Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-01-30

Merivale went into the house dis
gusted. Whether an ample supply OF
birds had been obtained by the poach-
ers or whatever was the reason, there
was no pOaching that night, but tho
next there was more firing, and in the
morning the keeper declared that he
must have been prevented from hear
ing It by his deafness. The earl was
In a Quandary. This was the third
keeper he had tried within a month.
They had all made Excuses for not pre-
venting poaching and all the aso
given were very fimsy. But what was
the use Of discharging one keeper
when the next one employed was no
more effective7
The night before Christmas eve-that
i, two nights before Christmas day
as George Anderson went on duty he
was met by the Lady Maude, who said
to him:
There is something / would like to
say to you. but I should not" y
There's no fun, Lady Maude, In say
ing only what we should say"
perhaps ! had better tell you. II !
don't something might happen. Papa
called today for some old clothes OF
one Of the tenants. / have found out
what use he purposes to make Of
them"
"What is it7'
Hes going out to play poacher on
his own preserves. l fancy 1t is to
find out why you are not dealing
harshly with the real poachers. ! have
been afraid that II ! didn't warn you
you might shoot him by mistake"
"That's very wise Of you"
The girl passed on, and Anderson
went to the wood. He kept wide
awake during the night, listening for a
shot. About midnight he heard a
"bang" not far away and went stealth
fly toward where the sound had SEEM
ed to be. On the way he heard anoth-
er shot so neal that, fearing to be dis
covered. he took position behind a tree,
from whence he saw a poacher picking
up a bird.
1.-THE old skinfiint is doing the killing
for his W table," he unused.
There was snow on the ground ana
a rising moon. These together ena-
bled the keeper to distinguish the earl
Anderson waited till the latter brought
down another bird and when it was
being taken up fell upon him, seized
his gun and, throwing 1t away, gave
him a sound drubbing. Then, selling
him by the collar, he hustled him to
the fence and threw him over 1t into a
ditch.
Waiting zeal to make sure that Mer-
ivale was not seriously injured and
seeing his b~edraggled figure limp
away, Anderson, instead of resuming
his watch, went to his room, where he
sat down at a table and wrote the fol
lOwing;
NOTICE.
Tomorrow being Christmas. permission
Is given for tenants and ~neighbors 10
shoot in my preserves what game Is need
ed for a Christmas dinner.
Having prepared this Information. he
took It, with hammer and tacks, to the
gateway of the estate and tackled 1t In
a conspicuous position. Then, return
ing to his room, he went to bed.
The next day Lord Merivale kept his
room. Just before noon he heard a
banging in his grounds that sounded
as II a battle were being fought there.
with difficulty getting out Of bed and
into his clothes, he went downstairs
On the portico he encountered Ander'
son talking to his daughter, Lady
Maude. The former had thrown of his
keepers dress for the costume OF g
western American. The latter seemed
to be in a state Of excitement.
"What means this lringT' demanded
Merivale.
1.-THE poor are killing birds for theil
Christmas dinners" returned Ander
son.
"The poor! Killing my birds TO
Christmas dinner"
"Killing my birds by my permission
"Your birds7 By your permission
Who are you to talk like thisT'
81 am the owner OF this estate. Lis
ten, uncle. Your older brother, Ralph
a quarter Of a century ago went Il
America. There he became a cowbo.
and was killed in an encounter with
party of Indians. Some years ago yo'
sent an agent to America who learne'
and reported-doubtless to your salts
faction-this fact, but your agent faile'
to discover that there had been a maj
rage between your older brother an
! the daughter Of a rancher. ! spran
! from that marriage. I am your brothe
Ralph's son"
AS this brief story developed Mert
vale turned pale. After pausing n fey
moments at this point the narrato
continued;
"My father left the proofs Of hi
Identity with my mother. When ! b.
came OF age a few months ago she tol
! me that l was the grandson Of an Emf
I lish nobleman. / came here TO lear
the situation. / came as n stranger. fo
II ! found that / was entitled to thi
estate and It was in worthy hands
p .-Ll