The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-11-09
The
Sanctuary
% "a - - - =
BY JUSTIN WENTWOOD
). s-s-s-s-s-s-s-.-s-s.s

Master of the Foxhounds with a
bill in her hands. Twelve chickens
killed by that old fox of yours last
night" she said Indignantly. "And
there's the BILL"
I'm very sorry, Miss Wardour, but
the Hunt has had to suspend pay
ments for chicken-killing on account
of our funds being depleted"
DO you think I'm going to raise
chickens to be killed by your foxes?"
Lucy demanded.
"You should make your coops
stronger"
They get underneath Them"
"All chicken-raisers are In the same
boat. Some day we'll be able to pay
compensation again."
IF your fox comes again." said Lucy
with blazing eyes, "I'll poison It."
The Master gasped. Poison fox7
Why. the thing was unheard Of. 1t
was so horrible that no penalty could
apply to 1t except social ostracism,
complete and universal.
Lucy went away furious. 1t was
hard enough to make living raising
chickens. let alone the foxes.
Her father, an American, settled In
England as the representative of his
New York firm, had died, leaving her
a rneager capital of five hundred
pounds. and Lucy, at twenty-five,
found herself friendless and compelled
to make a living somehow. She had
rented a place at Derringham. And
then, just as her chickens were COM
Ing along nicely. the foxes had started
their depredations.
And to kill fox was treason-it
would raise all the countryside against
her. Day after day the hunt, gay in
scarlet. swept past the cottage where
Lucy stood watching them.
"Pll show them," Lucy commented as
she went to boil the chicken mash.
Three days later the hunt passed
again. 1t went out of sight. Lucy
was in the kitchen, boiling chicken
mash, when she heard the distant bay
of the hounds returning.
And suddenly. at the door, she saw
little form, something like a red
puppy with very long, thick tall.
It skunk into the kitchen and hid
behind the mash-tub. Lucy knew
what 1t was 1t was the hunted fox.
The baying of the hounds came
nearer. They came into sight, streak
ing across her field straight for the
farm house Lucy slammed the door
The next moment there was furious
yelping and scratching outside.
Now the riders came into sight, the
Master leading. They rode straight
up to the kitchen door. The fox was
lying low under the mash-tub.
With sudden impulse Lucy stopped
and patted 1t. The hunted creature,
mad with fear. lay perfectly still.
Lucy picked 1t up in her arms. 1t
lay quiet-it was just like puppy.
There was hammering at the door,
Lucy thrust the thing beneath her
apron, pressed 1t to her bosom. She
flung the door open. Outside stood the
Master.
"Seen anything Of our fox, Miss War.
dour?' he inquired.
But the words were not necessary.
for in an instant Lucy was surrounded
by the leaping, baying pack.
yes I've got 1t here" she answered,
Indicating the outlines of the thing nm.
der her apron.
Much obliged. I'll take It."
you'll do nothing of the sorts
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"This creature came to me for pro-
lection and it's going to get 1t. Call
)ff those hounds"
"Why. never heard of such a
hlngi"
you're living and learning. Call
'ff those houndsl"
Sullenly the Master drove off the
furious animals you'll be sorry for
his day." he cried.
Lucy slammed the door In the face
# the Master and the whole Derring-
lam Hunt Softly she fed to the back
loor.
Hurry home." she whispered, re-
easing the fox. which shot like an
rrow across the fields.
The Master and his bride were lead
ng the hunt over the hedges.
"Good scent this morning, Lucy.
wonder If we caught that
Id varmint. I say, Lucy, remember
ow he ran into your kitchen once"
arthur, please don'tp
Don't like to be teasedT
81 was horrid to you"
You were dear. I'd never have
ound out what lovely bride I'd get
ut for that day. l said to myself
hen. You've got to marry that girl
r there'll be no more hunting In Der
ingham.'"
Primitive Man.
In tie large collection of tie Amer.