Life — September 24, 1903 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

« LIFE: There and Back. ad Ww B4t I want,” said Witherby, ‘‘and what I pro- pose to have, isa trip to the woods. I want to sit in the heart of the primeval forest and commune with myself. I want to be a companion to the black bear, and feel myself in tune with the tall pines. My dear, will you join me?” Mrs. Witherby sighed. “Are you sure, dear,” she said, “that it would be best? Perbaps——" “‘That's just like a woman,” said Witherby, ‘ Al- ways throwing cold water on the most perfect system for having real fun. But this time, my dear girl, you shall not thwart me. I’ve seen Robinson and he's going to let me have his camp in the Canadian woods. My outfit is coming. Rubber blankets, hunting suits, rubber boots, guns, rods and everything are on hand. Here are my tickets. And we start to-night.” Witherby’s determined face looked down into his wife's, seemed no help for it. “Very well,” she said quietly, must be."” There “If it must be, my dear, why, it ys next afternoon at three, two people on a buckboard were rolling and pitching over a corduroy road. On the front seat sat their guide, who had met them at the station by appointment. As they plunged on like a ship in a storm, Witherby pointed out the beauties of nature to his wife. « There,"’ he said, as he threw both arms around the guide's neck to avoid falling out, ‘tis a genuine deer run, These beautiful animals are so gregarious that they troop through the woods in single file. Isn't itso, guide?’ Naw,’’ said the guide, that ain't no deer run, log road.”” “Well,” said Witherby, ‘ we'll see plenty of ’em by and by, anyway. I've read about 'em in books.”” By and by they came to a clearing and stopped. They were greeted by a miserable little cabin on the edge of the woods. Witherby danced with joy. That's a “At last !'’ he exclaimed, as he took out a glistening bowie- knife attached to his waist, ‘we are here. I wish I had a deer to skin.”” In the distance a rifle shot rang out, and there was a peculiar whizzing sound. “ What's that?” asked Witherby hoarsely. “Unless I'm very much mistaken,” said Mrs. Witherby, turning pale, ‘‘ that was a bullet. Wasn't it, guide?’’ “Yep,"’ said the guide sententiously; “you'll get used to that after awhile. These amachoor hunters are right plenty this year. All you have to do is lay low and you'll be safe enough.” The guide started a fire, and they sat down to their evening meal. In the meantime Mrs. Witherby had been investigating. “Where are we going to sleep?’ she said, coming back to the fire. . “In the lean-to,” said the guide. ‘‘ That’s where The Deacon: Your cunse or MANKIND! THE PINES OP HOPE AND AMBITION ! HEARTUSTONE AND MERCILESS SOUL-DEVOURING MONSTER — The Whiskey Bottle: YEARS OLD. every one has to sleep that comes here.’ The leau-to consisted of a low structure open at one end, the floor of which was cov- ered with a layer of balsam boughs. Isn't it grand?" said Witherby. Hello, what's that?” He slapped his hand on his face. “ Punkys,” said the guide. better have a smudge.” The punkys proved to be a minute insect, so small they could scarcely be seen with the naked eye. Soon, however, they were envel- oped by a dense cloud of smoke from the “How we will sleep. “Guess we'd PITILESS QUENCHER OF BASE POLLUTER OF THE SACRED Gracious! AND TO THINK I'M ONLY TWO comicbooks.com