young thing upstair«, that pretty little
him. Rut because Dan hnd learned
creature on whoso soft cheeks the
the lesson of standing still, becauav
down of babyhood still lingered. Mac
his olive-drab sportlug clothes blended
Cupid Hath
—why, he lied belonged to her for
softly with the colored leaves, Crans
three years. Ho hud been hw con-
ton did not detect him. He turned
Ears
smut cavalier. He hud never allowed
ami strode on down the trail.
her to be lonely or to feel, in u mo
He didn’t move quite like a man
ment of depression. Unit she did not EGGS FROM BACK YARD FLOCK
with Innocent purposes. There wns
belong to any one.
Suppose Mac
something stealthy, something sinister
By MARTHA MACWILLIAMS.
should full in love with Peggy I Per- Owner Should Be Satisfied With Ne
In his stride, and the way ho kept
hups he hud already. Iler heart grew
such a sharp lookout In all directions. A-
Less Than Ten Doeen Eggs Per
- - ' *
Yet he never glanced to the trail for 4X Utl. by MeClur« N»w»p«p»r By nd Ival». very tender toward him. She pulled
Hen, Say Experts.
a light cover over his shoulder«,
deer tracks, as he would have done
“1 am always glad to And a widow
had he been hunting. Without even
tucking It solicitously about him. It a’lepar.d by th*
Unit-« Depart»
m«nt of Agriculture.)
waiting to meditate on the matter, at a house party," chuckled Ned Mc would not do for him to take cold
Crae.
"
’
1
hen
1
am
sura
1
wont
be
Th«» average novice can reasonably
Dan started to shadow him.
while it tooth wns on n rampage.
Before one hundred yards had been bored. One Is certain to be amused
At first the sound wns soft Ilk»» expect to get nn nvcrng« of nt least
traversed, he could better understand with one of the species around. I the contented purring of n kitten ten dozen eggs per heii u year from his
the Joy the cougar takes In his hunt wonder why old MacNeison still fol that bus Just lapped up a bowl of small flock in the back yard, any poul
ing. It was the same process—a cau lows In Hortense's waksl If she had cream. Then It grew a hit harsher try specialists of the United States De»
tious, silent advance In the trull of wanted him, she'd have taken him long until finally It rose nnd rose with part men t of Agriculture, on the basis
prey. He hnd to walk with the same ago.'’
the raucous hideousness of a giant of two hens to each menlbcr of th«
From her comfortable place In a tile being scraped across nn Iron bar. family this will give 20 dozcu eggs a
caution, he hnd to take advantage of
the thickets. He began to feel a curi hammock, under whle spreading trees, Mac's mouth became a volcano, emit year to each person, which amount is
Lila Marshall regarded Neil where he
about liulf way between ths general
ous excitement.
frightful sounds.
sat
on a low stool near enough to ting
average of farm and city consumption.
Cranston
seemed
to
ho
moving
more
Hortense
moved
her
chair
back
the same experience again with no
ke*p the hammock swaying gently. from him a little. It w'ns terrible. No back-yard poultry keeper should be
carefully
now,
examining
the
brush
embarrassment whatever. His first Im
"Ask me something tim'd 1” she drawled
pression then, besides abounding. In along the trail. Now and then he lazily, "llorty has sense. Let her en She wished suddenly that the pretty satisfied with less than this. He should
try. however, to get as much mor« us
glanced
up
at
the
tree
tops.
And
all
credible astonishment, was that she
joy life as long as she can I Do you I’eggy would ruu down the stairs and
had quite knocked out his breath. But at once he stopped and knelt In the think that Mac as a husband would haiqwn to pass the door. A sight possible.
To provide an egg a day for each
like Mac with his mouth open and
let It be said for him that he recov dry shrubbery.
At first all that Dan could see was measure up to Mac the lover! I'll snoring so fervently would forever ¡terscHi two hens would have to lay
ered with notable promptness. His
say he won’t. Look at my worse half,
183 eggs each a year. Tills Is by no
own arms had gone up and closed the glitter of a knife blade. Crans ¡•laying tennis on a hot morning like destroy nny Illusions she might have means
an Impossible average for small
ton
seemed
to
be
whittling
a
piece
of
about the fascinating man.
