Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-01-15

duck in his claws and the field glasses
dangling from his neck. He deposited
the duck in Toms yard. Then he
started to eat it. But Tom didn't see
it that way.
THE tame eagle didn't seem over
and above pleased at having the duck
snatched away. But he wasn't a bad
hearted bird, and he evidently felt
that there was something due Tom for
his trouble in training him. So of
the eagle flew. and about an hour later
returned with a second duck This
one Tom let him eat in peace Through
the day the eagle hunted, taking al
ternate ducks until he had eaten all
that he cared for. Then Tom claimed
all the birds that were captured, and
the good-natured eagle didn't make
any protest.
For nearly a month that eagle
hunted for Tom Ferguson. The COM
bination of an eagles naturally keen
sight and pair of good field glasses
made it possible for him to spot any
duck for miles around The eagle
worked regularly and caught more
birds than half dozen ordinary wild
eagles. Tom was selling the ducks
and making money fast. Then the in
born meaIness of man cropped out
and put an end to what promised to
be fiourishing industry
There isn't any occasion for that
bird to eat a whole duck every other
time he returns from a hunting trip
Tom said to me one day. I've been at
all the trouble and expense of training
him and I'm entitled to at least duck
and half out of every two
$50 Tom took a trip to the city and
bought a pair of spectacles, the kind
that magnify. The next time the eagle
brought back duck Tom slipped the
spectacles over his beak Then he
cut the duck in two and gave the
eagle half of it. The other half he re-
served for the use of honest old Tom
! Ferguson, as he called himself
1T was pathetic to see the puzzled,
| perpleXed expression on that poor
! eagles face when he commenced eat
ing his half duck He was accustomed
to a whole duck, but the spectacles
made the half look as big as a whole
one. He looked at Tom as if he
wanted advice on the subject Tom
didn't say "a word but went on placid
ly smoking his pipe. That eagle trust
ed Tom Ferguson. When Tom didn't
make move the eagle turned in and
ate the half duck. He wasn't quite
satisfied, though, for while it looked
as if he had eaten his usual quantity
of duck, his appetite showed him this
wasn't so. Then he flew off to catch
more game for his selfish owner
Tom was always careful to put the
spectacles. on the eagle before he fec
him, ana while the ,,lo.- Sird was
growing thin, perhaps DO would.ft
have discovered the deceit if 1t hadnr
been for an accident. One day. wAile
the eagle was eating. party Of l,m
bermen went past the house. There
was the eagle, spectacles on his beak
tearing away at half a duck. 1t Ger
tainly was a ridiculous sight, and tn,
lumbermen laughed until they were
most sick. An eagle hates to b.
laughed at, especially when he is eat
ing. Toms pet stood it as long as h,
could. Then he raised his head wiz
quick motion as if he was consider
ing whether TO fly away or do battl,
with the men who were jeering a
him. The little jerk he gave as he
raised his head shook off the glasses
The eagle looked at the piece of duck
which seemed to have shrunk in size
Then he looked at the spectacles
After his experience in using fell
glasses he knew in an instant that HI
had been grossly deceived by Ton
Ferguson, the man he had trusted ant
for whom he had worked so faithfully
Tom had seen the spectacles fal
off and came running up to put then
III