Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-10-01

fear they'd be trapped or shot. So ]
walked slow and proud, leadin' him
| or from father-at least / played that,
wishing all the time that mothers liz
boy was to home After a while /
grabbed down a 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 g.s not him hunting,
but me scared. Why, If he'd wanted
me, one fash, one bite. and I'm break
fast. II was just curiosity made him
so close behind like a stealthy ghost.
When I'd turn to show fight, he'd seem
to apologize, and then I'd go on whis.
Ting a hymn
Thar he was cached right ahead in
the deadfall. for front view, II I'd
known. But / thrashed with my stick
in o panic. hitting his snout, so he
yelped. Then he lost his temper. He'd
a sorry, but-b1siness-is-b business" 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 | was rub
bling whar the bullet hurt, sort of
sulky too. with grievance. when
was suddenly grabbed and nigh smoth-
cred in mothers arms. Shed come
with the team of huskies followin' me;
she'd been cunning, too, and | sure
had a mighty close call
She'd no tears left for father, so
when | got through sobbin we went
to the body, and loaded it in the ko-
matik for home. Thar's things | don't
like to tell you.
II wasn't a nice trip exactly, with
the Inspector experimenting around
When we got back to the tilt, we
daresn't take QUE the huskies, or un-
load. or even stop for grub. We had
to drive straight TN, mother and me,
down the tickle. past our old empty
home, then up the L.acalieu all night
The sun was jus, clear of the ice
when we made the Post, and we saw
little ball jerk up the flag halyards.
then break to a great red flag with
the letters II. b. C. II means Here
Before Christ.
The air was full of a big noise, like
the skirl of sea-gulls screaming in a
gale, and there was Mr.. McTaYisi. on
the sidewalk, marching with his bag
pipes to wake the folk out CT their
Sunday beds. Then he saw fathers
body. with legs and arms stiffeneJ all
ways, and the number-four trap stnl
gripped on broken bones. OF came
his fur cap.
Mother stood, iron-hard, beside the
komatik
Factor" says she. 1--WE come to
pay his debt
Nay, it's the Sabbath, ma am Yen
pay no debts till Monday. Come in
and have some tea-ye puir thing"
You starved his soul to death, and
now I've brought his body to square
his debts. VIII you leave that here
till Monday ?"
Mr.. McTavish looked at her. then
whispered to me. BY" said he. I'VE
must make her cry or she'll be raving
mad Greet, woman. greet. BY God.
I'll make we greet"
He marched up and down the side
walk, and through the skirl of eulls
in a storm. swept a tune that made
the meat shake on my bones.
Once mother shrieked out. trying
to make him stop. but he went on pac-
ing in front of her. to and fro. with
his eyes on her all the time. peering
straight through her. and all the grief
OF sill the world in the skirl and vail.
and that hopeless awful tune. She
covered her face with her hands. try
ing to hold while the great sobs shook
her, and she reeIed like tree in
gale, until she fell on her knees. I'M
til she threw herself on the corpse,
and cried, and cried.