The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-20
The EVENING STORY
Isis Profitable ikuse.
(By Bryant c. Rogers. }

/ 60 spring IOr TOUR or five years
/ clyde Bennett had disappeared from
MS club and society for three or -four
/ weeks, and had returned to tell of the
number of ducks he had shot in the
| interval and what good time he hao
had in doing it. Those who had taken
| interest enough to question him bad
| been told that he had gone down or
4 the shore of Long Island sound but
they soon forgot it. They couldn't
shoot, and they didn't care to rough
lit.
| Winter had passed, spring had
! come, and Mr.. Bennett was missing
| as usual. He had been welcomed by
the LANDLORD of the country tavern
| and told that ducks We're flying and
| that he could not get into his old suit
too quickly. Roughing it consisted
OF an old suit of corduroy, with an old
nat to match-no shaving, briarroot
ding about the marshes for ten hours
| a day. Wild ducks wait for no man;
the clubman knew it and waited for
them. If there were any birds flying
OF restlng ne got them. His hunting
range extended up and down for three
miles, and here and there it closely
approached the highway.
Mr. Bennett had not concerned
himself much about the inhabitants.
At the north end of the range there
was large manor house. He could
not help seeing it, and he had won
dered who lived there. On his last
years hunt he had caught sight of a
young lady driving a pony and phae-
ton to the village and back. He had
been too far away to judge of her ap-
pearance, but calamity decided that
she was at least reasonably handsome
There the matter had rested. He was
out to shoot ducks.
On this spring he had been down
four days before he caught sight of
the phaeton and it's driver. He had
just stepped ashore, from his boat,
Il ialx cd fST-n Ire he "a n
killed to return to the hotel, when
pony and vehicle came driving from
the direction of the manor house. The
driver was the girl of the year before:
She was good looking. The color of
her hair was brown, of her eyes hazel.
She had a fine mouth, chin with a
dimple in it, and the rose of her head
was artistic. Having spoiled about
artist. Mr.. Bennett was qualified to
judge of poses and poises. He stepped
aside for the vehicle to pass, but it did
not pass. 1t stopped and the young
lady looked full at him. He would
have taken off his hat, but it was tied
on; he would have parted with his four
days growth of beard but there were
no shaving conveniences; he would
have liked at least a paper collar, but
all collars were far away.
my man." said the young lady after
looking him over. Il suppose you are
shooting ducks for the New York mar
ket?''
teI,'' was the reply.
'"Well, 1 Will pay you the same as
they do for few pairs. Mother, sis
ter and 1 are very fond of them, but
no one around here gees in for shoot
ing. Could you sell me three pairs a
week until We get tired Of them ?"
''I think so.'
land how much will they be?''
The hunter looked up into those
II -.1Jh n ic Sf11h n
a reflective way, and then replied:
.Wall, young lady, bein, as I am a
leetle hard III for cash jest now, Wen
say dollar a pair. I get three times
as much for 'am in New York. .
81 suppose YOU do. and know you
are certainly giving me a bargain. Will
you bring a pair of those you have to
the house :? Phase leave them at the
kitchen door with the cook. Here is
your dollar
''Thankee, '71a'arn.'
'This is Tuesday On Thursday
bring another pair and I'll pay you at
the house."
Jest so, ma'am.''
AS Mr.. Bennett couldn't lift his hat.
he touched it and bent a knee. and
the phaeton drove on. 1t was a full
mile to the manor house. and he was
tired and hungry. but he walked the
distance. The watchdog was the first
to welcome him. and for a time he
seemed to be wondering where to take
his first bite. The cook replied to his
knock at the kitchen door. and as the
ducks were handed her she said:
"Pll just bet this is some of Miss
Carries work. She's been talking
ducks for two weeks. I hate to pick
EN-, but s'pose I'll have to. We amt
got any cold victuals today or I'd offer
you some"
s"Thanks, just the same"
I'm glad to see YOU have manners.
Them's what most of the folks around
here lack. I've lived in a family in New
York, and 1 know what's what"
The duck shooter went away laugh
ing He smiled all the way home. and
he took that dollar from his vest pock-
ct and locke dat it often. As a matter
of fact. 1T was the first dollar he had
ever earned. He would sell the young
lady more ducks. He would carry the
joke on as long as he remained there.
When she had tired of ducks perhaps
just a harmless little joke Even the
tavern keeper didn't know enough
about him to give him away.
On Thursday, a second pair of ducks
was taken up to the manor house. |
The cook went off to notify Miss Car
lady appeared and handed out dollar
bill and said:
''Those ducks were fine eating and |
am glad of these. You may bring |
another pair on Saturday, and think
those will be the last"
esYes'nl. How about fish?''
do you think you can catch any |
nice large ones?"
I'm sure of it,
Then bring me one you think is |
worth about a quarter. A quarter |
ought to get a good one.
Yes m-almost whale
do you find hunting very wet and |
work p asked the young /