But
around her, and the girl had wriggled
dead pine Into fine shavings. Now this, trying to fool himself that he Is Peggy did not come. Ned wns con Hocks. It Is perhaps not too much to
free.
young enough to attract little I’eggy
“Rut you mustn't do that I” she told he wns gathering pine needles and O’Neil! Bass the chocolates, old boy I ducting one of those whirlwind cam
small twigs, making a little pile of
paigns that sweep so many girls Into
him.
My disillusionment hasn't affected my btmduge t»efore they are awnre of
“But, good Lord, girl! You did It them. And then. Just ns Cranston appetite yet.”
the chains.
to me! Is there no Justice In women!” drew his match, Dnn saw his purpose.
“Oh, say, you're Jealous of that
Cranston was nt his old trade—set
Suddenly Mnc opened his eyes and
"But I did It to thank you for this
child. Aren't you the silly one when gropingly held out a hand to her.
lovely gift. For remembering me— ting n forest fire.
For two very good reasons, Dan It's plain as day your good old scout “Murry me, my dear, or cut the strings
for being so good—and considerate.
didn
’t call to him at once. The two secs that the child Is crazy about that bind! You've been a good pul
You haven't any cause to thank me.”
reasons
were that Cranston had a rifle Muc and that the presence of Hor for a long time."
He had many serious difficulties In
and
that
Dan was unarmed. It might tense is a renl thorn in the child's
Hortense laughed shakily.
"I—I
thinking it out. And only one con
b^
.extremely
likely that Cranston quivering flesh? He's Just entertain was thinking of marrying you, Mnc,
clusion was obtainable—that Snowbird
ing her to keep her from missing
kissed as naturally as she did any wpuld choose the most plausible and Mac's attention. Didn't Mac rush her but—but you snored Just now. Ugh I"
thing else, and the kiss meant exactly effective means of preventing nn Inter to death the first two days we were She shuddered a little, “It was ter
rible, Mnc, really, terrible! It sound
what she said it did and no more. ruption of his crime, ami by the sama here, until Hortense arrived?”
ed like n buzz MW."
But the fact remained that he would teken, prevent word of the crime ever
Lllu sat up straight, “is that the
From upstairs came a gnle of light
have walked a good many miles far reaching the authorities. The rifle truth!” she demanded. “If it Is, you
contained
five
cartridges,
and
only
one
। laughter, with the tinkling, musical
ther If he thought there was any pos
just get your six feet of good-looking ripple of the very young. Mnc snt
wins needed.
sibility of a repeat,
manhood up to the court at once and up alertly. There was nn expectant
But
the
idea
of
backing
out,
unseen,
But all at once his fantasies were
make I’eggy O'Neil have the time of look on his handsome face. “So, you
suddenly and rudely dispelled by the never even occurred to Dan. The fire
her
life!"
would
have
a
tremendous
headway
be
nre going to cut the strings, then?
intrusion of realities. Dan had been
Ned stretched himself and dust
walking silently himself in the pine fore he could summon help. Although ed a fleck of imaginary dirt from I'm not going to hnng on forever, A Common Mongrel Back Yard Flock.
needles. As Lennox had wondered at it was near the lookout station, every bis spotless flannels. “You’re a cruel llorty, honest, now.” He touched his
long ago, he knew how by Instinct; condition pointed to a dlte.strous fire. woman to rush me around after, a j cheek where the pnln find lately at- say that In case, where the person ut-
and instinctively he practiced this at The brush was dry as tinder, not so fledgling who hasn’t sprouted pin tucked him. A smile of gratitude came tending the flock Is In a position to
tainment as soon as he got out into heavy as to choke the wind, but yet feathers yet. I don’t like them be Into his eyes. "You'd be such a com look ufter til« wants of the birds three
the wild. The creature he had heard tall enough to carry the flame Into fore they’re seasoned. It’s so much fortable sort of wife llorty, nnd—and or more times n day an average of
was fully one hundred yards distant, the tree tops. The stiff breeze up the more comfortable to talk to a finished I’m used to you. Can't you, now? better than thirteen dozen eggs per
hen can lie seenred if the hens ure ma
Say?”
yet Dan could hear him with entire ridge would certainly carry the flame
All at once Hortense capitulated. ture and In good condition at the start,
plainness. And for a while he couldn’t for miles through the parched Divide product like you. A man doesn't have
Perhaps It wns another burst of laugh and have the vitality to carry them
even guess what manner of thing it before help could come. In the mean to exert himself----- ”
Lila grinned Indulgently. “And he’s ter from upstairs that determined through a year of heavy laying.
time stock and lives nnd homes would
might be.
