The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-24

uedutu edSle, SltllIS elCNl anu ga
ing through them steadily, not Of
him, but straight into the eye OF
the sun.
"Shucks. 1t amt possible! There's
millions o. bald eagles in the world'"
muttered Homer discontentedly.
1t was the right side OF the bird's
head that was turned toward him,
and that, of course, was snowy
white. Equally, of course it was,
as Horner told himself, the height
of absurdity to think that this grave
immobile prisoner gssing out through
the bars at the sun, could be his
old friend of the naked peak. New
ertheless, something within his heart
insisted it was so, lf only the bird
would turn his head! At last Hor-
ner put two fingers between his
mouth, and blew a whistle SO pierre
ing that everyone stared rebukingly
and a policeman came strolling along
casually TO see If any one had sig
nailed for help. But HOrner was all
unconscious of the interest which he
had excited. In response to his
shrill summons the eagle had slow
ly, very deliberately turned his head
and looked him steadily in the eyes.
Yes, there was the strange black
bn, no pi
unbroken by defeat and captivity,
was the old look of imperturable
challenge,
Horner could almost have cried,
from pity and homesick sympathy.
Those long days on the peak, fierce
with pain, binding bright with sun,
windswept and solitary, through
which this great, still bird had kept
him alive, seemed to rush over his
spirit altogether.
Gee, old pardner! he murmered,
leaning as far over the railing as he
could, but amt you got the grit?
I'd like to know who it was served
this trick on you. But don't you
fret. lVl git you out o this eff it
takes years arnins to do it! You
wait an see!"
And with his jaws set resolutely
he turned and strode from the gar.
dens. That bird should not stay in
there another night if he could |
help it.
Horner's will was set, but he did |
not understand the difficulties he
had to face.
At first, he was confronted, as by |
a stone wall, by the simple and un- !
answerable fact that the bird was |
not for sale at any price. And he |
went to bed that night raging with |
disappointment and baffled purpose. |
But in the course of his efforts and
angry protestations he had let out
a portion of his story, and this, as a
matter of interest, was carried to the
president of the society who con
trolled the ga1dens.
To this man, who was a true nat
uralist and not a mere dry-asdust
of bones and teeth, the sto-
ry made strong appeal, and before
Horner had quite made up his mind
to get out writ of habeas
corpus for his imprisoned friend or
a burglary on the cage,
there came a note inviting him to
an interview at the presidents office.
The result of this interview was that
Horner came away radiant, convinced
at last that there was heart and
understanding in the city as well Us
the country. He had agreed to pay
The society simply what it might
cost to replace the captive by an
other specimen of his kind; and he
carried in his pocket an order for
immediate delivery of the eagle into
his eager hands.
To the practical backwoodsman
there was now no fuss or ceremony
10 be gone through. He admired the
expeditions fashion iii which the
keeper of the bird-house handled his
dangerous charge, coming out of the
5rief tussle without a scratch. Truss
ed up as ANONYMOUSLY as a turkey
proud head hooded, savage talOns
and skying wings bound
splendid bird was given
up to his rescuer, who rolled him in
4 blanket without regard to his dig
lity, and carried him Off under his
arms, like bundle of old clothes.
Beyond the outskirts of the city
1orner had observed a high, rocky,
lesolate hill, which seemed suited
o his purpose. He TOOK a street
,ar, and travelled for an hour with