The Elbert County tribune., 1914-01-09

Gates.
Mother was worse than silent. There
was something about her that scared
me more than anything outdoors. In
the morning her eye KEEP following me
as II to say. go nnd your father"
Surely 1t was up to me. and II /
wasn't big enough to drive the huskies
or pack fathers gun, thought could
manage afoot to tote his four-pound
az. She beckoned me to her and
kissed me-just once In ten years. and
was quick through the door, out of
reach. lest she should see me mighty
near cFyin'.
1t was all very well showing off
brave before mother. but when got
outside, any excuse would have been
enough for going back. wished I'd
left the matches behind. but hadn't.
wished the snow would be too soft,
but 1t was hard as sand. wished
wasn't coward. and the bush didn't
look SO wolfy, and what II l met up
with the Eskimo devil. oh. was
surely the scaredest Ill boy. and dead
certain I'd get lost. Then went on
because was going. and there was fa-
ther's trail blazed on past Bake-apple
Marsh. The way was as plain as
streets. and the sun shining warm as
he looked over into the valley.
Then saw mans mitt, an old
buckskin mitt sticking up out OF the
snow. Father had dropped his mitt.
and without that his hand would be
froze When / found him, low glad
he'd be to get It!
But when I tried to pick 1t up, 1t
was heavy. Then 1t came away. and
there was fathers hand sticking up.
It was dead.
or course l know I'd ought to have
dug down through the snow. but /
didn't. l ran for all l was worth.
Then l got out of breath and come
back shamed.
1t wasn't for love OF father. No.
hated to touch that hand, and when !
did l was sick. Still that was better
than being scared to touch. It's not
SO bad when you dare.
dug. with a snowehoe for a shovel.
There was the buckskin shirt smelling
good, and the long fringes I'd used
to tickle his nose with-then found
turned my back and dug until came
to the great. big. number-four trap he
used for wolf and beaver. He must
have stepped without seeing It under
the snow, and 1t broke his leg Then
he'd tried to drag himself back home.
1t was when stood up to get
breath and cool of that first seen the
wolf. setting peaceful. waggin' his tail
First I thought he was one OF our
own huskies. but when he didn't know
his name ! saw for sure he must be
the wolf who lived up Two Mile Crick
He'd got poor inspecting fathers bust.
ness instead of minding his own
That's why he was called the Inspec-
tor. 1t was March. too. the moon of
famine. OF course ! threw my ak
and missed. His hungry smiles still
thar behind bush, and me wonder
ing whether his business is with me
or father. That's why l stepped on
the snow-shoes. and went right past
where he was, not daring to get my
ak. Yes, 1t was me he wanted to see
first. but Of course / wasn't going to
encourage any animal into thinking
he'd scared man. Why. he'd scarce
have let father even see his tracks for
fear they'd be trapped or shot So
walked slow and proud. leadin' him
on from father-at least played that.
wishing all the time that mothers lii
boy was to home. After a while /
grabbed down a Topped stick where
father'd biazed, not as fierce as an
ak. but enough to make me more or
less respected
The Inspector was bigger than me,
stronger n any man. swifter n any
horse. / tell yer the named white wolf
is wiser'n most people. and but for
eating his cubs. he's natures gentle
| man.
The trouble was not him hunting,
but me scared. Why, II he'd wanted
me. one flash. one bite. and I'm break
fast. 1t was just curiosity made him
so close behind like stealthy ghost.
When I'd turn to show fight, he'd seem
to apologize. and then I'd go on whis-
tling hymn.
Thar he was cached right ahead in
the deadfall, for front view. IL I'd
known But ! thrashed with my stick
in a panic. hitting his snout, so he
yelped. Then he lost his temper. He'd
a sorry. but-business-is-b business" ex-
preston on him. l ran at him. eripped
on stump. let out yell. and be lep'
straight at my throat
And In the middle of that came a
gunshot, bullet grazed my arm, and
went on whining. Another shot. and
the Inspector ran. Then was rub
bling whar the bullet hurt. sort of
sulky. too. with grievance, when I
was suddenly grabbed and nigh smoth-
cred in mothers arms. Shed come
with the team OF huskies followin me;
shed been cunning. too. and I sure
had a mighty close call.