Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-03-24

all at once, seemingly Without warn
ing, II simply blinked out. Not until
the next morning did he really know
why. Insomnia was an old acquaint-
ance Of Dams, and ne had expected to
have some trouble in getting to sleep.
His only real trouble was waking up
again when Lennon called him to
breakfast. He couldn't believe that
the light ;at his window shade was
really that Of morning.
Good HeavensI" his host exploded.
''You sleep the sleep Of the Just"
Dan was about to tell him that on
the contrary he was very nervous
sleeper, but he thought better Of It.
Something had surely happened to his
insomnia. The next instant he even
forgot 20 wonder about 1t in the reali-
zation that his tired body had been
wonderfully refreshed. He had no
dread now Of the long tramp up the
ridge that his host had planned.
But first came target practice. In
Dams baggage he had certain very
plain but seryiceable sporting rifle of
about fhirtysforty caliber--a gun that
the information department of the
| large sporting goods store In Gitche-
apoils had recommended for his pur-
pose. Except ~ me faw moments ia
| The store, Dan had never he'd d ffise
in his hands. The hrst shot he hit the
trunk OF five-foot pine at thirty
PAGES.
"Bnt / couldn't very wen have
missed Il" he replied to Lennox's
cheer. "You see, aimed at the mid
debut just grazed the edge"
The second shot was not so good.
missing the tree altogether And II
was singular thing that he aimed
longer and tried harder on this shot
than on the first. The third time he
tried still harder, and made by far
the worst shot Of all.
what's the matterT he demanded.
-'I'm getting worse all the time"
Lennox didn't know for sure. But
he made long guess. ut might be
beginners luck" he said, hut Tn In
ciined TO think you're trying too hard.
Take It easIer--depend more on your
instincts"
Dams reply was to lift the rife
lightly to his shoulder. glance quickly
along the trigger and fire. The bullet
struck within one inch Of the center
OF the pine.
For long second Lennox gazed AZ
him in open-mouthed establishment.
my stars, boyi" he cried ut last.
"Was ] mistaken in thinking you we're
born tenderfoot-after aIl7 Can II
be that little OF your old grandfa-
theirs skin has been passed down to
your But you can't do 1t again"
But Dan did do II again. II any
thing, the bullet was a little nearer
the center. And then he aimed at a
/ more distant tree.
But the hammer snapped down In
effectively on the breech. He turned
with a look of question.
+Yonr gun only holds Ave Shots
Lennon explained Reioading, Dan
tried more difficult target--a trunk
almost one hundred yards distant. OF
course II would have been only child's
| play to an exper4s4nced hunter; but
to tenderfoot 81 was difficult
mark indeed Twice out OF four shots
Dan hit the tree trunk. and one OF his
two hits was practically bull's.eye.
HIS two misses were the result Of the
same mistake he had made before
attempting 20 hold his sim too long.
Dan and Lennox started together
up the long slope OF the ridge Dan
alone armed; Lennox went with him
solely ss a guide The deer season had
just opened. and 1t might be that Dan
would want to procure one Of these
creatures.
"But I'm not sure I want to hunt
deer" Dan told him, you speak OF
them ms being so beautiful"
They are beautiful and your
grandfather would never hunt them,
either. except for meat. But maybe
you'll change your mind when you see
a buck. Besides. we might run into q
lynx or n panther. But not very like
~. without dogs"
They trudged up, over the carpet Of
pine needles They fought their way
through thlcket OF buckbrush. Once
they saw the gray squirrels In the tree
tops. And before Lennox had MS much
ns supposed they were near the haunts
Of big game, yeariing doe sprang up
from Its bed In the thlckets.
| For an instant she stood motIoniess.
presenting n perfect target, II was
evident that she had heard the sound
OF the approaching hunters. but had
not as yet located or identified them
with her near-slghted eyes. Lennon
whirIed to find Dan standing very
still. reering along the barrel Of his
rife. But he didn't shoot The deer.
seeing Lennox move leaped into her
terror pace-that astounding run that
is one Of the fastest gnits In the whole
animal world. In the wink Of nm eye
! she was out Of sight.
"Why didn't you shootT" Lennox de-
handed.
"sbootf II was doe, wasn't III"
"Good Lord, OF course Il was doei
But there are no game laws that 90
back this far. Besides-you aimed at
H..
II aimed Just to see II could catch
II through my sights. And ] could.
My glasses sort Of made 1t blurbut
+ think-perhaps that ] could have
shot It. But I'm not going to XII does.
There must be some reason for the