For tlie farm the average of 100 eggs
A cougar that made so much no'sc bg endangered, besides the Irreparable safe, playing around married women. her. "Snoring's not the worst fault
would be Immediately expelled from lOss of timber. There were many Go on, brace up, Ned I You're a gi>od a man can have, Mac,” she consoled per hen Is advised as the lowest that
the union. A wolf pack, running by things that Dan might do, but giving sort. Assume your own reponsibillties herself. “1 think—perhaps—well, I should t»e accepted as satisfactory,
in the world. A real love would do know this time, it's—yes."
up was not one of them.
while for the buck yard 120 la insisted
wonders
for you.”
After
all,
he
did
the
wisest
thing
of
upon as the lowest average, although
.
It was not until that evening at
all. He simply came out In plain sight
In general the conditions in back yards
dinner
that a complication of af KINSHIP TIES ARE STRONGEST are leas favorable to jioultry keeping
and
unconcernedly
walked
down
the
'
trail toward Cranston. At the same fairs began to be subtly manlfw»ted
than on farms.
.
to the guests.
I’eggy O'Neil was Bond of Brothers and Sister* Ie
instant, the latter struck his match.
;
Closer Than That of
As Dan was no longer stalking, the personification of springtime. In
WHY CULUNG IS PROFITABLE
Sweetheart a.
a
little
apple-green
frock,
and
a
Cranston
immediately
heard
his
step.
I
wisp
of
flesh
colored
tulle
display
He whirled, recognized Dan, and for
■
Pauline Is nn only child; for her Unculled Flock of 092 H«n» Laid 3.571
one long Instant in which the world ing rather than hiding the beauty
|
Eggs In Week and 3,520 With
one
gateway Into romance Is barred
of
her
white
throat
and
arms,
she
seemed to have time in plenty to make
79 Taken Out.
and
bolted.
No
childish
memories
of
made
a
striking
contrast
to
the
hand
a complete revolution, he stood per
fectly motionless. The match flared in some Hortense, around whose flash Joys nnd sorrows shared In the earli
An unculled fl<»ck of W2 hens laid
his dark fingers, his eyes—full of sin ing black eyes and too red lips the est, most impressionable years will
gular conjecturing—rested on Dan’s acid of time was already etching un forge for her the strongest of all 9,576 eggs In the week before being
face. No Instant of the latter’s life mistakable Unes. A man would have chains—that between children bom of culled. Seventy-nine weak layers w«»re
cast out. The culled flock of 013 came
had ever been fraught with greater had no heart if he had not been at the same parents.
right back the next week with a rec
in
Serbian
folk
lore
the
tie
between
tracted
to
I
’
eggy
that
night,
her
fresh
peril. He understood perfectly what
was going on in Cranston's mind. The Innocent loveliness, her big, dream- brother and sister Is more often the ord of 3,530 eggs, while the 70 culls,
fire-fiend was calmly deciding whether filled eyes, her fluttering attention to theme of romance than that between living under precisely similar condi
to shoot or whether to bluff it out. those around her. Lila’s shrewd eyes sweethearts—In this tie of kinship Iles tions, and doing their very best, were
One required no more moral courage soon saw evidence that she had cer a mystic significance. George Eliot laying only 85 eggs. The market
than the other. It really didn't make tainly started something when she recognised It in "The Mill on the value of the eggs layed by the culls
a great deal of difference to Cranston. had sent handsome Ned McCrae toward, Floss," the great English classic of was around $3.50. The cost of feed
alone for them nt n cent n «lay for
But he decided that the killing was the tennis court that morning. For brotherly nnd sisterly love.
