The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-17
THE EVENING STORY
The snipe-Shooters.

Inc Snipe- Shooters.
~ (By Donald Allen.)
-anaatE snipe-shooting around here p"
peaeed the landlord of the country
"Yas LOGGED the young man over.
mere. but" 1iouno
| 'Well?"
hx, ~ you see, the marshes are owned
SSoz s,re Wloow Cozens. and the Widow
ozens mas daughter, and that
daughter has been known to lis
courage snfpe-hunters She wants all
sne snipe herself. She can sail a boat
! and shoot a gun" 1oo'
LOW discourage them?"
On, ! can't call 'em all to mind
~ De glad to have you put up here
Tor week, and I've got a boat ana
sverything. Come down from town. 7
| Yes
| stuck on snipe?"
| NOT SO very much"
| 80 .Metner am l. say it's all a waste
OF time to shoot at snipe when YOU can
snoI. al naystacks. Write your name
,n the book here and I'll give Won the
pest room in the house. Clarence
!Eoobins. Ell? Used to know Rob.
pIns IN vermont Board, and room Is
TX collars a week. and you'll have to
sanst your chances with that girl.
coor to the right. Yes sir. have to
| lake your chances" "
| Clarence Robbins, the artist. ALWAYS
,ook the first two weeks of September
t tIf 1a vacatlon among the snipe. but
TINS was his first visit to the Mailows.
as they called the neighborhood- He
saw that his host was loouacious ana
IN rlve minutes he had forgotten about
1 1 widow Cozens and her daughter.
He was up early next morning ana
after breakfast assumed his ra nmJ,
snootlng garb, made ready the boat
eno headed her for the long stretch
CT marshes above the inn. He had NOT
reacneo them yet when he heard the
! iece. Early as he was, some one was
mead OF him. At favorable point he
| lowered his sail and pushed his boat
INTO the high reeds and waited for
snipe. Aoi
! Something also appeared. IF was
young girl. She had a sailboat. but
| tne san was down and she was using
2 pore. She mad on a cap and shooting
JACKET and while. she was yet a hum
dred feet away the artist pronounced
her unique. He was to find her So.
She poled her boat right up to his and
demanded: >''-1
Have you got permission from my
mother to shoot here?'
| DO 1 address the daughter Of the
| Widow Cozens?" he queried
rasser here
well, certainly. hava M n.-r,,.-
on ~
| Fhen l warn you away"
The words were snapped out and the
roat poled away. She did not even be-
STOW second glance on the man who
vas bit boastful of his good looks.
Her indifference nettled him.
lter. 90 'e'
And he didn't. That is. he didn't
until constable overhauled him two
ours later and walked him mile to
| hot
Iorothy Cozens was there as complain
ant and witness. She was not in
.hooting costume now, and the artist
decided that she was more handsome
than unique. When he had been fined
$5 the complainant gave him a
triumphant look and retired, but he
called after her:
I'll be there in the morning at the
| same hour" - =
IT told you about the girl said the
landlord as his guest arrived to eat
a late dinner. "Yesslr, told you. My
terms are Sc a. week for board and
room. and no responsibility for the
GIRL
"Oh. that's all right. I shall go
snipe shooting in the morning just the
same.''
| "And no responsibility for the girl.
sir-rlo RESPONSE bil-i-ty."
who ne ehnc wsrs hangsrs-on at the inn
that the "city feller'' would go home
in the morning, but he didn't He
went snipe shooting. He heard firing,
as before. and had brought down only
enc snipe when the girl appeared
| "Trespassing again, eh?" she re-
marked.
| "I am here, Miss Cozens," was the
reply. while I think of it let me ask
what size shot you are using?"
| From a distance of ten feet she
'ooked steadily into his face. She let
{ ixty seconds go by and then said:
81 believe I could hate you!"
"But take me into court again in
stead
Miss Cozens gave her head a toss
and poled her boat away. Again the
constable arrived, and again Squire
| Peevis had plaintiff and a defend
ant. It was plain case. Indeed. the
defendant plead guilty and paid the
fine of $40 without murmur.
you see I'm determined" said the
girl.
1.-THE same as am" he replied.
hoard and no responsibility for the
| GIRL chuckled the landlord. Coin
home in the mornin'?'
| mo; I'm going snipe-shooting.
Next morning it was the same thing.
ever again. except that there was a
pretty stiff wind and a hobble of wa
| ter outside the reeds.
| still trespassing," said the girl as
| The came up.
| was noticlng yesterday. repneo
| sheet of your mainsail was made fast
| in the cleat. That would be very
careless trick in a wind like this. A
| squall would upset you in an instant.
"Sir. have I sought your advice
about how to sail a boat?"
"Oh. no. but your life Is precious to
| those who love you.''
NOW. not only believe I could hate
| GU, but I know I couldi''
| Again, don't. I expect the fine will
be fifteen this time.'
| It was too windy for snipe, and the
artist tried fishing for change. Half
an hour had passed, when a charge
| of shot wnist1ed over his head. Five
minutes later there was a second, and
| that was followed by third. The man
| smiled and hung on for an hour more.
IT thought you might come home
with few shots in you," said the
landlord as the boat was tied up.