Evening star., 1940-11-10

why, yes. sir. Locating birds for
him. He'll be here three days. But if
you want me for anything, | can get
out of it." He added frank question:
"How do | stand for Charlie Merrtt's
place, MIR. Thomas?"
why. haven't checked the list,
the chief warden told him guardedly.
81 know there are two others who
stand pretty high. You've guided MIR.
Frame before, haven't you?"
"Yes, sir. SO has Charlie Merritt"
In spite of himself, Bob's tone was
defensive.
1--WE heard that he sometimes
shoots hens -" Bob looked up at
Kitty uneasily, and Mr.. Thomas
asked: Did he ever shoot any hens
when you were out with him?"
Bob evaded direct answer. He
won't shoot any this trip, not without
going to court for it - hope you'll
give me chance at the warden's job.
MIR. Thomas
'Pll see III let you know. Goodby."
Bob heard the click as Mr.. Thomas
hung up. and Kitty saw the disap-
polntment in his eyes. He said rueiully:
mir. Thomas doesn't like my guiding
MIR. Frame
81 had feeling that was it,
Il guess he knows about Mr.
Frames shooting hens when was out
with him He holds it against me!'
Kitty told him not to worry, every
thing was going to be fine And at
least you can see to it that Mr.. Frame
doesn't shoot any hens today"
But Bob was pretty low in his mind
when he drove out toward Round
Pond to rejoln the two men. From a
hill half mile away he could see the
heath where they were cunning. He
stopped the car to watch them. Even
from this distance, he could recognize
Mr.. Frame by his shorter stature; and
he saw presently the little man fling
up his gun. He heard two reports, but
he was too far away to see the bird.
Chan Ford was at some distance from
Mr. Frame. Bob watched and saw the
white dog moving, and he judged Mac
was retrieving dead pheasant.
Bob stayed where he was till the
men turned toward their waiting car.
They would be proceeding to the
Hammock. and he took crossroad
to overtake them. AS he came in sight
OF them, quarter mile away, MIR.
Frame was standing by the car. lie
saw Bob and waved his hand. MIR.
Ford was already in the car Mr. Frame
got in and drove on, and Bob followed,
a hundred yards behind
oUT he drove inattentively, thoughts
in confusion. miserably sure he had
lost his chance at the wardenshlp
wondering again why MIR. Frame had
changed his habits in SO many ways.
He wondered whether the bird he had
seen him kill at Round Pond was
cock or a hen, and made up his mind
that if it was a hen MIR. Frame would
60 to court for it. The thought made
Bob set his jaw and open the dash
locker of his car to make sure his
revolver was there. Mr.. Frame, it was
conceivable, might under certain cir
cumstances be obstreperous. Bob belted
the revolver on.
They meant to gun. next, the heath
abov the Hammock, and the swale
that ran down to the pond. There was
place where gunners usually parked,
pulling off to the left of the dirt road
on little level sward. Bob was still
some distance behind the other car
when it reached this spot; but Mr..
Frame, driving, did not stop there.
He went on hundred yards and
pulled off on the right of the road,
where there was just room to park be-
tween the road and the ditch
Bob parked at the usual place, be-
hind them. When he alighted, Mr..
Frame was already out of the car