The Red Cloud chief., 1914-07-16
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IN THE Pine WOOD
BY JOHN TRENT.


the darkness Of the pine wood; there
came shot that stopped It in midair
and sent It fiuttering to earth where II
lay very stu.
Scott Clayton, dreaming idly on the
brown pine needles, leaped to his feet
at sight Of the tragedy and with q cry
OF mingled anger and pity held tho
dead bird in his hands.
There came the sound of gay whis'
tie and girl stepped into view; she
wore jaunty hunting costume Of nut
brown and gun was tucked under
one arm; over the other shoulder was
slung a game bag. She wore no hat.
The dark eyes searched the ground
and discovered Scott's 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.
ut was really you, then?" he asked
lncfecuiouS!y.
why, OF .course-is It so unusual
for woman to hit the mark?"
mo, but It seems extraordinary that
a woman should deliberately destroy
such beautiful creature" Scott
stroked the scarlet of the tanager's
wing.
a red flush stained the creamy skin.
Why not, since men have set the
eXample?" she fared.
One expects acts Of wanton cruelty
from some men, but from women
none at all" was his quiet answer
She bit her lip thoughtfully my ex-
| cuse Is q good one-you cannot deny
that. | am collecting for the Grinnel
! museum"
Il beg your pardon" Scott laid the
dead bird in her outstretched hand and
as he did so 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 quichly back and Crop:
ped the bird into her game bag
"Oh, | don't mind that-of course
am accustomed to I'll" she said care,
lessly but Scctt roted that she shud,
dered q 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 q plaintive call from
above him.
The girl heard it at the same time.
Scott lifted his glance to the tree
and saw the soberhued dress OF the
scarlet tanager's mate. AS he looked
the shot rang out once more and then
the anxious mother bird had gone tc
Join her dead mate
AS the girl bent to pick the bird
Scotts strong hand closed tightly or
her rounded wrist. While he snatchet
the dead tanager away with the othel
hand. When he had dropped the birt
in the pocket Of his loose coat he re
leased her wrist and stepped back.
Il beg your pardon, but It appeared
necessary under the circumstances"
Her face was white as snow and hel
eyes blazed angrily.
How dare you?" she painted. "Hov
dare you touch me?"
Il have apologized for the rudeness
II was necessary"
1T was my bird-I brought |
down"
1T was my bird-you killed It," wa
his accusing answer.
"Your bird!" she laughed scornfully
Il have explained to you that I am
collector for the Grinnel museum.
wanted a pair CT scarlet tanagers an
their young--I was to be we'll paid 70
it-and ! brought down the male bir
and this one that you have taken fror
me Is it's mate. | have located tn
nest with the young-and well, hav
been watching them for several day
and now" she suddenly lost con
mand of her voice and it tremble
alarmiuGly
SCOTS grave eyes never left he
face,
But they were my birds first" h
said gently. you see ! am a studer
of birds and these tanagers happen I
be one of my charming studies NJ
camera concealed there among tt
/ brushwood has been trained on I'll
n tree for two days. The book | a.
Al writing Is n plea for the lives OF OF
Al blrds-the pictures | am making wi
y not only illustrate the book but wi
be used in every schoolroom in Il
country as means TO educate Il
children In love and preservation
81 the lives of our wild birds"
The girls face changed as she II
tened to his explanation. A VISIT
look came into her dark eyes and h
lips quivered go that she placed h
fingers against them
81 am very sorry she said III lo
tone, and without another word 81
tur,od swiftlv and diaannaarad dou