Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-03

walked quickly down the trail, phoncd
from the store, and in an hours time was
on his way back
He plodded on thinking of his father $
disappointment, of his mothers struggle
alone in the fo.est with no friends nea-
He thought of his own leans of college
and how difficult it would be to live back
in the East with no funds.
Just then low g.owl came IRON bush
over his head. Glancing up he saw a pair
of ewes shining out Of the darkness, then a
clumsy form numbering down the cliff.
He raised his rifle, but remembered that he
had not loaded 1.-THE shells were in his
pocket.
On came the bear plowing through
the snow. Above Pauls head was a tall
oak. IL took the boy but a moment to
climb up but as he did so his rifle dropped.
Up went the lad and behind him climbed
| the bear.
Reddy Fox did not want Mr.. Fox TO
visit the farm where he had been for fear il
too many ducks were missing the farme
might set a trap.
This is a very deceiving looking bird, y
said Reddy, who wanted to use all the
words he could in order to keep Mr.. Fox
right there. at is tough bird. Mr.. Fox
the fat and tender ones YOU always find.
am not as smart and cleaver as YOU are.
NOW, where / go for ducks is down
by a pond, and there is a very cross dog
ALWAYS around in the DAYTIME, and at
night all sorts of traps, but by being care
full | have managed so far to escape,
but / have no doubt that some night |
shall be caught fast by my leg, and that
will he the end of me-
II shall be pleased to show YOU just
where / find these tough birds, Mr. Fox,
but YOU take your life in your hands,
assure YOU, if you 60, so do not blame me
for what happens
81 guess can manage to escape" said
Mr.. Fox. who did not at all believe that
the duck was tough. Suppose we go back
tonight should like to have a duck for
nv breakfast.
"Oh, / could not go back tonight, +"
said Reddy Fox, "but / will meet YOU
right on this very spot tomorrow night
and take YOU there: but remember have
warned YOU"
When Reddy Fox was out OF sight
Mir Fox began to think about that fat
duck and wonder if he could not find
that place alone, so he trotted off in
| the direction from which he had seen
Reddy coming and came to a lake. "Ahi'
hought Mr.. Fox, "the sly rascal; he did
not tell me the truth. There is no sign Of
traps. 1t is all sand around here and there
are the ducks now"
Bang bangp went gun, and the
tip of Mr.. Fox's nose felt something
whiz past it, and he took to his heels
and ran.
The early hunters were out and it
WIS almost daylight. Mr.. Fox knew he had
| had a narrow escape.
| Just as he reached the woods where
| he had hidden the lean hen he thought
Of it. at will be better than no break
fast at all, said Mr.. Fox.
| But it wasn't there-someone had
carried it off-so he had no breakfast,
and he did not have any supper, either,
| for of course Reddy Fox did not meet him
that night. but ran of to another part of the
woods to live so Mr.. Fox would not find
| him
envy is a bad thing reasoned Mr.
Fox as he went to the farm where the lean
/ hens were kept. 'If had not been envious
/ should have had my supper last night
and at the same time / could have watched
Reddy Fox and found out where he gets
the ducks; but it is pretty hard when you
see another fellow with fat duck not to
wish you had one ike it if you cannot
| get his"
If he could crawl out on a slender
| limb, which would bend under his weight
he might slip down to the ground leaving
the bear in the tree, Slowly he crept along
branch and as it bent toward the ground
| seized his rife and loaded.
He was not a moment too soon, fol
hardly had he raised it to his shoulder
when the bear, rearing on its hind legs
came toward him Paul fired and the animal
fell and rolled TOWN the side of the cliff TIL
it rested on the rocks in a ravine below.
In half an hour Paul was home, painting
and excited after the fight.
In the morning he and his father went
down among the rocks to find the dead
bear There he lay, magnificent crea-
ture, and right by his head was big bit
of broken rock.
Mr.. Gordon picked up and examined
it with his eyes shining with excitement
There were bright specks scattered about
in it.
'This is heavy deposit Of gold" he
said. 'This cliff is rich in gold. We have q
mine at last, and one that will make us
able to go back home and live in comfort .
The mine, which they named the. 'Big
Bear" was sold for large sum-, so within
few months they all were happy and Paul
was in college.
GIFTS FOR BRITISH HEIR.