The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-12-09

HUNTERS GARB. the oak. Then he
flung himself at its trunk and stretch
ed his limbs upon the earth TO rest.
For minute she studied the in
truder. debating in her mind the best
means OF scquainting him with her
prior occupancy OF that retreat Sud
denly a spirit OF mischief overcame
her. and she let fall an oak ball she
had plucked from a nearby twig. The
small green globe struck the man
squarely on the head.
Instantly he sprang TO his feet.
caught up his rifle and began peering
up through the live oaks branches.
"You can't challenge me that way.
Mr. Squirrel" he said. pointing the
rife upward; mot with IMMUNITY"
Leila gave little cough. Don't
shoot me, please" she called down. II
plead guilty"
She encountered pair Of surprised
brown eyes looking up at her. Drop
lplng his rifle 20 his side, the man lifted
his hat politely.
Il never shoot dryads," he answered.
Il suppose" she said. a smile how
ering on the lips. that you are per-
fectly familiar with dryads."
Hardly" he answered. smiling up
nc her. II know very little except
they are said TO live in trees. Are
the other live oaks I'm this canyon IN
habited by your cousins?"
I A twinkle came into the dryad's
blue eyes. Possibly" she returned;
you know we have family trees"
'Do they all have turquoise eyes like
this oneY' he asked.
A frown crossed the dryad's face.
but the mans good natured playing
quickly banished II. and she said: "oh,
yes, and their color Is beryl," looking
At her sage green sweater.
II don't believe" he pursued. shat
the woods would reveal another Just
like you'll one looked all day"
mot likely" she replied. continuing
the play. II think all my kind turned
into topaz when the forest became
petrlfcd."
The drysd. thinking the play had pro-
crossed quite far enough, made no an
swer. The man started toward the
spring, whistling. Suddenly he wheel
ed about and called back:
Miss Dryad. not being familiar with
your code OF etiquette. ] hope you will
pardon me II l have seemed overpre-
sumptuous. Having no cards with me.
III introduce myself by telling you
am the mining engineer from the Cop
! per knight property. l came over TO
the mines 10 do some construction
work, but the men deserted me for
holiday, so In self defense l turned
nimrod and found a dryad."
From her leafy perch the dryad
watched the man as he went whistling
away over to the spring. There was
something In his half playful speech
and the easy swing of his gait that
seemed strangely familiar 20 her.
lie was building fire between some
rocks when he called TO her.
"If the dryad will look I'll show her
how to cook game without pot or pan.
An Indian guide showed me-" he ex.
planned.
over a fire of dry bark and twigs he
fixed some green mesquite sticks to
which the game was carefully sus-
pended The aroma of the broiling
rabbits was sufficient to cause the
dryad to descend, for the ride across
the foothills had given her a vigorous
appetite.
81 will spread the table," she an
nounced, spreading paper napkins over
n smooth rock. Here are beef sand
witches. olives, cheese. crackers. hg
waters and one large apple" she con-
tinued. taking the various articles
from her lunch bag and arranging them
on the improvised table.
"a feast fora dryad." said the man.
"And nimrod." she added, meeting
the boyish smile ON his face with con-
fidence. 1T win be a unique Christ
mas dinner"
1T will be the most delightful one
ever eaten" recklessly declared the
man. deity turning the broiling game
When the Qnma WINS dOna the fvO