Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-11-21

| was something about her that scared
me more than anything outdoors. In
the morning her eye KEEP following me
as IL to say, Go find your father =
Surely 1t was up to me, aud II !
wasn't big enough to drive the huskies
or pack fathers gun, thought could
manage afoot to tote his four-pcund
AK. She beckoned me to her and
kissed me-just once in ten years, and
/ was quick through the door. out OF
| reach, lest she should see me mighty
| near cryin'.
1t was all very well showing off
brave before mother, but when got
outside, any excuse would have been
enough for going back. wished I'd
left the matches behind. but hadn't.
wished the snow would be too soft,
but 1t was hard as sand. ! wished
wasn't a coward, and the bush didn't
look so wolfy. and what II | met up
with the Eskimo devil! Oh, was
surely the scaredest Ill boy, and dead
certain I'd get lost Then I went on
because was going. and there was fa-
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 ] saw a 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 1t!
But when / tried to pick 1t up, 1t
was heavy. Then II came away, and
there was fathers hand sticking up
1t was dead
OF course know I'd ought to have
didn't. ran for all | 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 was sick Still that was better
than being scared to touch. It's not
SO bad when you dare.
dug. with snowshoe for shovel.
There was the buekskin shirt smelling
good. and the long fringes I'd used
to tiokle his nose with-then found
his face. just couldn't bear that, but
turned my back and dug until came
to the great, big, number-fcur trap he
used for wolf and beaver He must
have stepped without seeing it under
tho snow, and 1t broke his leg Then
he'd tried to drag himself back home
| II was when stood up to get
breath and cool off that l 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 saw for sure he must be
the wolf who lived up Two Mile Crick
He'd got poor inspecting fathers bust
ness instead of minding his own
That's why he was called the Inspec-
tor. 1t was March, too, the moon of
| famine. OF course | threw my ak
and missed His hungry smiles still
thar behind a bush, and me wonder
ing whether his business is with me
or father. That's why | stepped on
the snow-shoes, and went right past
where he was, not daring to get my
ak Yes, it was me he wanted to see
first, but of course | wasn't going 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 lii
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. If he'd wanted
me, one flash. one bite, and I'm break
fast 1t was just curiosity made him
so close behind like stealthy ghost.
When I'd turn to show fight, he'd seem
to apologize. and then I'd go op Whis.
Ting hymn.
Thar he was cached right ahead in
the deadfall. for front view, if I'd
known. But / thrashed with my stick
in panic, hitting his snoutsso he
yelped. Then he lost his temper. He'd
sorry, ut-business-is- business" ex.
preston on him. ran at him, trspped
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 l was rub
bling whar the bullet hurt, sort OF
sulky 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 sure