The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-25

Ihe game may be uncovered at an
instant. or the swapping of a twig ma,
send it bounding away in wild alarm.
As carefully as a Pawnee on tn
trail Of a scalp, Mr.. Bowser moved for
ward. After he had gone a quarter O
a mile he saw that the tracks grew
fresher. and in n Of them he plainl,
observed the initials IL. Y. T.. p
After 4 moments thought he knew
that these stood for keep your cyI
peeled" and he redoubled his Wig
lance. 1t was rewarded as he turned
the next tlicket. Something beloved
and bounded away from him. He drew
up his gun and fred. and after thu
smoke blew away he saw n calf stand
ing and facing him fifty feet away. II
his artOr 10 get that wagon load OF
rabbits Nr Bowser h2d not stopped tc
be crlticI. about tracks With a heart
full OF :haHkfu!ncss thar Mrs Bowser
was not there and would never know
about it. h passed on Five minutes
later he found other tracks.
He cou!Gn he fooled again.
Here was real game afoot
Every print of the foot hui the letter
Z branded in it, and r. stands for
rabbit, even in the new way of spell
ing.
Mr.. B0wser took up the trail with
fresh ardOr. lie followed it through
thickct5 and over logs and across
frozen ponds, and directly he found
that i led across Il meadow straight for
q farmers barn. He had only to recall
his bOylOOd days to realize that rabbits
and barns are inseparably connected.
The barn was the lair of the beast, and
be should be dragged forth and slaugh-
tered without mercy.
Clfnging to the trail like Il savageI
wolf to the footprints of Il wounded.
buffalo, Mr.. BOwscr eventually reached
the barn. IN the open door in the VIM
ter'S sunshine a cat sat licking herI
paws. Had Nr. Bowser been giveni
five minutes in which to think it ovcr.I
he would have connected the cat andl
the tracks and the barn together, but
while he was looking from one to thel
other and scratching his head a farm-i
er and his two grown son appeared inI
liz * biNh VI lit cat Inc IuEllCT 81
dog also appeared, coming from theI
house, and, feeling that he had been re-
miss i'll bis vigilance, he made up for I'll
now by nipping Mr.. Bowser in the leg
BY thunder!' exclaimed the NimrodI
as be drew up his gun to shoot.
Hold on, there cried the three men!
in chorus as they rushed out.
TN01l 0rn a nSon SaTt Cf ,o,,, - I-oo-I
such a cur aroundw stormed Mr.. Bow
Ser, with all his joviality vanished.
What in the devil do you suppose l
keep a dog for except to bite tramps?"
retorted the farmer.
Il am no tramp, as you very we'll
know. Sir, there is a law against keep
savage dogs, and / want damagesI
OR 1 will appeal to it. Who is to say
that this bite won't give me hydropho-I
Ordered On the Farm.
And who is to care whether it doesI
Or not? What right have you got tres
passing on my land? What are you
doing here, dressed up like some dimel
freak? By John, if you areI
lot over the fence in two minutes mel
the boys will throw you overt"
There could be but one ending to thel
situation.
Alr. BOWser had tracked a calf.
He had tracked Il cat.
He had been bitten by d dog without
Excuse.
Ills lace got red, and his gorge rose.l
lis eyes snapped. and his ears worked.
would have taken it out on Mrs.
if he could, but she was farI
way, and the farmers we're near by.l
drew Il long breath and told theI
of them and the dog to go toI
hat place where YOU dol't have to buy
GAL ii the winter. AID next minute the}
vas on. Mr.. Bowser was rolledI
1 the snow. lie was pvnched in thel
ye &Hl On the nose. the farmers toreI
rent his hunting suit. They al.
lost hHSke1 him. rs they would havet
4 ear OF corn. Tue. lie fought back
Id LEI scars behind him. but he hadI
20. lie hal i 20 OIL the run. Event
ter thr ne got tuckered out the dog
apt LIN gong Tor 4 spell. He reach
l home three hours earlier than was ;
-n"cted. ana there was a stern digI
ty about him as he stood before Mrs.
!
We'll, l see that YOU got a wagon [
ad C. "pulething else she observed. I
Aid now: And why? Who put up l
q little job? Who planned to spoil '
: :"r: Woman. look me in the eyeI |
Id answer my Fuestions", L
i told Won Won would lay t TO he i'll =
-E,an- happened" I
'Wo':t hc assassln;sf,," ne Kissed. ardt :
q" ga~.a- IT her for 4 minute witl =
Led @ h. vailed. Oae-two- :
dow re hall and upstairs. =
u. QUAD. =
t. ---.-- In -