The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-10-03

sSSkes sts<a ~ lisis
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 Ill
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. l 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, If he'd wanted
me, one fash, one bite, and I'm break
fast. 1t 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 a 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
Sorry, ut-business-is-busine 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
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 l sure
had mighty close call.
She'd no tears left for father, 30
when l got through sobbin' we went
to the body and loaded 1t In the ko-
matik for home. Thar's things l dom
like to tell you.
1t wasn't a nice trip exactly, with
the Inspector experimenting around.
When we got back to the tilt, we
daresn't take out the huskies, or I'M
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
little ball jerk up the flag halyards,
then break to a great red flag with
/ n
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 wake the folk out of their
Sunday beds. Then he saw fathers
body, with legs and arms stiffened all
ways, and the number-four trap still
gripped on broken bones. OFF came
his fur cap.
Mother stood, iron-hard, beside the
komatik.
Factor" says she. I've come to
pay his debt"
May, it's the Sabbath, ma'am. Yell
pay no debts till Monday. Come in
| anu nave SOHle led-ye pulT InlHB.
You starved his soul to death, and
now I've brought his body to square
his debts. Will 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 gulls
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 all the world in the skirl and wall
and that hopeless awful tune. She
covered her face with her hands, try
ing to hold while the great sobs shook
her, and she Teeled like a tree in a
gale, until she fell on her knees, un
til she threw herself on the corpse
and cried, and cried.
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