Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-01-16
THE TEAKETTLE
BY RUBY 3. spgsR.


senger boy. Again she read the note.
Dear Mary-rn be away few
days. Suddenly remembered that we
forgot TO empty the camp teakettle.
and don't want it to freeze, Leaving
on the 1910. Yours. ED"
FJf all foolishneSs." breathed Mary.
Rushing OF 100 miles into another
state 70 empty teakettle. There's
something more in the wind. she hint
ed darkiS, 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 undenonstratlyS as the aver
age middle-aged couple. and his bush
ness often took him Oh sudden trips.
He had babe her his usual afrectimate
good-by on leaving after breakfast, but
his curious quest yexed. 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 Gary, drop
ping into a chair The teakettle had
to be emptied indeedr Ed Knapp was
was never happy without his full
quota Of deer every season.
why didn't he ten me he was go-
ing? Afraid I'd think he ought to
stay home workingY she chuckled.
I'D like to go too she added regr~t-
fully, for Mary had been a good shot
in her youth and she still hunted and
tramped. Years ago she and I'd had
met one hunting season. she farm
er's daughter. he city sportsman.
Unknowingly they had shot at the
same deer and it was Mays shot that
felled It. Friendship sprang from
their similarity Of tastes. and love anc
marriage soon followed. The cures of
the crowding years soon took Mary's
time from sportsmanship but each
ear the family spent its vacation in
cabin near the site Of her old home.
II know the very deer he Is after"
thought Mary. the big buck that drank
every evening from the brook below
the cabin I'm going to have shot at
it, 100, | took deer from him once,
unintentionally. and I'll do It this time,
malice aforethought"
Mary flashed a glance at the clock.
II was 3 80 and Ed was leaving IN the
1890. Well she would be on the
same Wain seeing. but unseen. She
thought rapidly Of preparations; her
bag TO pack. her rifle 70 examine and
oil. and her house to close. First she
called a cab. AS she donned her hunt.
ing suit her busy mind checked of the
necessary details She found her
hunting license and cabin key snugly
buttoned In an inside pocket She
must pack some clothing for Ed for he
had gone nnproyided. Some provisions
would be good idea. che must put
out d note for the mikman and tele-
phone the dressnaker who was COM
hg tomorrow SO her mind ran on.
Mary's heart was heating tattoo
as she took her seat In the train after
seeing ED enter the smoker. AS the
train whizzed on she laid her plans.
Ed would doubtless 90 TO the north
village. from which a good road around
the mountain led 10 camp. He might
walk or hire rig She decided 10
stop at the south village for she knew
a short cut over the seemingly mac
4 eessibIe mountain. She had not spent
her girlhood In that country for moth
ing. She feared that Ed might see her
when she got off the train. but all was
we'll She hired village boy to carry
her load over the mountain while she
led the way towards camp.
Light snow had fallen and the gaunt
trees tossed and strained.
At the cabin she set the boy to work
airing the bedding and making a fire
while she loaded her gun.
Down through the pine woods she
slipped toward the brook 10 await her
quarry. Determination sparkled from
her brown eyes and animation giOwed
in her rosy cheeks. Ed might come at
any minute. also the deer. Hardly had
she hid in clump Of pines when Ed
swung in view II was evident to
Mary that he. too. was hunting O
place to hide before 'the stag at eve
had drunk his fll'
Mary's heart missed a beat as I'd
headed for her covert. but he stopped
by big tree and began putting his
gun together. Conyulsed with silent
laughter, Mary sat In her thieket She
longed TO call out, "Have you emptied
the teakettle, Ed2 But instead she
kept silently alert for the deer. Ed
had adjusted his gun and was search
ing for ammunition when the big buck
stepped dalntily from q thicket on the
opposite bank At Eds dismayed ex-
clamation the big fellow threw up HIS
head. affordIng Mary a wonderful shot
and the deer fell.
A ghost could not have surprised Ed
more thab Mary did as she emerged
&c.. H. xt.s.Ir.k 1. a