The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1911-12-01

turned the corner just as the bewtl-
dered Nettie had dashed into the kitch-
en-. seized the gun and was ready for
hawks. ~
She had bcen rudely awakened.
more rudely dumped on the grass and
stepped on, and in her half awake
state she didn't know a hawk from u
man until 1t was too late.
In a cool moment she never could
have mastered the mechanism Of that
old shotgun. Under the inonentary
excitement she not only fired 1t. but
sent liberal quantity Of bird shot into
some ones legs.
She had only heard the report Of the
gun when she became panic stricken
and fed into the kitchen and shut and
bolted the door. and for the next three
or four minutes she was IN half
faint. Then she realized that she had
shot man. She remembered that he
had cried out; she remembered that be
had fallen on the grass. She wasn't
! overcome with horror at the thought.
On the contrary. she had shot Il tramp
! and was entitled to oil praise.
Presently. as Miss Nettie listened
with her ears against the door. she
heard groans. That meant she had
| only wounded the tramp. Her heart
was touched by those groans. She
could not see the man after she had
opened the door an inch or two. be-
cause he was just around the corner
Of the house. but she called out to him:
Are you going away before l shoot
AGAIN."
al can't say" was the reply. Pm
afraid can't walk without help"
"Why not?"
Because you have shot me in the
legs"
But my aunt told me to look out
for hawks and tramps."
but am neither one nor the other"
| Judging from his voice. he was d
gentleman instead. and after drawing
long breath and breathing prayer
the girl stepped out and peered around
the corner Of the house. That young
man from the Stevenses was lying ON
his elbow on the grass. His face was
very pale. and there were blood spots
ON the legs Of his trousers. At sight
Of her he smiled family and said:
my name Is Arthur Melbourne. l
am stopping With my relatives. the
Stevenses. ! live In the city and am
an artist II you will pardon me
will say that | have heard you are
Miss Ward. In passing the house while
you slept in the hammock saw a
tramp climbing into window. gave
the alarm. and be escaped. He it was
who tumbled over yo,lr hammock and
awoke you"
"And Thought you were IA hawk
OF a tramp and shot you" gasped the
girl a. she wrung her hands.
"But fortunately without serious re-
suits. All the shot struck my legs. but
I may need assistance to get down
home.''
But shan't let you get down
home. Here take my hand and see II
you can stand on your feet Now hang
on to my arm and let me get you into
the house and on to the lounge. How
could l have been such n silly girl:
Now. then. you lie down here. and I'll
run for Dr.. James know he lives In
the first hotlse above here III bring
him right back with me-"
She was gone before Mr.. Melbourne
could protest and was bach in half an
hour with the good natured country
doctor. 1t took about m hour to pick
out the score Of bird shot that had
been fired into the young mans legs.
and during this time Miss Nettie walk.
ed up and down in the back yard with
tears in her eyes and no care II the
hawks came down and took every hen
on the place.
The doctor assured her that Mr.. Wei.
bourne would live. Mr. Melbourne
himself assured her that he was bound
to live to make her further acquniut.
ance, and he was taken down to the
Stevenses In the Doctors buggy. He
limped for three or four days. during
which time Miss Nettie aud her nuut
called twice. and then lie ceased limp
ing and returned the Gala.
Inside Of week he was something
more than caller. 1t beats all how
fast girl who shoots man and the
man who is shot by her can get &C.
quainted-very we'll acquainted. Mat.
rimony and hawks are sometimes shot
at with gun.