The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-03-11

ewes scanning the woods ahead Of him
and his gun ready for instant use.
ONLY a hunter knows the thrill OF
such a moment.
The game may be uncovered at any
instant. or the swapping of twig may
send it bounding away in wild alarm.
AS carefully as a Pawnee on the
trail Of a scalp, Mr.. Bowser moved for
ward. After he had gone quarter OF
q mile he saw that the tracks grew
fresher. and in one of them he plainly
observed the initials TX. Y. E. p"
After a moments thought he knew
that these stood for keep your eye
pceled." and he redoubled his Wig
lance. 1t was rewarded as he turned
the next thicket. Something beloved
and bounded away from him. He drew
up his gun and fired. and after the
smoke blew away he saw calf stand
ing and facing him fifty feet away. In
his ardor to get that wagon load OF
rabbits Mr.. Bowser had not stopped to
be critical about cracks. With heart
rull of thankfulnesS that Mrs. Bowser
was not there and would never know
about it. he passed on. Five minutes
later he found other tracks.
He couldn't be fooled again.
Here was real game afOot.
Every print of the foot had the letter
"R" branded in it, and r. stands Tor
rabbit. even in the new way of spell
ing.
Mr.. Bowser took up the trail with
fresh ardor. He followed it through
thickets and over logs and across
frozen ponds, and directly he found
that it led across meadow straight for
a farmers barn. He had only to recall
his boyhood days to realize that rabbits
and barns are inseparably connected.
The barn was the lair Of the beast, and
he should be dragged forth and slauGh'
tered without mercy.
Clinging to the trail like a savage
wolf to the footprints of wounded
buffalo, Mr. Bowser eventually reached
the barn. In the open door in the win
ter's sunshine cat sat licking her
paws. Had Mr.. Bowser been given
five minutes in which to think it over,
he would have connected the cat and
the tracks and the barn together, but
while he was looking from one to the
other and scratching his head farm
er and his two grown sons appeared in
the door back Of the cat. The farmers
dog also appeared, coming from the
house, and. feeling that he had been re-
miss in his vigilance, he made up for it
now by nipping Mr.. Bowser in the leg
by thunder!" exclaimed the Nimrod
as he drew up his gun to shoot.
Hold on, there cried the three men
in chorus as they rushed out.
You arc a nice sort of man to keep
such a cur aroundv' stormed Mr.. Bow
ser, with all his joviality vanished.
what in the devil do you suppose l
keep q dog for except to bite trampS?'
| retorted the farmer.
Il am no tramp, as you very well
know. Sir, there is law against keep
ing savage dogs, and l want damages
! or l will appeal to it. Who is to say
that this bite won't give me hydrophO-
bia?''
Ordered OF the Farm.
"And who is to care whether it does
| or not? What right have you got tres
! passing on my land? What are you
| doing here, dressed up like some dime
| museum freak? BY John, If you are
! not over the fence in two minutes me
and the boys will throw you over!''
There could be but one ending to the
situation.
| 4Lr. Bowser had tracked calf.
He had tracked a cat.
He had been bitten by dog without
| excuse.
His face got red, aud his gorge rose.
His eyes snapped, and his ears worked.
| He would have taken it out on Mrs.
Bowser if he could, but she was far
away, and the farmers were near by.
J He drew long breath and told the
three Of them and the dog to go to
that place where you don't have to buy
! coal n the winter, and next minute the
| conflict was on. Mr.. BOwSer was rolled
in the snow. He was punched in the
| eye and on the nose. The farmers tore
and rent his hunting suit. They al
i most husked him, as they would have
an ear of corn. True, he fought back
and left scars behind him, but he had
to go. He had to go on the run. Even
after the men got tuckered out the dog
kept him going for a spell. He reach
ed home three hours earlier than was
expected, and there was a stern dig
mtg about him as he stood before Mrs
BOwser.
well, l see that you got a wagon
load of something else" she observed.
And how? And why? Who put uI
the little job? Who planned to spoil
my day? Woman, look me in the eye
and answer my questionsr'
II told you you would lay it to me il
anything happened"
would be assassinistr' he Kissed, and
after gazing at her for minute with
folded arms he walked. One-twO-
three, down the hall and upstairs
Nj. QUAD.