Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-05-15


ture of relations between him and
Phoebe. The event was a fistic en-
counter between JEFF and Philip, in
which the latter was badly worsted.
Phoebe detested displays Of brute vio-
lence, and when she learned that the
fight had been In some way connect
ed With her she promptly notified
jeff that his attentions were no long
er desirable.
Phoebe sat in thought for a mo-
ment after jeff disappeared into the
woods, but the singing of the tea ket-
tie told her the water was sufficient
ly warm for the dishes, and she went
to work. She had only got nicely
started, however. when there came
knock at the kitchen door, and when
she opened 1t Philip Weldon, smiling
and immaculate, carrying rifle, stood
there.
"Going into the woods-hunting," he
announced. "Want to come alongY
She pointed to the stack Of dishes.
Cant" she told him. what are
you going. to hunt?"
"Oh, anything; probably nothing.
just carry this little weapon for COM
partnership. See you on the way back,
maybe"
He left and Phoebe ratified the
dishes, somewhat piqued. jeff had
aided in washing dishes more than
once; but, then, jeff was uncouth-
and he was fighter, ruffian. Phil
ips culture had no place in dish wa
ter.
AS Phoebe finished the dishes her
aunt came back, suffering something
about Outrageous fees charged by
lawyers" She forgot about business
worries, however and began tour
Of inspection of her pets.
"You poor dears," she told the cana
ries. you've been shut up in those
stuffy little cages all day. You're go
ing to have little freedom"
Kindness was Miss Bronson's out
standing virtue. Every day the cana
ries were given the liberty of the
house for an hour, so they could
stretch their wings, as she phrased it.
birds Phoebe went to her room to
change her dress. She had just COM
pleted the change when Miss Bron-
son burst into the room, shaking with
excitement.
"Hurry, Phoebe!" she cried. 1.-THE
birds have flown away into the woods.
forgot the kitchen window was open,
and they've all gone"
A moment later Phoebe was running
through the woods in one direction
and her aunt in another. The girl
glimpsed splash of yellow in the
foliage, but it changed it's perch every
time she came up with it.
She ran on and on, coming present
ly to a dense part of the woods.
"Chirrup, chirrup!" said a familiar
voice, and she saw the bird perched
on limb of high tree. At this point
the path entered a small clearing,
bending first around a clump of
bushes. The tree on which the canary
had refuge was in the clearing.
Resolved to find some way of ap-
pretending the fugitive although she
had no idea what it would be, Phoebe
stole cautiously around the bushes. AS
she was about to step into the clear
ing she stopped, startled, amazed by
what she saw.
Philip Weldon was standing there,
the butt Of his gun at his shoulder,
the barrel pointed at the splotch of
yellow in the tree.
She thought she could see Philips
finger curving on the trigger, but the
shot was not fired A long arm
reached over his shoulder and wrested
the gun from his grasp, and a big fist
flashed out and caught the young
hunter on the jaw, sending him pros
trate on the ground.
The newcomer on the scene was jeff
Cummings. With a f1irt of his wrist
he hurled the rifle into the bushes,
and then he directed his attention to
the bird that had been a curious OBJ
server of proceedings.
"Chirrup, chirrup," said jeff.
AS Phoebe watched, the noise was
repeated, and presently the canary
fluttered from its perch and settled
itself on Jeff's extended forefinger.
He patted the pet tenderly and care
fully placed it in a pocket of his coat
Phoebe stepped into the clearing
and Jeff saw her. He looked con-
fused, almost guilty.
II just picked up one of your aunts
canaries," he said, with forced gruff.
ness. II got it in my pocket here,
along with two others I came across
back in the woods"
"All of them got out" was all
Phoebe could muster words to say.
"We'll try to get 'em out" he re.
turned. ''Do you want to go with me
or would you rather"
He nodded toward Phi1in who was