Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1914-05-29
BY JOHN TRENT.

scarlet IAzlA6S1 udSneQ through
the darkness Of the pine wood; there
came shot that stopped It In midair
and sent it ffuttering to earth where it
lay very still.
Scott Clayton. dreaming idly on the
brown pine needles. leaped to his feet
at sight of the tragedy and with a cry
of mingled anger and pity held the
dead bird in his hands.
There came the sound of a gay vhis-
tie and girl stepped into view; she
wore jaInty hunting costume Of nut
brown and gun was tucked under
one arm; over the other shoulder was
slung game bag. She wore no hat.
The dark eyes searched the ground
and discovered SCOTS tan shoes. In
stantly the glance few to his face and
then down again to the bird In his
hand.
"Ah, you have found him?" She
stepped forward with extended hand.
But Scott drew back little and his
gray eyes expressed strong disapproval
of the fair huntress.
1T was really you. them he asked
incredulously.
Why, of course-is it so unusual
for woman to hit the mark?"
mo, but it seems extraordinary that
woman should deliberately destroy
such a beautiful creature" Scott
stroked the scarlet of the tanager's
wing.
red flush stained the creamy skin.
Why not, since men have set the
exsmple?' she flared.
One expects acts OF wantoc cruelty
from some men, but from women
none at ALL was his quiet answer.
She bit her lip thoughtfully my ex-
cuse is good one-you cannot deny
that. / am collecting for the Grinnel
museum"
4 beg your pardon" Scott laid the
dead bird in her outstretched hand and
as he did so a drop Of blood, unnoticed
ON the scarlet feathers, stained her
hand. He took out handkerchief and
would have removed the stain, but she
drew her hand quickly back and drop
ped the bird into her game bag.
"Oh. | don't mind that-of course /
am accustomed to it," she said care
aessly, but Scott noted that she shud-
dered little beneath her armor of
hardihood
An uncomfortable silence had fallen
between them and Scott was on the
point Of turning away to his book and
his messy seat beneath the big pine
when there came plalntive call from
above him.
The girl heard it at the same time.
Scott lifted his glance to the tree
and saw the sober-hued dress of the
scarlet tanager's mate. AS he looked
the shot rang out once more and then
the anxious mother bird had gone to
Join her dead mate.
As the girl bent to pick the bird.
SCOTS strong hand closed tightly on
her rounded wrist while he snatched
hand. When he had dropped the bird
IN the pocket Of his loose coat he re-
leased her wrist and stepped back.
beg your pardon. but it appeared
necessary under the circumstances"
Her face was white as snow and her
eyes blazed angrily.
How dare your" she painted. How
dare you touch met"
I have apologized for the rudeness.
1t was necessary"
1T was my bird brought II
down"
1t was my bird-you killed it" was
his accusing answer.
Your birdi" she laughed scornfully.
i have explained to you that am a
collector for the Grinnel museum. ]
wanted pair OF scarlet tanagers and
their young was to be well paid for
at-and brought down the male bird
ana this one that you have taken from
me is its mate. have located the
nest with the young-and well, have
been watching them for several days,
and now" she suddenly lost COM
mand OF her voice and it trembled
alarmingiy.
SCOTS grave eyes never left her
face.
But they were my birds first" he
said gently. You see am a student
OF birds and these tanagers happen to
De one Of my charming studies. Ny
camera concealed there among the
brushwood has been trained on tho
tree for two days. The book / am
writing Is plea for the lives of our
bfrds--the pictures am making will
not only illustrate the book but will
be used In every schoolroom in the
country as means to educate the
children In love and preservation OF
the lives Of our wild birds"
The girls face changed as she lis
tened to his explanation. A wistful
look came into her dark eyes and her
lips quivered so that she placed her
fingers against them.
I am very sorry" she said In a low
tone, and without another word she
turned swiftly and disappeared down
the dark avenues Of pines.