The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-02-17

driven from the railroad station to
his mothers house. He had come
down on the early morning train, so
as to take advantage of the tracking
snow. He had just entered a law
firm as the junior partner and his
! legal erudition told him that the best
time to hunt wolves and panthers
and rabbits was when there was snow
on the ground.
Hey, you! HeyI Hey!"
Mr.. Childs had been looking straight
ahead. He now looked to the right.
and ordered the driver to halt Run
ming across the white field was a girl
with a club in her hand and her hat
joggled over on her ear Was she
fleeing for her life before some saw
age animal? Had she aroused a nest
! OF tramps in the woods?
Say! Sayl Say!" she gasped as
sic drew nearer.
Yes, yes" answered Mr.. Childs as
he leaped from the carriage with all
his chivalry aroused.
Tive got a rabbit in a hollow
log back there!"
Yes. yes"
Hes big one-a monster. 1 don't
want him to get away"
Il see. You want help
Mr.. Childs vaulted over the fence.
extended his hand to Miss Ida and to-
gether they ran for the trees and the
log. The spot was reached in three
or four minutes, and not another
word had passed between the two
The lawyer noted the tracks of the
rabbit, and then motioned the girl to
be ready with her club. As soon as
she was stationed he walked to the
other end Of the log. Then he sat
down on it and began to laugh He
sat up and laughed. He bent over and
laughed. He slapped his leg and
laughed.
"Siri"
He looked up through his tears at
a girl standing very stiff and dignI-
fed before him.
Sir"
He pointed to the far end of the
log and chuckled and gurgled. Miss
Ida moved along until she could see.
The log was hollow from end to end.
and her rabbit had entered at one end
and passed out at the other long be-
fore she had taken up his trail. AS
she turned again the young man was
making heroic efforts to suppress his
laughter.
"Sir!"
Il beg your pardon. but it's so
funny!"
"Oh, it ISL
-You-you thought he was in
there!"
And he was!"
But you see-see'"
| And you scared him out, and
don't thank you for it,"
Mr. Childs sobered up and looked
up penitently, and all at once the
girl saw the humor of the situation
and began to laugh. and finally said:
What a goose I've made of my
self! l never thought to look at the
other end of the log. You see, it's the
first time 1 ever went rabbit hunting.
1 thank you for your kindness"
When Miss Ida had reached home
and told of her adventure her aunt
asked:
What name did you say he gave?''
''Why-why, he didn't give any!"
But you gave your name?"
Never thought of that"
J I'm afraid your mother"
She's got nothing to do with It.
She knows nothing about rabbit,
} hunting She doesn't know how ex
cited one gets when one gets a rabbit
into hollow log"
But the young man?"
ooh, he was excited, too When he
J wasn't excited he was laughing. I'm
sure he is a nice young man. He'd
l have given me his card If he'd thought
l Of it,
We'll. I dunno!" sighed Aunt
4 Betty
! Don't know what?"
f why, he'll call, and he'll admire
5 you, and you'll both fall in love and
: be engaged and married, and your
D mother will lay it all to me, and
1 and
But Miss Ida's mother didn't Il
3 is said that she was quite satisfied
r with the match. and SO was the rabbit