Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06

Hell. he was after deer. He knew
we were watching. Took the birds"
Wesley tsied to fnl a word. but
Saladine. that silent man. stepped
forward.
Wesley" he said. wait a min
ute. You. Proutt. be still"
They looked at him uncertainty.
Proutt growing. And Saladine spat
on the ground as though he tasted
the unclean. I've kept my mouth
shut. Wanted to see. Meant TO tell
1t in the end. wesley, Proutt broke
your dog"
Wesley nodded. Yes" He looked
at Proutt,
He broke him to run deer"
wesley began to tremble. and he
could not take his eyes from Sala-
dine; and Proutt broke out in a roar
ing oath. till Saladine turned slowly
upon him.
The deer hunter went on: "I waited
10 see. l knowed what would come:
but | wanted to see. a bird dogs
its in him. Reck's bred right. You
can make him run deer. Proutt did.
But you can't make him like 1t.
Birds is his meat. You saw that
just now. He didn't pay any heed to
that buck; but he did pay heed to
the partridge"
Proutt cried: Damn you. Saladine,
you can't say a think like that.
Saladine cut in: Il saw you. Month
ago. Down by Fuller's Brook. 4
deer crossed there. up into the
meadow. You was in the alders with
Reck. and you tried to set him on.
He wouldn't run, and you drove him.
l saw you. Proutt."
Wesley looked down at Reek: and
he looked at Proutt. the trainer: and
he looked back at Reck again. There
was something in Reck's eyes which
made him hot and angry: there was
pleading something in Reck's slow
~ wagging tail. And Nest
lev turned - Proutt. cool enough now;
and he said:
II can see it now. Proutt I've
known there was something. felt
joyously why. Proutt. you man
who knows dogs. Didn't you know
you could not kill the soul and the
honor Of dog like minc?. Reck 10
a thoroughbred He knows his work.
And YOU
"Proutt," he said. I'm going to lick
you till You can't stand"
Proutt's big head lowered between
his shoulders. So he said.
And Wesley stepped toward him.
Saladine said nothing: Reck did not
as stu as still 1t was in this
silence. before a blow could be struck.
that they heard the pound of running
feet in the timber above them: and
Saiadine said swiftly: Deer
He moved. with the word. half a
dozen PAGES back by the way they
had come, to an old wood road they
had crossed. and stood there. look
ing up the slope. Wesley and Proutt
forgot each other and followed him;
and Reck stayed close at Westley's
heel. They could hear the beating
feet more plainly now; and Saladint
muttered:
Scared. Something chasing it,
On the word. abruptly startling
them. the deer came into view--a
doe, running swiftly and unwearied.
Striking the wood road the creature
followed the easier going. down the
slope toward them: and because thew
were so still 1t failed to discover the
men till It was scarce two rods away.
Sighting them then. the doe stopped
an instant, then lightly leaped into
the brush at one side. and was gone.
~ -
THE men did not look after the
deer; they waited to see what
pursued it. And after a moment
saladine's face grimly hardened. and
Westley's became somber and grave.
and Proutt turned pale as ashes.
For. numbering down the hill upon
the deer's hot trail, came Dan. that
hound which Proutt had shut away
at home-came Dan. hot on the trail
as Proutt had taught him.
The dog saw them. as the deer had
done. and would have swung aside.
But Proutt cried. in a broken voice:
Dan. come in"
So came the hound to heel. sullenly
and slowly. eyes of into the weed
where the doe had gone: and for q
moment no one spoke. till iSaladlns
slowly drawled: 80
wesley. give Proutt your gun"
Wesley did not speak. He was knl-
mensely sorry for Proutt. and. all his
looked old, and shaken. and weary:
and he had dropped his heavy hand
across Dams neck. He caught West
ley's eye and said harshly: 70 ~
with your gun. I'll use my own
An instant more they stood: then
Wesley turned to Saladine. "Jini.
let's CO." he said. And Saladine
nodded. and they moved away, Recil
an odd panic in his voice. Proutt
called after them: wait. Ill ride
you home."'
But Saladine answered: "I'll walk"
And Wesley did not speak at all.
He and Reck and the deer hunter
went steadily upon their way.
The sun was setting: and dark
shadows filtered through the trees 10
hide old Proutt where he still stood
beside his dog.
Copyright. Printed by arrangement with the
metropolitan Newspaper Service.l