The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-01-30
THE TEAKETTLE
BY RUBY 3. sPEER.
Id. isaO. By Mcclur. Nsw.papsr synaloAte.l

Knapp, In tone that negatived ner
words. as she raised her eyes from the
note to look after the retreating mes
senger boy. Again she read the note.
Dear Mary-I'll be away few
days Suddenly remembered that we
forgot to empty the camp teakettle.
and don't want 1t to freeze. Leaving
on the 1910. Yours. Ed"
"Of all foolishness." breathed Mary.
Rushing of 100 miles into another
state to empty 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 BUSH
ness often took him on sudden trips.
He had babe her his usual affectlonate
good-by on leaving after breakfast, but
his curious quest vexed. while 1t
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 line announcing the
opening of the deer season In neigh
boring state.
$50 that's It." laughed Mary, drop
ping into a chair. 1.-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 go
ing? Afraid I'd think he ought TO
stay home workingY she chuckled.
I'D like to go. too" she added regret
fully. for Mary had been good shot
in her youth and she still hunted and
tramped. Years ago she and Ed had
met one hunting season, she farm
er's daughter, he a city sportsman.
Unknowingly they had shot at the
same deer and 1t was Mary's shot that
felled it. Friendship sprang from
their similarity of tastes, and love anc
marriage soon followed. The cares OF
the crowding years soon took Marys
time from craftsmanship, but each
year the family spent its vacation In
cabin near the site of her old home.
81 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 a. shot at
it. too. took deer from him once,
Internationally. and I'll do it this time,
malice aforethought."
sIary flashed a glance at the clock.
II was 8 80 and Ed was leaving on the
1890. Well, she would be on the
same train, seeing, but unseen. She
thought rapidly of preparations; her
bag to pack, her rife to examine and
oil, and her house to close. First she
called a cab. AS she donned her hunt
Ing suit her busy mind checked off the
necessary details. She found her
hunting license and cabin key snug'y
buttoned in an inside pocket. She
must pack some clothing for Ed for lie
had gone unprovided. Some provisions
would be good idea. She must put
aut note for the milkman and tele-
phone the dressmaker who was com
ing tomorrow so her mind ran on.
Mary's heart was beating 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 go to the north
village, from which good road around
the mountain led to camp. He might
walk or hire rig. She decided to
stop at the south village for she knew
a short cut over the seemingly mac
cessible 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
well. 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 to await her
quarry. Determination sparkled from
her brown eyes and animation glowed
in her rosy cheeks. Ed might come at
any minute, also the deer. Hardly had
she hid in a clump Of pines when Ed
swung in view. II was evident to
Mary that he. too, was hunting
place to hide before 'the stag at eve
had drunk his ILL.,"
Mary's heart missed beat as Ed
headed for her covert, but he stopped
by big tree and began putting his
gun together. Convulsed with silent
laughter. Mary sat in her thlcket. She
longed to call out, "Have you emptied
the teakettle. Ed7 " 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 daintily from . 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 than Mary did as she emerged
from the thIcket. MARY" he gasped.