Middletown transcript., 1921-01-08
CHAPTER IlI-Conrinued.

Dan saw the door close behind him,
and he had an instant's glimpse of the
long sweep Of mOOnlit ridge that
stretched beneath the window. Then,
M at once, seemingly without warn
ing. it simply blinked out. Not until
the next morning did he really know
why. Insomnia was an old acquaint-
ance Of Dams, and he had expected to
bave some trouble in getting to sleep.
His only real trouble was waking up
again when Lennox called him to
Breakfast. He couldn't believe that
ahe light ut his window shade was
really that Of morning.
~Good Heavens ~ his host exploded.
You sleep the sleep of the just
Dan was about to tell him that on
she contrary he was very nervous
sleeper. but he thought better Of It.
Something had surely happened to his
Insomnia. The next instant he even
Sorgot 20 wonder about it in the reali
nation that his tired body had been
wonderfully refreshed. He had no
dread now of the long tramp up the
E5dge that his host had planned.
But first came target practice. In
Dams baggage he had a certain very
plain but serviceable sporting rifle of
about thirty-forty caliber-a gun that
the information department of the
sarge sporting-goods store III Gitche-
npOlis had recommended for his pur-
pose. Except for the few moments in
the store. Dan had never held rifle
in his hands. The first shot he hit the
trunk of five-foot pine at thirty
PAGES.
''But I couldn't very we'll have
missed it," he replied to Lennox's
cheer. "You see, l aimed at the mid
dle-but 1 just grazed the edge"
The second shot was not so good.
missing the tree altogether. And it
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 matter?" he demanded.
.Tm getting worse all the time"
Lennox didn't know for sure. But
he made long guess. ut might be
Beginners luck he said. "but I'm in
slined to think you're trying too hard.
Take it easier-depend more on your
instincts"
I Dams reply was to lift the rifle
Eighty 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 at
him IN Op.n-,nnuthed astonishment.
NV stars. bOy!" ne cried at last.
.Was mistaken in thinking you were
"A horn tenderfoot-after all? Can 1t
he that q little Of your old grandfa-
ther's skill has been passed down to
Tou? But you cant do 1t again.
But Dan did do it again. If any.
thing. the bullet was a little nearer
the center. And then he aimed at q
more distant tree.
But the hammer snapped down in.
effectively on the breech. He turned
with look of question.
"Your gun only holds five shots.
Iennox explained. Reloading, Dan
tried a more difficult target-a trunk
almost one hundred yards distant. OF
eou.se it would have been only child's
nJay to an experienced hunter; but
N n tenderfoot 1t was difficult
mark indeed. Twice out of four shots
Dan hit the tree trunk, and one of his
TWO hits was practically a bull's-eye
His two misses were the result Of the
xsme mistake he had made before
attempting to hold his aim too lotsa
Dan and Lennox started together
70 the long slope of the ridge. Oar
alone armed; Lennox went with him
scae,y as a guide. The deer season hat
~tzst opened, and it might be that Dar
rould want to procure one of these
creatures.
sBut I'm not sure l want to hum
Deer Dan told him. "You speak o1
them az being 80 beautiful"
They are beautiful and YOU
grandfather would never hunt them
.sther, except for meat. But maybe
you1l change your mind when you SCI
q buck. Besides, we might run into
Nun or q panther. But not very like
b, without dogs"
They trudged up, over the carpet O.
uape needles. They fought their wa!
shrcush a thicket Of buckbrush. One