Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-10-04
When Bert
Weakened
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
By JOSEPHINE MURPHY

than Ware, frank antagonist OF the |
| ife strenuous one Saturday morning.
Its so easy to stretch them over Sat- !
urday; and then the blessed Sabbath |
gives us another day in which to rest. !
Tomorrow Bert, you and Miss Thorn
ton can have the sport of your lives
hunting gray squirrels. The woods
are full Of them, and if there's any
better fun than chasing squirrels, l
'ior't know what it is-unless making
love to a pretty girl beats it.
You and Miss Thornton got along
famously today" leased Nathan. IF
YOU and Dora aren't to be congratu-
lated before leaving here Sunday,
Phebe Ware is going to be the most
disappointed woman in America"
"l:eally?" laughed Bert. "Iour wife
is Il dear, but" He hesitated. smil
ing.
'Shell be after me soon if don't
20 out and join her." said Nathan,
rising and pacing his hand on his
friends shoulder. "Hope the but is
not serious. E,t,rt Miss Thornton is a
brick and she likes you. Good night.
Have your snake out, and if there's
anything YOU want and can't find, why
keep on looking for it, or spring
the burglar ALARM
It had been u day full of pleasure
for the little house party at Wares
place., bungalow II miles frcm the
city and a million miles from vexa-
tiOn."
The e-ening before as they sat in
the library. various topics had been
discussed, chief of which were, "wom-
ans rights A charming exponent OF
this subject had been Dora Thornton,
and thus the thorn that prlcked the
love and admiration Of Bert. Yet the
| former ay-dreams Of a clear-headed
! bachelor held no vision such rs this.
It was the creature of another world
that appeared in his dreams-a girl,
! gentle, home-loving and dependable
| Now in the fairy smoke circles that
! floated from his cigar, another form
! is visible; girl, muscular, brown
| armed and alert; who paddles canoe
| like an Indian, and whose archery and
rifle scores are among the best; yet
| possessing none Of those soft feminine
!! traits which the average man admlres
most in woman.
| Bert threw the end Of his cigar into
the fire and mounted the stairs to MS
room. Half an hour later, hesitating
| between accusing himself Of being
! either prig or an idiot, he fell asleep.
! Saturday morning dawned clear and
| beautiful. An early coach brought
several more to the little homeopathy.
"Sorry 1 haven't another rifle, Phil,'
said Ware to a shooting guest; you
might catch up with Bert and Miss
Thornton and catch some squirrels"
awe saw Dora and Bert as we came
over the HILL" said Alice Bates.
"And jolly time they seemed to be
having all by themselves" said Phil.
II whistled. but they were too busy
to hear me-"
"Guess they'll come back squirrel
less. It's dollars to doughnuts Bert
wouldn't see a squirrel if he fell over
one. However, we won't blame him
under the circumstances" remarked
Ware.
He was mistaken, for just about this
time Bert had caught sight Of the first
squirrel, fat gray one, which bounded
: to a tall chestnut tree hundred feet
away.
81 see the rascal" he said. "Stani
!: here, Miss Thornton. Look up between
those two branches. Do you see him?
*'You don't mean that brownish ex
crescence on the bark?"
:: "That's the chap"
: IT don't believe It,"
"Try him with shot. and you'll see
: SQUIRRELS were not behind the doc
:: when protective coloring was handel
: out in the animal kingdom. Stead!
now"
The girls lips closed firmly. Thel
a muffled report was heard.
"You've got him! ~ exclaimed Bert.
The squirrels clutch on the bari
s slowly relaxed and he fell.
Bert went over and picked up TIN
: yet quivering creature.
"What beauty!' he cried. 1T wa
q splendid shot"
AS he approached the girl she shranl
: from him. He put the fluffy ANNA
into the pocket of his hunting jacket
"Dora, DEAR" he said, placing hi
: hand tenderly on her shoulder.
"Don't," she cried, passionately.
81 I'm brute.",
"Oh, what cruel thing to do! Tht
poor, harmless little fellow. Oh, hov
could To- Here her voice broke in ;
: sob, as she leaned against tree ant
wept, her head buried in her hands
: Gently, Bert unwound the fingers tina
held her rifle.
: "Shall we walk on?" he said.
Slowly they walked through thu
woods, and Bert, uncertain no longer
of his love. spoke Of subject nearer
and dearer than any other. In truth
squirrels scampered beneath their very
feet unseen. Before long the girls
countenance had changed to one Of
happiness, and her eyes shone with ,
| ooxv- }>rilI;nDcv that smoke we'll fOr. thI