Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-17
I wished the snow woula % too sofs,
but It was hard as sand. ! wished

| surely the scaredest Ill boy, and dead
certain I'd get lost. Then l went on
because l was going, and there was ia
theirs trail blazed on past Bake-apple
Marsh. The way was as plain as
| streets, and the sun shining warm as
! he looked over into the valley.
Then l saw mans mitt, an old
buckskin mitt sticking up out Of the
snow. Father had dropped his mitt,
and without that his hand would be
froze. When found him, how glad
! he'd be to get it!
But when I tried to pick it Up, it
was heavy. Then it came away and
there was fathers hand sticking up.
1t was dead.
OF course know I'd ought to have
dug down through the snow. but l
didn't. l ran for ell was worth
Then got out Of breath and come
back shamed.
1t wasn't for love Of father. No.
hated to touch that hand. and when
did l was sick. Still that was better
than being scared to touch. It's not
SO bad when you dare.
dug, with a snow-shoe for a shovel
There was the buckskin shirt smelling
good, and the long fringes I'd used
to tickle his nose with-then l found
his face. Just couldn't bear that, but
turned NY back and dug until I came
to the great, big, number-four trap he
used for wolf and beaver. He must
have stepped without seeing it under
the snow, and it broke his leg. Then
he'd tried'to drag himself back home.
1t was when l stood up to get
breath and cool off that first seen the
wolf setting peaceful, Vaughn his tail.
First thought he was one of our
own huskies, but when he didn't know
his name I saw for sure he must be
the wolf who lived up Two Mile Crick
He'd got poor inspecting fathers bust
neEs instead Of minding his own.
That's why he was called the Inspec-
tor 1t was March, too, the moon of
famine. OF course l threw my ak
and missed. His hungry smiles still
thar behind bush, and me wonder
ing whether his business is with me
or father. That's why stepped on
where he was. not daring to get my
ak. Yes, it was me he wanted to see
first, but Of course l wasn't go.lg to
encourage any animal into thinking
he'd scared man. Why, he'd scarce
have let father even see his tracks for
fear they'd be trapped or shot. So
walked slow and proud, leadin' him
off from father-at least played that,
wishing all the time that mothers liz
boy was to home. After a while
grabbed down Topped stick where
father'd blazed, not as fierce as an
ak, but enough to make me more or
less respected.
The Inspector was bigger than me.
stronger n any man, swifter n any
horse. tell yer the named white wolf
is wiser'n most people. and but for
eating his cubs, he's natures gentle
man.
The trouble was not him hunting.
but me scared. Why, II he'd wanted
me, one fash, one bite, and I'm break
fast. 1t was just curiosity made him
80 close behind like stealthy ghost.
When Pd turn to show fight, he'd seem
to apologize, and then I'd 60 on whis-
Ting hymn.
Thar he was cached right ahead in
the deadfali, for front view, If I'd
known. But l thrashed with my stick
in a panic, hitting his snout, SO he
yelped. Then he lost his temper. He'd
a "sorry, Observation-Disclosures ex-
preston on him. ran at him, tripped
on stump. let out yell. and he lep'
straight at my throat
And in the middle Of that came a
gunshot, bullet grazed my arm, and
went on whining. Another shot, and
the Inspector ran. Then I was rub
bling whar the bullet hurt, sort Of
eulky, too, with a grievance, when
was suddenly grabbed and nigh smoth.
cred in mothers arms. She'd come
with the team of huskies followin' me;
she'd been cunning, too, and l sure
had a mighty close CALL
She'd no tears left for father so
when l got through sobbin' we went
to the body, and loaded it in the ko-
metik for home. Thar's things don't
like to tell you.
It wasn't nice trip exactly, with
the Inspector experimenting around.
When we got back to the tilt, we
daresn't take out the huskies. or un-
load, or even stop for grub. We had
to drive straight on. mother and me.
down the tickle, past our old empty
home, then up the Bacalieu all night.
The sun was just clear Of the ice
when we made the Post, and we saw
a little bali jerk up the flag halyards,
then break to a great red flag with
the letters II. B. G. It means Here
Before Christ.
The air was full OF big noise, like
the skirl of sea-gulls screaming in a
gale, and there was Mr.. McTavish on
the sidewalk, marching with his bag
| pipes to weke the folk out Of their
Sunday beds. Then he saw father's
! body, with legs and arms stifened all
ways, and the number-four trap still
gripped on broken bones. on came
his fur cap.
Mother stood. iron-hard. beside the
komatik.
| Factor" says she. Two como to
pay his debit
Nay, it's the Sabbath. me'am. Ye1l
! pay no debts till Monday. Como IN
! and have some tea-ye puir thing"
| -