The bee., 1908-01-30
Gun-Shy
ny ARMI0ER BARCLAY
ny ARMI0ER BARCLAY
(Copyright.)

August ~.
Archie Strachan "a topping good
shot, to keeper)-I understand Mr.
Grayson to say that the moor was good
for GOO bracs at least.
McFay-Ay, ye ken the lads yery
Disseminating. He didna' want tc
Maggie, so he just said sax hundred
wiout wasting mair breath.
Srachan (aside)-What an ass
was to come! Well be lucky II we get
a dozen brace today
mrs. Grayson, pretty little woman
In a pleated tartan edged with leather
comes out Of the breakfast room, -four.
fshing a new 2s-bore in . reckless
manner) "s
Mrs. Cob, here you are, Mr..
Strschan (excitably). I'm Just dying
70 kill something.
Strachan tsteps aside hurriedly)---
You look killing, Mrs. Grayson; but II
you dos't mind
Mrs. Cob, I'm so sorry! I'm
afraid ] don't hold my gun properly
yet covers McFay with III. Isn't Il a
perfect day? The girls are simply wild
With excitement at the idea Of shoot
ing real grouse. We've only had some
practice at few fowls as yet.
Strachan (blanching)-Are Miss
Kent and der friends going to-
Mrs. Cor course they arel May
has such dinky little gun-an Ameri-
can thing that goes off one, two. three,
four-just like that. She says she's
bound to hit something.
Strachan (perspiring) shouldn't
wonder! (Aside) I've let myself in for
something cheerful
(Grayson comes out with the girls.
They are very Smart" and in high
spirits. May has Colt repeater under
her arm, and Gwen a 2O-hore with
stock that is obviously too long for
herr
Grayson-Hello! Where have the
others got to? We ought to be OF.
It's nearly IL.
McFay-Tm thinking it's just sin
fu' waste o. guild time stopping in the
hoose. The birds have all had. their
bite O heather and wull be waiting for
ye.
-Heather!fYou don't mean to
say that they eat it?
Gwen (who has a healthy appetite)
MOT raw?
McFay-Ay, my leddie. Just heath
er and q sup o. dew; nae mair.
(Capt. Roche, Freddie Champion
and the Hon. Arthur Priestly, the
three male gums" Of the party, make
their appearsnce.)
Grayson--Come along, my boys. It's
time we we're on.
(He leeds the way. AS they walk
down to the lodge Strachan falls back
TO the other men,
StrachRn (solennly)-I say. you
fellows, do you know that those girls
have never shot before? Miss Kent's
got Colt with the magazine jam full
up! Look at her; she's carrying il BY
the foresight now!
Both men--Ye gods! (They look at
one another uneasily.)
Strachan-ThOre's only one thing to
be done. We must lose em, or some
body II be murdered.
Rocbe-But how?
Strachan-Make the pace as hot as
we can, and leave EN- behind.
Priestly-Thanks. l don't want to
be shot in tho back!
Strachan (irritably)-Well, can you
suggest anything else?
Champion (renectively) - What
about clearing out at once?
Strachan-We can't do that. Gray
sons a decent chap Look here, leave
i to me. I'll arrange something with
McFay.
Catches up with the keeper and
Ialks to him aside. On the moor, FIVE
minutes later, McFay puts them in q
inc with the ladies on the left)
Grayson-Keep your gun straight,
Connie. Taaat's right. Look out when
1os get to that patch of heather.
CAS- he speaks covey gets up with.
n 20 yards. Gwen, at the extreme
eft, shuts her eyes, lets iy and
misses, May gives = little scream as
Ter Colt goes OF before she expects it.
lraysOn brings down q "chespsr."
drs. crayson. with her gun at SAFE"
'ulls the trigger Intellectually
GraysOn-Brave, girls! Don't be
lown-hearted II Sou don't kill every
ime.
Mrs. Good heavens! What's the.
natter with Gwen?
Gwen (who has stopped and is feel
ng her shoulder tenderly)--I believe
We broken something. (Faintly) Do
ONE and see. Mr.. Grayson.
(The Graysons and May run to
ier.)
Strachan fin a hoarse whisper TO
who is about to follow them)
Keep straight on. It's all right. She
ulled both triggers az once and got
licked; that's all.
(Covey rises on the left, and 1--WE
irds fall to the three men)
CHAMPION las he Ell cts)-Hadn't