mounted his gallant steed and set of
for the fort. He even forgot to leave
best wishes behind.
Meanwhile Miss Rose had stumbled
and fallen and tainted away. II was
as good a chance as a bear ever had
but this particular animal failed to
take advantage of the occasion.
| In the first place, he was muzzled,
and, in the next, Joe Whitman was
hanging OF to the end of Il long rope
fastened TO his collar. When he had
fulfilled his mission he was tied up.
and Joe went out and shouldered the
still unconscious girl and had borne her
nearly home when she revived.
AS she opened her eyes and won
dered how she had tasted TO the bear
Joe pointed out the sergeant riding
away. He also displayed his bloody
hunting knife.
"Oh, Joe, but the eear-the bear!
gasped the girl on his arm.
II came along just In time to kill it.
Thank heaven, you are not hurt. Here
you are at home. | am glad | was of
service to you, but l can't come in.
After what was said the other day
You will come in, of course. There
may be another bear around"
There wasn't, but during the next
hour Joe had talk with the colonel
and both of them shook hands at the
end of it and said they were glad.
That night when Joe led the bear back
to the town and his cake the owner
gruffiy queried:
"Well, did II work.
beautifully"
"Then hand over the ten. When you
want second wife come to me and
we will put up some other job to get
| har 4"
The Big Wooden Fork.
There are times when q wooden forl
is very conveniently used in the dairy
room. I like it better than ladle fol
breaking apart Jumps of butter in thu
churn or for removing ii to the worker
A piece of maple twelve inches Ion;
and six wide and one inch thick will
make a good one. Let the handy maj
mark il off with four tines five inche
long, the sides rounding in nicely L
the handle part at about seven inche
to give plenty OF strength. Th@&emain
ing five inches will make good firm
handle, which should be a little wide
than it Is thick. Smooth this dow
nicely with sandpaper. working up he
tween the tines, which should not Sc
too closely together Make hole in tn
end of the handle to hang 1t by, am
the job is done.
A Butter Packer.
good. serviceable butter packer