Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-10-14
Hunting With
Dorothy.
BY LITTELL M'CLUEG.
copyrighted. 1903. by Associated
Literary Press
BY LITTELL M'CLUEG.

&NsaNN~ANNANSes%NN% COMMUNICATING 3
Dorothy was sportswoman from
the tip OF her dainty pumps to the top
OF her aristocratic head. Never had
owen Compton met a girl In whom so
many delightful qualities were blend,
ed.
That dashing creature known as 1.-THE
athletic girl he cordially disllked.
holding that young women were in
tended primarily for coy corners.
So, when introduced to Dorothy. he
felt sure he would not like her bit.
Handsome she undoubtedly was. and
queenly, too, but with her queenliness
Dorothy was vivaciousness itself. She
could ride with the skill of a cowboy
the widest pony that ever leaped a
fence. She could shoot like an ex-
pert and row like university oars
man.
And after gslloping gayly over the
fields on one OF her papa's most dam
gerous young horses she would come
into the drawing room and, with SYM
pathetic touch, play a score Of old
time melodies surcharged with senti-
ment.
Before many moons Owen discover.
ed that with all her athletic propensi.
ties Dorothy was as tender natured
and as warm hearted as any girl who
breathed the ozone.
The result was inevitable.
Therefore when Dorothy looked up
from the piano, a coquettish light In
her dark eyes, and asked, "Owen, when
are you coming out to shoot partridges
with mel" Owen replied that next
morning would find him ready with
cartridges and gun.
He appeared by sunup, and Dorothy
was awaiting him with her own favor
ite setter and her own brightly pol
ished little shotgun. In hunting boots,
short skirt and brown jacket, whose
large collar fell back over her shoul-
ders, disclosing her round, white
throat, she was a veritable vision Of
the forest.
"As l live, but you do look stun
oingv' was Owens comment as he
gave her rapid survey. Another
Diana ready for the hunt, but whether
1t be birds or hearts It's hard to sayr'
She laughed merrily.
'The former. Of course, sirp she de-
clared. "At evening with moonlight
setting, you know, Is the proper time
for wounding hearts. This morning
in the bright sunshine cartridges are
to be our only consideration. Please
remember thisr'
Agreed" he said, his eye flashing
back the challenge. Lets strike out
Look. your dog Is just crazy to be
orr"
Then down the long slope they went
and out into the fields The autumn
sun was dun. golden disk that
seemed to cast its color over the leaves
and the rudy fruit. As they made
their way through an orchard Owen
stopped and, throwing a stick up into
the boughs. brought down several fine
apples.
With evident relish Dorothy set her
sharp teeth into one of the largest of
these. The appeal Of the picture was
too much for Owen, and he began to
quote something about the drowsy
winds that famed "a heart ripe as the
apples grown in orchard lands of long
ago.
She stopped him with a disapprov-
Ing glance. do you remember what
we started out to dot" she asked.
Eyes, to shoot birds, not to talk SEN
timent."
She nodded, and they pushed out
into the open fields again. The setter,
hundred yards ahead, was already
standing covey of partridges. They
hurried up close.
"Readyi" he asked. raising his gun.
'Ready," she answered. You take
those on the left; I'll look after those
that fly up on the right"
Burr-burr-burr. and dozen par
tridges rose obliquely and sailed over
the fields.
Bang. bang. spoke Dorothy's gun.
Bang. bang. echoed his.
Two birds dropped. one in line of
Owens fire. the other over to the
right.
"Honors are evenr' cried Dorothy
IT'S hit and miss for each Of usv'
He sprang forward, and as the dog
brought up the dead birds he dropped
them into the sack he carried. Sudden
ly hundred feet In front Of him O
partridge that hads become separated
from the others ran out Of the grass
and futtered or toward q clump of
bushes on the hillside.
He lifted his gun to his shoulder and
pulled both triggers. but the bird con-
tinued In its flight Then behind him
flashed Dorothy's gun. and the par
tridgs dropped like Z spent rocket.
At the same moment q sharp, sting.
ing pain ran through Owens left hand.
Instinctively he jerked 1t up. II was
covered with blood.
His face grew pale. for he thought
that . good part Of the leaden load
had struck him. He raised his arm,
and tho blood ran down In Z tiny
rivulet over his wrist. With his right
hand he reached for his handkerchief
to stop the crimson dow. He was
conscious that the girl was running up