Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-02

Dress you, Cnllu! was the reply.
81 may hunt for five miles around"
so you may
81 may not get back till dark"
"But don't get all tired out"
"My soul!" exclaimed the girl, as
she jumped up. "I-havent any gun
and there isn't any time to write
brother Ben to send one up!"
but you won't need one, dear.
You take a club with you. You track
a rabbit into hollow log and stand
by with your club raised to hit him
on the head as he looks out to see
who you are"
Which information went to show
that. providing there were enough
rabbits and clubs and hollow logs
and girls In the country. the ship
ments of dead Dummies to the city
market would average five carloads
per day.
"Are they willing to be- killed."
asked Miss Ida, as she thought of the
terrific slaughter.
II believe they are"
"And they don't fight back?"
Never"
Half an hour later the short
skirted and old.hated young hunt
ress. who had been provided with a
stout club by the hired man, started
out on the trail. That Is, she started
out on hundred trails, but after II
time struck a single ona and followed
1t across the fields and into bit OF
woods. The rabbit had had his circus
and was bound for his home In a hol-
low log. Yes, the trail led directly to
a log with cavity In the end. and
now It was business.
Miss Ida walked on tip.toes. She
breathed hard She almost bit her
tongue. She gripped her club till her
fingers ached.
Straight into that hollow led the
trail. She was sure Of her quarry
That rabbit could no more escape her
than the steel trust can escape Uncle
Sam. He would hear and smell her
He would peek out and-smash!
Then the girl found her knees
trembling and her breath coming In
gasps, and she turned and ran for
the highway It was too much for
her. She felt that she must have
help. The hunter that sights his first
deer has the same panicky feeling.
Mr.. Brisband Childs was being
driven from the railroad station to
his mothers house.
He had come down on the early
morning train, so as to take advan.
tage Of the tracking-snow He had
just entered law firm as the junior
partner and his legal erudition told
him that the best time to hunt wolves
and panthers and rabbits was when
there was snow on the ground.
"Hey, you! Hey! Hey!"
Mr. Childs had been looking straight
ahead. He now looked to the right
and ordered the driver to halt. Run
ming across the white field was a girl
with club in her hand and her hat
joggled over on her ear. Was she
fleeing for her life before some saw
age animal? Tad. she aroused a nest
of tramps in the woods?
Say! Say! Say!" she gasped as
she drew nearer.
Eyes, yes" answered Mr.. Childs as
he leaped from the carriage with al
his chivalry aroused.
live got rabbit in a hollow
log back there!"
Eyes. yes
Hes q big one a monster.
don't want him to get away"
II see. You want help"
Mr.. Childs vaulted over the fence
extended his hand to Miss Ida and to
gether they ran for the trees and the
log. The spot was reached in three
or four minutes, and not another
word had passed between the two
The lawyer noted the tracks Of the
rabbit, and then motioned the girl
to be ready with her club. AS soon
as she was stationed he walked to the
other end Of the log. Then he sal
down on 1t and began to laugh. He
sat up and laughed. He bent over
and laughed He slapped his leg and
laughed.
"Sir!"
He looked up through his tears at
a girl standing very stiff and digni
fled before him.
"Sir!"
He pointed to the far end of the
log and chuckled and gurgled. Miss
Ida moved along until she could sec
The log was hollow from end to
end, and her rabbit had entered at
one end and passed out at the other
long before she had taken up his
trail. AS she turned again the young
man was making heroic efforts to
suppress his laughter.
"Sir!"
Ell beg your pardon, but it's 80
FUNNY"
ooh, 1t Isl"
You you thought he was in
there!"
"And he was"
But you see-see-"
"And you scared him out, and
don't thank you for it,
Mr. Childs sobered up and looked
up penitently, and all at once the
girl saw the humor of the situation
and began to laugh, and finally said:
"What a goose I've made of my.
self! I never thought to look at the
other end OF the log. You see, it's the
first time ever went rabbit hunting.
l thank you for your kindness"
When Miss Ida had reached home
and told of her adventure her aunt
asked:
what name did you say he gave?'
4 H. StvS