Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-02-05
CHAPTER IlI-Contlnued.

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,
all at once, seemingly without warn
Ing 1t 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
have 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
the light at 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
the contrary he was a very nervous
sleeper, but he thought better of it.
Something had surely happened TO his
insomnia. The next instant he even
forgot to wonder about ii in the reali-
cation 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 a certain very
plain but serviceable sporting rife Of
about thlrty-forty caliber-a gun that
the information department Of the
large sporting-goOds store in Gitche-
apolls had recommended for his pur-
pose. Except for the few moments in
the store. Dan had never held a rifle
In his hands. The first shot he hit the
trunk of a five-foot pine at thirty
PAGES.
Tut couldn't very well have
missed itw 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 a 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.
whats the matter?" he demanded.
I'm getting worse all the time"
Lennox didn't know for sure. But
he made long guess. at might be
beginners luck" he said, "but I'm in
rlined to think you're trying too hard
Take It easer-depend more on your
Instincts"
Dams reply was to lift the rife
lightly to his shoulder, glance quickly
along the trigger and fire. The bullei
struck within one inch Of the center
of the pine.
For long second Lennox gazed at
him IN open-mouthed establishment.
"My stars, boyw he cried at last.
"Was mistaken in thinking you were
born tenderfoOt-after all? Can II
be that little Of your old GRANDPA
TIERS skill has been passed down to
you? But you can't do It again"
But Dan did do 1t again. II any
thing, the Dullet was Il Httie 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 q look Of question.
"Your gun only holds five shots"
Lennox explained. RelOadlng, Dan
tried more difficult target-a trunk |
almost one hundred yards distant Of |
course It would have been only chlld's |
play to an experienced hunter; hut
to tenderfoot II was a difficult |
mark indeed. Twice out Of four shots
Dan hit the tree trunk. and one of his
TWO hits was practically a bulfs-eye.
His two misses were the result Of the
ame mistake he had made before
attempting to hold his aim too long.
Dan and LenDox started together
~ he lon" slope of the ridge. Dan
tennox weH' with him
The h. r '>s~