New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-26


L streaming lar away across the valley
and beyond HagcrSyillc; though II was al
ready beginning 10 grow dusk among the
tall trees on the lower eastern slope OF Dodds
Hill That subtle instinct which seldom
fails 10 warn "a growing boy when II Is supper
time had whispered 10 Ted Carpenter and
he was making in the direction Of home at a
good rate.
Withou, the least warning, there came
from some dense bushes a little behind him
and somewhat farther up the slope mos,
uncar,hly series OF wells, squalls, and cater
wauls Ted stopped Instantly, and stoop-
Ing down pccrcd among the trees III the III
rcction Of the disturbance. Several things
flashed into his mind. The first was that
there were wildcats around Dodds I'LL. HIS
brother Charlie had been talking about
them only that morning.
Ted had never heard a wildcat; but tins
sounded remarkably ike the noise ne should
have expected a wildcat to make. The sec
ond thought that came TO Ted $ mind was
that wildcats would never hurt anyone II
they were let alone. Charlie had tired To
represent that they were very dangerous,
| but his mother had assured him that II was
not true. But somehow here III the shadow
Of Dodds Hill with wildcat actually at
hand. Charlie assertion seemed the more
reasonable.
The uproar continued. Then there WAS a
tracking Of dry twigs and "a movement OF
the bushes. Clearly, Charlie WAS right. and
| his mother WAS wrong. Home WAS a safer
place. Ted turned about and started.
! There was a tremendous crash in the bushes
and vowl that ended in a bloodcurdllng
scream. That WAS enough. Ted broke into
| a trot. The trot suggested run, and moth
| ing seemed So natural As to increase the rate
Of this. even after the diSQuicting sounds IN
| the bushes had been left behind. The result
was that Ted got over the scant hali-milc
in considerably less time than he had ever
covered it before.
TED tried to enter the dining room, where
the family were at supper, IN COM
posed manner. but his excitement betrayed
him.
whats up, Tcd:" asked his father.
"Wildcats," answered Ted, somewhat
short Of breath. "Nlorc'n fifty of EN-, |
guess. They
Didn't YOU count them" interrupted
Mr.. Carpenter.
Il couldn't see EN-. There must have
! been morc'n one. anyway. They made an
awful noise Why, YOU thought OH Stripes
made a noise that night YOU threw the boot
| lack out the window; but YOU ought to a
heard these Forty times louder and
worse"
At this. Old Stripes, the faithful family
cat. hearing his name mentioned, got up
from the corner, and stood looking, gravcly
waving his tail and displaying his tiger.
marked sides.
Right up on the slope Of Dodds Hill
above the three birchcs, went on Ted, pay
ing no attention to the cat. 81 was coming
along, and Hello, Charlie" he broke of As
| his older brother came in
"Why, Charlie, what 5 the natter" asked
| his mother.
! The boys JAWS were tightly closed, and he
seemed To be struggling with some emotion
that it was difficult to control Then it got
beyond him, and as he slipped into his chair
he burst out with a shout OF laughter that
shook the table.
Ted looked at him in panied surprise.
Then suddenly he rcddcned' and said,
Charlie, was that you? | believe ii WAS
you, you-
Just what nc considered Charlie to
be was never known, because that young
person broke out into even louder laugh
| ter.
"Wcll, anyhow" went on Ted when at
last the other became quiet, you'd been
scared too If Won heard such a noise out