The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-17
MEN, WO MEN
 AND THIN G s

was never 50 uaHdlCdppeu Dy DeiH6 d preacher as l am just at present, for I cannot claim that I killed fine buck, but was at a nearby stand aiding and abetting"
 For a long time I tried to salve my .conscience with the spacious plea that l get away with it, near truth" by saying, T got deer" when any one asked me how I came out on the hunt. I did get buck, and one of the finest I ever saw, but it was a gift.
 All my life I had been crazy to go on a deer hunt, where deer roamed through the fields and forests and not exist merely in the excited imaginations of old set tiers who vouched with solemn oaths to the fact that to the best of their knowl- edge and belief such wild crtturs had been seen by them on moonlight night.
 ess I said that Frank Derby was hypno+- ist and he is, but back in my subcon- sciousness all the time he was bewitch- ing me over the phone to run with him down to York to act as auctioneer, and then spend a few, days at his home, was the remembrance that he had promised if ever did so in the open season for deer he would get up hunt for me.
 se
 I hardly know which is the most fun, the planning for the hunt or the chase, as both hold charms peculiarly their own. The night before the hunt friend Scott, handsome young insurance agent from Demopolis and Sloconb Campbell drove over to the Derbys. and with them were the beautiful Misses Campbells, one a perfect blonde and the other radiant brunette both of whom were chosen as the most beautiful girls at the box party auction at York,
 There we all sat around a fire of blaz- ing logs in a big old brick chimney, wbich ran up to the wall and had an opening wide enough for a room. Being Ia novice, I sat quietly in my corner as the old hands figured on whose and which dogs to take, naming the fox hounds af- fectionately by their names, as "Olo Maud" Big Joe, '' Little Bill," or some other canine appellation. The merits of each was discussed and of course as the talk waxed warm the deeds of past hunts lin which they starred were brought to light
 I am usually an optimist, but somehow never expected to see deer, and told Frank that I would be perfectly satisfied | if l got to view one 2 mile away with out getting a shot at him. He always over you, and he came mighty nigh keeping his word. but the story of how it happened will crop out later down in this column, will also the sad news 1 of how I missed getting a shot at him. -
 | had a deer hunt without the need of getting all fussed up. It is true that put on blue shirt and an old pair of trousers and donned a pair of shoes which laced up knee high I looked like the real thing when I was rigged out, but l I didn't see the use of changing from the outfit l wore, as l was to stick close to the automobile. For three miles we drove through Franks place, his lands being on both sides Of the public road Arriving at the meeting place we were joined by 1 some of the neighbors with guns and dogs.
 | Each man, save the ones on horseback with the dogs, who were to do the driving. was put at stand, and here is where lost out Frank started to drop me out about 2o0 yards from the place he finally ltold me to dismount. went out into the woods about 40 paces and was coached to stand not behind but in front of tree, apd be as statue like as possible Hadn't been at attention more than % minutes when I heard a shot behind me. land five minutes later. just below me. l I ran out into, the woods ii get sight of the road and arrived just in time to see fine buck cross within easy range of the 1 first place selected for me to alight. ] pointed out the exact crossing place, and we trailed the buck through a lit ttle ravine and out into the hedge field | by little red spcts In a few minutes 1 l heard 8 noise in the woods and saw 1 Frank astride his horse Cray who. though old enough to vote enjoys a hunt ] as much as his master. Across the saddle was buck, and as helped to lift him down and he lay upon the grass, think he was the prettiest animal ever gazed upon. He was bIuish gray, signifyine that he was in prime condition. and his breast and belly was like down. and his i arters showed that he was about 31a years old
 l It was up to me to keep guard over him. as Frank and Slocomb who had lkilled him, were mounted and eager to
 20 after the wounded buck We pulled
 the dead buck on the side of the road in
 q pine thicset and away went the dogs and the Horses. Soon the barking of the
 dcss died out and I knew they were miles away. I never miss a good chance to take nap. so pillowed my head on ! the side of the deer. and as the sun srocks flecked me- T took q trip through the Land of Nod and dreamed of giant Elks.
 I hadn't slept long before along came lsome of the neighbors, and Isaiah, 9 negro who knows the woods around and the manner of deer and what to do with them I after they are killed. Soon the buck was sy. inging from the limb of q tree and drawn, as the weather was .s bit warm. fu an hour or two Frank and Slocon,h returned witheut having overtaken the \ buck they went after. The dead deer was placed Oh the running board of the car and carried and put in Derby's base ment.