The daily Alaskan., 1907-06-21
55&8,&$s5$&&3&$h5&&%$&$& 5 Tracks In &l8 Snow.
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Copyright. l9O7. by G. D. DauIeIs.l


 One morning in November while rab- bit hunting near my fathers farm l came on a mau's tracks in the snow, The tracks had been made In the night and led to an old barn. It was plain that the party who had made them knew Of the old barn aud had 1t m mind when he left the highway.
 went intO the barn. Presently hearI the snore of a sleeping man. and a minute later found him cover rd up n the hay. His face WAS eX- posed. and l saw his sandy hair, and then knew who 1t was. Six months previously our nearest neIghbor on the west had enlisted and gone t9 the front in the civil war. He was not much thought of as a man, being considered sbiftIess and without ambition. It wns the large bounty that had Induced him to enlist. If the man had no standing lu the community, his wife nad She was an energetic little wo- man. far too good for such a man, and was universally respected. She lived uUfte alone after his enlistment and the full crop. such as It was, was gath cred for her by the ueiChhors. They had also seen that she had a store Of winter fuel. l uncovered the man without awakening him and found that he was sure enough Dan Scott. was about to arouse him when 1t struck me as & curious thing that he should have come 10 the old barn Instead Of going to his own house. l covered him up again and left the place and quarter of an hour later wAs knocking on his door
 "Wen. John, what Is It?" asked the chpery little woman as I entered
 How long since you have heard from Mr. scottg" l quer.ed in reply, hardly Knowing how to get around to my subject
 "Why. showed your mother the last letter. That was three weeks ago
 "Did he say anything about coming h0me%
 ,Goodness, DO. He couldn't get fnrlourb as soon as this # I was dy. ing, Have you heard any newsf Has there been another battle? Has Dan been klIed2"
 Then told her of my discovery. She turned pale and shut her lips and trcm- blcd d bir Not a word dId she reply until she had got on her things to go out. Then she said:
 Come. John. We are going to the barn"
 Not a word was spoken between us on the way. We found the husband suIl asleep, and as sle stood aud sur yeyed him she flushed with anger Then sue gave him a smart Sich, ana he opened hIs eyes and sat up.
 "I-Tve come home, Jennie ,' he said
 "Yes|
 "I WAS so homesick to see you that l just had to come. believe ! should have died if ! hadn't COme.'
 nThen you got a furIough!' she ask ed ln a hard. metallic voice, her blue eyes looking right through him.
 "A-a sort of a furlough- that is, good many Of the boys were coming home. You see. It's got so late that there won't be any more battles this fall. and there was no use hanging around the camp. hope you aln't mad about lt, Jennie"
 You came away without leave, did you"
 There were others too"
 "To come away without leave makes you a deserter You will be hunted down and taken back. The papers will say you deserted We shall be dis graced. Not a decent person for ten miles around will speak to us
 "Oh. come. now" protested Scott as he reached hls feet and brushed away at the hay cllnglng to him. You see, you don't understand. l was hOmeslck, and lt was no use for me to stay there when there was no fighting to be done. It was midnight when l got along here, and so didn't go to the house. Let's go now. I'm hungry for breakfast Hello. John. Clad to see you. Come over tonight, and I'll tell you some war stories. Why don't you kiss ne, Jennie, aud tell me you are glad to see meT
 Mrs Scott was a gentle little woman, but her face grew as hard as steel ! saw her bite her lips until they were stained with blood. The look she gave the man was so full Of contempt and disgust that he fairly wrlthed under it She held him for a long minute and then reached out and took the shotgun away from me. l had been leaning up against @ beam and saying never a word. She looked to see If the gun was loaded and then turned to her hus- band with:
 There Is no house for deserters to go to. There is not a family in the state that would give one Of them a breakfast. You cannot sIt under the same roof with me, You are going back to the army"
 But Jenule"-
 "YOu are going now"
 Say, now, but you cant mean itT"
 She stepped back and brought the gun to her shoulder, and on my life 1 believe she would have shot hlm dead In his tracks if he had not moved. He must have believed so, too, for after a
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