The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-05
LORETTE'S FIRST DEER.
By Clara c. Holmes.

10y SloA . W. AAOAAASos
Copyright, 1921, by The Wheeler
y Syndicate, Incl
Lorette slipped into her hunting
Jacket and hurried out to the front
piazza. It was not o'clock, scarce
ly dawn, yet she had not needed the
alarm to arouse her. Her usually
pink cheeks we're crimson, and her
dark eyes were bright as stars as
she contemplated the handsome
creature which Hugh had assured
her was to be hers that day.
At first, she demurred against
Hugh's tactics. Its not fair tQ
bait 'em and then shoot en-" she
said. "I'd much rather get one
honestly-run him down"
When Hugh began to laugh> she
decided to say nothing more.
Although. Hugh was q law stu
dent in Boston. he was a native Of
the backwoods district, an expert
shot, and he had taught his dag
cling cousin to aim rife uner-
ringly. She had never shot deer !;
yet-she could.
When Lorette, reached the piazza,
there was, nobody there. She ut
tered q cry f, impotence; then, re-
membering the dance the night be-
fore, she sat down to wait.
1t was chilly, for the upland's
October air had its wonted crisp,
ness. The shadowy stiffness. the
dying clematis, the rustic of leaves,
cast upon her q spell Of home-sick-
ness. Indeed, she had been dream
ing about home that very night, her
cheerful suburban home. She had
been dreaming. too. Of David-Da-
vid, the only man in the world for
her, who. uyttiNtwo weelkS ago, had
been devoted to her.
As she shivered in the silence
her mind reverted to, her parting
with David. Again she was dining
with him at the Londry cafe, rest
less under his retroachful gaze.
"Lorette, I've seen you out sew
eral times recently in the company
Of someone else. In fact, I've done
detective work on my own account
I've decided not to stand in that
other fellows way"
It was true. she had gone out
many times with Cousin Hugh
when he was attending law school
she had been proud to be escorted
by Hugh. 1t was all right, too; she
could have explained for him had
not Roy Belcher seen her home
from the drama rehearsals. Nc
/ apology would do for Roy; 80 she
wisely had said nothing. ~
Now she was dreaming about
David; she thought she had met
him in the library at home. She
gave him only . cold, passing
glance. but an expression Of dis.
appointment had clouded his hand.
some face, which was SO touching
indeed, that she had awakened.
"Out so early. Lorie!" Hugh't
voice scattered her desponden,
thoughts.
what have you for q gum
Hugh next asked.
MY shotgun. OH" she added II
surprise, you have . rife. WI
can't hunt with rifles in our state.
I'VE do back here" hA returned
Loretts wa intuitively uneasy
but again she laid nothing.
A cut across the bare feldl
brought the hunters to the river.
side thickets where the exasper
ating beauties of their quest wer,
wont to appear.
Cautiously the two people move<
or waited in the stiffness, broker
only by . crumbling leaf or q re
bounding branch. At last = larg,
deer wal. spied. but he saw or wind
Cd his pursuers and bounded AVA,
with prodigious leaps.
I'VE will 20 to the Bend" sug
gestsd Hugh. IT will patrol on,
side Of the stream and you cal
watch the other"
Lorette had been alone only T,
short time whsn she plainly sav
1.-Two deer. Evidently the animal,
had seen something or someone
6aAs not AaE. Leestts 1aised her gu