Part 9 (2/2)
”I like that chap, Jerry,” he remarked earnestly ”He's a lad afterto shoot defenceless ga that sarizzly, as I said, does not coiven hed Frank, secretly delighted to hear this honest praise of his chum
”Which is quite true for you, Frank That coill not soon get over the huive way He feels very sore about it now,” re a side look tohere a couple of his herders rangling over soave Jerry that chance He's the most enthusiastic sportss with the wearers of fin, fur and feather No danger of the woods ever being depopulated while he's around,” Frank said, with his custo that concerned his chums
”It hat you may call an inspiration My first idea, of course, was to cover the boy and face the bear I did not doubt my own ability to down him, but solad now I did it He stood the racket like a veteran I'd be a happy man if I'd only been left a boy like your chum for my own”
The ranchman spurred on ahead at this, and Frank made no effort to overtake hi in the other's eyes, and could appreciate his feelings, for the stockman's only child, a boy, at that, lay with the mother in the ranch celorious meal the boys ry as wolves That clearrailway journey, and Frank laughingly declared their host had better send away for a new stock of provisions if he expected to keep them satisfied
Bluff was the first to leave the table Frank had seen hi hurriedly toward the close of thetold what ailed his coets it, fellows!” sang out Jerry, who, of course, had also noticed the hurried departure of the anxious one
They could hear Bluff tossing things around hurriedly in the other roo trunk had been finally carried
Ten reat silence had fallen over the neighboring apartment, stole softly to the door and looked in
He saw a picture of abject dejection there--Bluff sitting on the floor, in the s, and allhis head, as if he had lost his last friend
”What's the h,” answered the disconsolate one, sighing heavily ”Why, after all one and left that knife at ho to be spoiled forwas bound to happen to upset o back, that's what,” said Bluff, gritting his teeth in his spasust
CHAPTER IX
FRANK HAS HIS TURN
”Oh, hu! There are other knives,” remarked Frank cheerily
”Not like that one,” said Bluff disood one while you're here”
”Yes, he's awfully kind, but it wouldn't be that knife,” groaned the bereaved Bluff
”When do you re it last?” demanded Frank, as a suspicion darted into his brain that was connected with Jerry
On one of their for trips Jerry had professed to entertain a decided antipathy toward a repeating shotgun of ht He declared that it was a shame for one who called himself a sportsman to handle so destructive a weapon When a chance caun in a box that held so to find it, in order to give it back, he learned that it was un until the hunt was nearly over, when it was discovered in the woods, where the thief had dropped it
Frank wondered if Jerry was concerned in the -knife He had laughed at its tremendous proportions and ornate handle Still, it did not seeuilty of a second trick along those sa to reirls?”