Smyrna times., 1920-05-19
THE TEAKETTLE
BY RUBY B. sPEER.
1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)

note to look after the retreating mes
y senger boy. Again she read the note
y "Dear Mary-Tll be away a fey
X days. Suddenly remembered that w
forgot to empty the camp teakettle
\ and I don't want it to freeze. Leavin:
on the 10:10. Yours Ed"
"Of all fOOlishneSs," breathed Mary
Rushing off 100 miles into another
state to empty a teakettle. There's
something more in the wind" she hint
ed darkly, as she closed the door and
went toward the dining room.
She was not really hurt or grieved
at his sudden going, for they were as
calm and undemOnstrative as the aver
age middle-aged couple, and his busi-
ness often took him on sudden trips.
He had bade her his usual affectionate
good-by on leaving after breakfast, but
MS curious quest veXed, while it
amused her. With her thoughts still
in fog Mary stopped to pick up the
morning paper that had fallen beside
Eds chair at the table. AS she
glanced carelessly at the paper her
eyes caught a line announcing the
opening of the deer season in a neigh
boring state.
$50 that's it," laughed Mary. drop
ping into chair. "The teakettle had
to be emptied, indeed" Ed Knapp was
was never happy without his full
quota of deer every season.
why didn't he tell me he was 60
Ing? Afraid I'd think he ought to
stay home wOrking?" she Ihuckled.
I'd like to go, tOO," she added regret
FULLY, for Mary had been a good shot
IN her youth and she still hunted and
tramped. Years ago she and Ed had
met one hunting season, she a farm.
ers daughter, he a city sportsman.
Unknowingly they had shot at the
same deer and it was Mary's shot that
relied it. Friendship sprang from
their similarity of tastes, and love and
marriage soon followed. The cares of
the crOwding years soon took Marv's
time from spOrtsmanship, but each
year the family spent it's vacation in
a cabin near the site of her old home.
Il know the very deer he is after"
thought Mary, "the big buck that drank
every evening from the brook below |
the cabin. Pm going to have shot at
1t, too. 1 took deer from him once.
unintentiOnally, and I'll do it this time
malice afOrethOught."
Mary flashed a glance at the clock.
1t was $50 and Ed was leaving on tbe
1O:So. Well, she would be on the
same train, seeing, but unseen. She
thought rapidly of preparations; her
bag to pack, her rifle to examine and
OIL, and her house to close. First she
called cab. AS she. dOnned her hunt.
ing suit her busy mind checked off tbe
necessary details. She found her
hunting license and cabin key snugIy
outtoned in an inside pocket. She
must pack some clothing for Ed for he
nad gone unprOvided. Some provisions
would be a good idea. She must mt
out note for the milkman and teIe-
phone the dressmaker who was COM
ng tomorrow; so her mind ran on.
Mary's heart was beating a tattoo
as she took her seat in the train after
seeing Ed enter the smoker. AS the
rain whizzed on she laid her plans
"a would doubtless go to the north
'lilage, from which a good road around
ne mountain led to camp He might ;
walk or hire rig. She decided TO
'top at the south village; for she knew {
snort cut over the seemingly inac-
'esslble mountain. She had not snent
Ter girlhoOd in that country for moth.
ng' She feared that Ed might see her
'hen she got off the train, but all was |
veil. She hired village boy to carry
Ter load over the mountain while she /
ed the way towards camp. {
Light snow had fallen and the paun+ !
rees tossed and strained.
At the cabin she set the bow TO work
lrlng the bedding and making a fire
nile she loaded her gun. :
Down through the pine woods she
tipped toward the brook to await her
uarry. Determination sparkled from
er brown eyes and animation glowed
her rosy cheeks. Ed might come at
ny minute, also the deer. Hardly had
he MD in clump of pines when I'd
Vung in view. 1t was evident to n,
ary that he, too, was hunting
ace to hide before "the stag at evo III
Id drunk his FILL" m
Mary's heart missed a beat ne I'd tn
eaded for her covert, but he stonned r
big tree and began putting his -
IN together. Convulsed with silent hs
lighter, Mary sat in her thicket She Sc
nged to call out, 'Have you emntied A.
e teakettle, Ed? But instead She vi
pt silently alert for the deer I'd sa
d adjusted his gun and was search
for ammunition when the bip hrol -,
epped daintily from thicket on tbo RI
posite bank. At Eds dismayed ev- Gil
lmation the big fellow threw nm bis
al, affording Mary a wonderful shot
d the deer fell.
A ghost could not have surprised Ed
re than Mary did as she emerged
IN the thicket. MARY" he gaSnod