In “Wuthertng Heights" Catherine each’ hen was 35.53 for the week. Fig
not worth the cartridge. The other Ned, after years of philandering,
course was too easy. He did not even «■ernwl “hard hit" by the sweet young Earnshnw cries out passionately of ures like these, say the ¡Miultry «¡teclal-
dream that Dan had been shadowing girl Just out of school. And Mac- Heathcliff, “He's more myself than 1 Ists at the university farm, show the
him and had seen his intention. He Nelson for the first time In his three am! Whatever our souls are made Importance of keeping only the best
layers. Lessons driven home in the
would have laughed at the idea that a years arduous pursuit of the gay, fas of. Ids and mine are the same."
cinating
widow
was
watching
I
’
eggy
Su«'h a bond ns there was between farm bureau’s nnd extension division's
"tenderfoot” could thus walk behind
him, unheard. Without concern, he with an undeniable light in his face. those two—strnnge, combative, but all campaign for frequent culling of flocks
Afterward, when there was danc powerful—Is seen many a time tietween should put thousands of dollars in the
scattered with his foot the little heap
of kindling, and slipping his pipe into ing In the big ballroom on the third brother nnd brother, sister and sister— pockets of poultry raisers.
his mouth, he touched the flaring floor, it appeared even to Hortense perhaps most of all between brother
match to it. It was a wholly admir that good, dependable Mac was roving nnd sister—a bond which finds no ex GEESE ARE QUITE PECULIAR
able little piece of acting, and would at last. And Just then, fate stepped pression In caresses or words of nf-
have deceived any one who had not In and tojik a hand in the game.
fegtlon—but Is nevertheless strong Different From Other Fowle as They
Dan Saw His Purpose.
seen his previous preparations. Then
Mac had been out somewhere on unto death, Its origin sunk deep In ele
Muet Be Mated Previous to
sight, might crack brush as freely; he walked on down the trail toward the lantern-decked balcony with the mental truth.
Breeding Seaeon.
__ _
f
but a wolf pack would also bay to Dan.
pretty exponent of springtime when
Nweethearts may kiss nnd cling and
wale the dead. Of course it might be
Dan stopped and lighted his own he suddenly presented himself before swear eternal fealty; mifrry; then tire,
Geese nre peculiar anlmnls. They
an elk or a steer, and still more likely, pipe. It was a curious little truce. Hortense. "Girl,” he said, “I’ve got nnd seek divorce—but who shall ever ought to be mated several months
a bear. He stood still and listened. And then he leaned back against the the devil of a toothache. What in the be divorced from that elemental tie of prior to the breeding season to obtain
The sound grew nearer.
great gray trunk of a fallen tree.
Sam Hill am I going to do about it, kinship? “Am I my brother’s keep the betjt results; therefore breeding
Soon it became evident that the crea
“Well, Cranston,” he said civilly. way out here In the country? I’ve er?" asked Cnln, and throughout ‘he stock should be bought In the fall, nnd
ture was either walking with two legs, The men had met on previous oc taken on a couple of drinks but they ages some deep Instinct has answered all changes tn mntlngs made then.
or else was a four-footed animal put casions, and always there had been don’t help a bit.”
"yes."
Matings nre not changed from year
ting two feet down at the same In the same invisible war between them.
Hortense rose quickly.
There
Thus ft Is that to many nn only to year unless results nre unsatlsfac-
stant. Dan had learned to wait. He
“How do you do, Failing,” Cranston seemed to be a motherly quality In child Is a pathetic, if not a tragic tory. And thin Is the peculiar feature
stood perfectly still. And graduallj’ replied. No perceptions could be so the touch of her white hand on his figure, bnrred from n thousand Joys of It. If the makings nre changed, ft
he came to the conclusion that he blunt ns to miss the premeditated In arm. “Come on down stairs to the nnd hopes and purifying sorrows, too. Is necessary, usually, to keep the previ
was listening to the footfall of an sult In the tone. He didn't speak In den and I’ll fix you up! I'll stop Pauline may have hosts of friends ously mated geese no far apart they
other man.
his own tongue at nil, the short, gut on the way and get my medicine case when she Is grown up; she may ennnot hear ench other.
But It was rather hard to Imagine tural “Howdy” that Is the greeting out of my room. I travel prepared marry nnd have children—but then1
what a man might be doing on this of the mountain men. He pronounced ' for any and all emergencies.”
