The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-10-15


grunts Of pleasure.
Deliberately, masterfully BABE start
ed away. He paused and glanced back
with pre-emptory grunt. The other
obediently followed, and the two set
out at steady pace towards the deep
er recesses of the forest.
The wilderness had claimed its own
again.
Ten years had passed; Old Babe and
his mischievous pranks were but q
halfforgotten memory.
John Clayton, older and grayer now,
stepped out OIL the kitchen porch, and,
shading his eyes with his hand, gased
anxiously to tho northward, where q
gray pail mounting high to the frma-
ment told of forest fire. The acrid
smell of smoke was heavy on the
morning air.
If the breeze from the north holds,
it will be into the settlements in "a
hours he commented to his wife.
Have you heard anything Of the fire,
George" he inquired of his eldest
son, who, burdened with two milk pals,
came striding up to the door. The
lanky school boy was now q 1.-THE
young man of 25
"Looks bad, dad" he responded.
"Nre jumped the Waba Creek last
night Woods are full Of bob eats and
game clearing out before it Frank
Hawkins, they say, shot deer in his
clearing this morning. Good thing it s
the open season."
"Better take the pony" suggested
his father, "and ride down the road to
McNab S and find out if he has heard
anything"
"Believe will. I'll inst take the
gun along in case should meet some
venison on the hoof"
He stepped to the wall, took down
the rifle from the pegs and hurried
toWdIu tuo StdDleS.
w.
Ten years had brought no change to
the gray weather-beaten log school
house, save that other children filled
the long benches and another teacher
q tired, sharp faced woman, sat at the
desk. She raped loudly for order. All
day the children had been strangely
restless.
Can t you sit quietly in your seats
You seem to be all upset about the
forest fire. Sarah, see what is making
that noise in the lobby"
A big girl left her place and glanced
through the doorway. Her instantane.
GUS scream, "lt's bear--a big BEAR"
brought twenty startled children to
their feet.
Nonsense, Sarah"
A loud shuffling drowned the teach
or s voice. Then the doorway framed
a frightful apparition. Erect to his
full height of over five feet stood a
monstrods bear, shaggy of coat, grizzled
with years. His mouth was slightly
open, showing his red tongue, his SHARP
white teeth. His little eyes were
twinkling merrily.
A silent moment of we-struck
horror, and then, with screams Of terror
teacher and pupils rushed for the
open windows and scrambled to outer
safety.
The animal dropped to tho floor
shifted curiously along the row Of
empty benches, then numbered back te
the lobby, seized paper covered pack
age and plodded on down the roadway
A moment later he was hidden in .
lowlying clump Of cedars.
V.
George Clayton, eantering down the
road, suddenly reined his horse. From
the cedars to the right came the SOUND
of voices
Dropping from the saddle, he broke
] through the first Of the shrubbery t.
meet an excited assemblage Of mer
armed with guns and pitchforks.
"It's bear, George-he's 8 in there,
explained an elderly man. "Come on
you and | will 60 in and drive hin
out"
With guns at hip, the two cautiously
advanced through narrow lane-lik'