White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-01-09
CHAPTER Continued

Marie Antoinette in his thoughts, for
there was no other child to help fill
her place But since last autumn
her son Paul had come to the seig.
neurie his dreams had grown more
clOuded UNTIL on this Thursday after
noon, they were replaced by grim and
merciless visions of a future venge-
ance on the young man who laughed
at him and Inundated him, and who,
without any grace whatever that he
could see, basked warmly in the smiles
and graciousness of Marie Antoinettes
favor.
He was glad when his mother and
father paused to rest on the edge OF
a great rock near the trail. for this in
terval gave him opportunity to go on
alone, and when he was alone he could
tear and thrash Toinette's cousin in q
much more admirable way than when
the others were tramping close at his
heels. Suddenly Odd stopped so that
his gaunt body made a barrier against
Jeems' knees. They stood at the edge
of a fower-strewn open among the
chestnut trees. 1t was a hundred
yards across this sun-f1lled playground
Of the wild, and on the far side Of it.,
concealed in the bushes, Jeems knew
there was game of some kind.
He dropped to the earth and drew
himself behind the decaying mass of
q monster log that had fallen hun
dred years before. Odd crouched at
his side with his muzzle level with the
top of the log. Thus minute passed,
and after that another, and more bn
top of them, yet Odd gave no sign Of
Encouragement, nor did Jeems. He
watched the far side of the clearing
on a line as straight as die with the
pointing Of Odds nose.
Another minute of this rustling STILL
ness, and magnificent turkey cock
strutted majestically out into the sun.
He weighed twenty pounds If an ounce,
thought Jeems, proud and immacu-
late bird, defying all the world in the
empty open. In this moment Jeems
thought again of Paul Tache, for the
Quebec boy was like this turkey cock,
always Haunting his clothes and dis
porting himself with the Importance
of a man.
Slowly Jeems withdrew the long
barreled gun from the top Of the log
and tautened the string of his bow
He waited until the big bird stood less
than eighty yards away. An inch at a
time he rose higher on his knees, and
Odds body grew sitter with his move
ment. A choking sound came from
the dogs throat as the long bow was
bent. The twang of the string was
like the ring Of a steel tuning fork,
and across the open sped grayish
flash. There followed mellow sound,
a great commotion, leaping Of gor-
geous color high into the air. Paul
Tache, the turkey cock, was down and
dying.
A moment later, Jeems and Odd
stood looking down on the turkey cock.
and gladness leapt once more into the
boys face and eyes-for here was not
only splendid dinner for tomorrow,
but also, in his Imagination, the first
blow struck against his enemy.
The wild hot pride Of youth and
achievement possessed the lad as his
father and mother came toward him.
Here was triumph, and the boys eyes
lighted up when he saw his mothers
interest in what he had done, and
the unfeigned amazement in his IA
theirs face as he dropped his milled
corn to the ground and looked down
upon the magnificent turkey cock with
the feathered arrow transfixing it.
Catherine regarded her boy unob-
served by the two whose hunting in
stinct drew their eyes to the fallen
game. Her own eyes were shining,
and after q moment Henri saw what
she was seeing and thinking and placed
one of his big hands tenderly on his
sons slim shoulder. Yes, Jeems was
like his mother except for his blond
hair and gray eyes, and in these two
things he resembled his mothers
brother, that worthless, wandering, al.
ways fighting and forever lovable
vagabond, Hepsibah Adams. Henri's
heart was happier at his wife's proud
contemplation Of her son, and he
burst forth in praise Of the lads ex-
plot.
"What a shot" he cried, bending
low to examine the bird and the ar
row. straight through from wing to
wing as clean as a bullet-and right
up to the shaft of the feathersl I'd
syear you did not have that strength
II your arm. ladl Yet the arrow was