Is one most precious, comradeship In
lonely hill. Of course It might be a nil the words with an exaggerated pre
“Spoken Just like a true widow," life that she will never know.—Londor
deer hunter; but few were the valley cision, an unmistakable mockery of laughed one of the men sitting near.
Mall.
sportsmen who had penetrated to this Dan's own tone. In his accent he
When Hortense entered the cozy
far land. The footfall was much too threw a tone of sickly sweetness, and little den a few minutes later she
Globs Lightning.
heavy for Snowbird. The steps were his Inference was nil too plain. He found poor Mac huddled on the couch,
Joseph
H.
Krauss, editor of Science
evidently on another trail that Inter wns simply calling Falling a milksop his face burled In the cushions. Noth
sected his own trail one hundred yards and a whlte-llver; just as plainly as ing on earth can so unnerve a man nnd Invention, went a long wny toward
Keep lime always In reach, plenty of
farther up the hill. He had only fo If he hnd used the words.
as a cruelly aching molar when he reproducing that most puzzling of all grave! or grit nnd a good dry dust
stand still, and In an Instant the man
The eye» of the two men met. Is miles away from dental help. “Here, big electrical phenomena, "globe” or bath for the fowls.
• • •
would come In sight.
Cranston's lips were slightly curled In swallow this!” she commanded, sitting "ball” lightning. This seems to be pro
He took one step Into the thickets, an unmistakable leer. Dan's were down beside him. She gave him a duced when a fork of lightning strikes
Give the growing stock nil they want
prepared to conceal himself if it be very stralghf. And In one thing at little white tablet “Then I'll paint In such manner that It Is not Immedi to eat. They won't pay unless they
came necessary. Then he waited. Soon least, their eyes looked Just the same. around the tooth with Iodine and ac ately conducted awny. It then forms grow, nnd they enn’t grow unless well
the man stepped out on the trail.
The pupils of both pairs had contracted onite and by that time the maid will an Incandescent ball, which hisses over fed.
Even at the distance of one hundred to steel points, bright In the dark gray be here with a hot water bottle. I’ll the ground with miraculous speed in
• • •
yards, Dan had no difficulty whatever of the Irises. Cranston's looked some fix you up in no time.”
an Irregular course, and Is finally dis
Repnrnte the males nnd females.
In recognizing him. He could not what red; and Dan’s were only hard
And she did. Poor Mac, in the act sipated, sometimes with a powerful ex Both will stand the hot summer weath
mistake this tall, dark form, the soiled, nnd bright
of dozing off in blissful relief from plosion. It may last several seconds, er better If separated, and the eggs
slouchy clothes, the rough hair, the
pain, reached out and patted the and in this brief time enn do great will also keep bettor.
Intent, dark features. It was a man
• • •
widow’s hand. “Good old girl,” he damage. It has heen known, said Mr,
about his own age, his own height,
sighed happily. "You’re much better Krauss, to bore Its wny through th»
Hens need fresh water ns much as
Snowbird to the rescue.
but weighing fully twenty pounds
for me than one of these little young walls of a building like a bullet.
do horses. During these hot summer
more, and the dark, narrow eyes could
things that don't know how to make
days they will suffer grently unless
belong to no one but Bert Cranston.
a man comfortable.” And after that
There’s the Difference.
they have constant access to It.
He carried his rifle loosely in his arms.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
• • •
he slept, hot water bottle clutched
The wise producer looks to the
He stopped at the forks In the trail
tightly to his face.
"fixing of his fences.” The plodder
The
farmer
who
falls to save some
Has to Be Clever.
and looked carefully In nil directions.
Hortense regarded him with eyes goes along haphazard and howls at of his choicest second-growth clover
"She
’
s
a
clever
conversationalist"
Dan hnd every reason to think that
from which the scales had sudden conditions nnd the lack of profit, but for the hens during the winter wilt
“Rhe has to be, to cover up the ly been snatched. He wns thinking
Cranston would see him at first glance.
does nothing and gets nowhere.—F P
miss one of the best egg-producing
Only one clump of thicket Uieltered breaks hat husband makes."
,
.
’
—possibly thinking seriously ot that Willets,
feeds we hav».
POULTRY
FLOCKS
TO SHOOT OR BLUFF!
