The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-05-26
\ THE PINE WOOD
BY JOHN TRENT.

No darkness Of the pine wood; there
anne shot that stopped 1t in mida,r
and sent 1t fluttering to earth where It
bsy very still.
Scott Clayton. dreaming idly on the
brown pine needles, leaped to his feet
n sight of the tragedy and with a CRY
\ mingled anger and pity held the
dead bird In his hands.
There came the sound of a gay whis.
te and a girl stepped into view; she
wore jaunty hunting costume Of nut
Known and gun was tucked under
one arm; over the other shoulder was
rlung a game bag. She wore no hat.
The dark eyes searched the ground
and discovered Scott's tan shoes. In
stantly the glance flew to his face and
then down again to the bird in his
band.
"Ah, you have found him." She
stepped forward with extended hand.
But scott drew back little and his
kray eyes expressed strong disapproval
pi the fair huntress.
at vas really you, them" he asked
|ncredulously.
Why, Of course-is 1t so unusual
fc woman to hit the mark"
no, but 1t seems extraordinary that
woman should deliberately destroy
kuch beautiful creature" Scott
ktroked the scarlet of the tanager's
wing.
A red flush stained the creamy skin.
Why not, since men have set the
Example, she flared.
"One expects acts Of wanton cruelty
(rom some men, but from women
nome at all" was his quiet answer.
She bit her lip thoughtfully My ex-
Fuse is a good one-you cannot deny
hat am collecting for the Grinnel
museum" "
Il beg your pardon" Scott laid the
lead bird in her outstretched hand and
Is he did SO drop Of blood, unnoticed
bn the scarlet feathers, stained her
hand He took out a handkerchief and
would have removed the stain, but she
.rew her hand quickly back and drop
ped the bird into her game bag.
oh, don't mind that-of course
I'm accustomed to it," she said care.
essly, but Scott noted that she shud-
dered 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
bis messy seat beneath the big pine
Fhen there came plaintive call from
lbove him.
The girl heard it at the same time.
Scott lifted his glance to the tree
lnd saw the sober-hued dress Of the
carlet tanager's mate. AS he looked
be shot rang out once more and then
he anxious mother bird had gone to
oln her dead mate.
As the girl bent to pick the bird,
Fcotts strong hand closed tightly on
Der rounded wrist while he snatched
he dead tanager away with the other
Pand. When he had dropped the bird
the pocket of his loose coat he re-
eased her wrist and stepped back.
l beg your pardon, but It appeared
Recessary under the circumstances.
Her face was white as snow and her
yes blazed angrily.
How dare you?" she painted. How
are you touch me?"
! have apologized for the rudeness.
was necessary"
1t was my bird-I brought 1t
own.
1t was my bird-you killed it," was
Us accusing answer.
Your bird!" she laughed scOrnfully
have explained to you that ! am a
INJECTOR for the Grinnel museum. /
ahted a pair of scarlet tanagers and
aelr young-I was to be we'll paid for
land brought down the male bird
NO this one that you have taken from
le IS its mate | have located the
eSt with the young well, have
gen watching them for several days,
ad how" she suddenly lost com
iand Of her voice and 1t trembled
armingly.
SCOTS grave eyes never left her
bee.
out they were my birds first, he
ao gently. You see l am student
Olfds and these tanagers happen to
one Of my charming studies. MY
1nera concealed there among the
'usnwood has been trained on the
~ for two days. The book | am
lung is plea for the lives Of our
I-the pictures I am making Will
VI only illustrate the book but will
used in every schoolroom In the
untry as a means to educate the
uudren in love and preservation OF
y ives Of our wild birds"
'ae girls face changed as she lis
uN TO his explanation. A wtstful
Va came into her dark eyes and her
v qai7ered so that she placed her
gers against them.
! am very sorry" she said In low
ue and without another word she
4ued swiftly and disappeared down
dark avenues of pines.