Synopsis.—Warned by his physi
cian that he has not more than six
months to live, Dan Failing aits
despondently on a park bench, won
dering w here he should spend those
six months. Memories ot his grand
father and a deep love for all
things of the wild help him in
reaching a decision. In a large
southern Oregon city he meets
people who had known and loved
his grandfather, a famous fron
tiersman. He makes his home w ith
Silas Lennox, a typical westerner.
The only other members of the
household are Lennox's son, "BUI.”
and daughter, "Snowbird.” Their
abode is in the Umpqua divide, and
there Falling plans to live out the
short span of life which he has
been told is his. From the first
Failing s health shows a marked
Improvement, and in the compan
ionship of Lennox and his son and
daughter he tits into the jvoods life
as it he had been born to IL By
quick thinking and a remarkable
display ot “nerve" he saves Len
nox's life and his own when they
ar* attacked by a mad coyote-
Lennox declares he Is a reincarna
tion of his grandfather. Dan Fail
ing I. whose fame as a woodsman
is a household word. Dan learns
that an organized band of outlaws,
ot which Bert Cranston is the
leader. Is setting forest fires. I aii -
dry Hildreth, a former member of
the gang, has been induced to turn
state's evidence. Cranston shoots
Hildreth and leaves him for dead.
Whisperfoot, the mountain lion,
springs on Hildreth and finishes
him.
I
► —
♦
CHAPTER II—Continued.
—9—
And as for Whisperfoot—the terror
that choked his heart with blood be
gan to wear off in a little while. The
man lay so still in the thickets. Be
sides, there was a strange, wild smell
in the air. Whisperfoot’s stroke had
gone home so true there had not even
been a fight. The darkness began to
lift around him, and a strange exulta-
tion. n rapture unknown before in all
his hunting, began to creep Into his
wild blood. Then, as a shadow steals,
he went creeping back to his dead.
•
*•••*••*
Dan Failing had been studying na
ture on the high ridges; and he went
home by a back trail that led to old
Bald mountain. The trail was just
a narrow serpent in the brush; and
ft had not been made by gangs of
laborers, working with shovels and
picks. Possibly half a dozen white
inen, in all, had ever walked along it.
It was just the path of the wild crea
tures, worn down by hoof and paw
and cushion since the young days of
the world.
It was a roundabout trail home,
but yet it had its advantages. It took
him within two miles of Snowbird’s
lookout station, and at this hour of
day he had been particularly fortunate
in finding her at a certain spring on
the mountain side. It was rather a sin
gular coincidence. Along about four
he would usually find himself wander
ing up that way. Strangely enough,
at the same time, it was .true that
she had an Irresistible impulse to go
down and sit in the green ferns beside
the same spring. They always seemed
to be surprised to see one another. In
reality, either of them would have
been considerably more surprised had
the other failed to put in an appear
ance. And always they had long talks,
as the afternoon drew to twilight.
‘‘But I don’t think you ought to wait
so late before starting home,” the girl
would always say. “You’re not a
human hawk, and it is easier to get
lost than you think.”
And this solicitude, Dan rightly fig
ured, was a good sign. There was
only one objection to it. It resulted
In an unmistakble Inference that she
considered him unable to take care
of himself—and that was the last
thing on earth that he wanted her
to think. He understood her well
enough to know that her standards
were (he standards of the mountains,
valuing strength and self-reliance
above all things. He didn't stop to
question why, every day, he trod so
many weary miles to be with her.
She was as natural as a fawn; and
many times she had quite taken away
his breath. And once she did It liter
ally. He didn't think that so long as
death spared him he would ever be
able to forget that experience. It was
her birthday, and knowing of it In
time he had arranged for the delivery
of a certain package, dear to a girlish
heart, at her father's house. In the
trystlng hour he had come trudging
over the hills with It, and few experi
ences In his life had ever yielded such
unmitigated pleasure as the sight of
her, glowing white and red, as she took
off Its wrapping paper. It wns a jolly
old gift, he recollected—and when she
had seen it, she fairly leaped at him.
Iler warm, round arms around his
neck, and the softest, loveliest lips In
the world pressed his. But In those
days he didn’t have the strength that
he had now. He felt he could endure
MLWN01K