The Boy Trapper

se two had an eye on the money he expected to earn by trapping the quails, and for that reason they were not disposed to interfere with him until his work was all done and he had reap

ar friend and crony-almost the only one h

much like Dan Evans in a good many respects, and had been guilty of so many mean actions that he had driven almost all his friends away from him. He rode over to the General's about twice each week,

anted to do. What reason had they for wishing to annoy Don and Bert? No good reason. Did you ever see a youth who was popular among his fellows, and who was liked by almost everybody, both old and young, who did not have at least one enemy in some sneak

ter, proposing that they should go into partnership and divide the profits. Of course Lester entered heartily into the scheme. He knew nothing about building and setting traps, but Bob did, and when they had discussed the matter and calculated their cha

distributed. One Wednesday, about two weeks after the letter applying for the order was mailed, Bob went down to the post-office alone, and the first person he met there was Bert Gordon. They leaned against the counter and talked while the mail was being put into the boxes, and when the pigeon-hole was opened, the postmaster handed each

, now-he opened and read it. He was entirely satisfied with its contents, but the other boy was not so well satisfied with the contents of his. When Bert picked up his riding-whip a

?" asked Bert. "No

her's papers, asking for live quails. I wrote to the man that I could furnish them, and I have just received an answer from him, stating that he has already se

write to him

day I borrowe

days ahead of you. I've go

apping business for?" asked Bob, with ill-c

o you," re

my brain for months, to think up some way to earn money enough to get one, and when I am just about to accomplish my object, you and Don have to jump up a

Dave Evans; and I think you will acknowled

ans!" sn

hes and food more than

be shoved aside to give place to that lazy ragamuffin, am I? If I don't mak

horse and closed in on Bert as if he had made up his mind to carry out his threat of slapping him over. But every time he did so a sturdy, broad-shouldered figure, with a face that looked wonderfully like Don Gordon's, seemed to come between him and the unconscious object of his pursuit, and then B

the pos

b, handing out the document which he had crumpled into a little round ball.

hen at Bert, who was now almost out of

" said Bob, who seemed to read the thoughts that were passing through Lester's mi

med Lester. "I'd have backed y

t good backing before I willingly rai

ean by that?"

is business? Don got the contract for Dave Evans, and I want to

in case of trouble with Don Gordon, and while he was trying to make up his mind whether he ought to let it pass or get sulky over

what we can make of this. I must go down to the store now, and I'll meet you here i

ir minds that it was a mean piece of business to trap quails, and that nobody but a miserable pot-hunter would do it. They adopted the d

recting his course down the main road toward the cabin in which David Evans lived. He met David in the road, as we know, and laid down the law to him in pretty str

drew rein in front of the double log-house in which Bob Owens lived. There was an empty wagon-shed on the opposite side of the road, and there he found Bob, standing with his hands in h

as his friend rode up to the shed

he was as defiant as you plea

has the least respect for himself will have anything to do with them. I used t

int of attempting that very thing, but had thought better of it when he saw how resolutely David stood his ground. "But never min

y frighten him off the track, we would write to that man up North telling him that the party with whom

Lester; "and perhaps we'll do it any how, if the

tion he had had with David, as nearly as h

ork should be to break up this practice of trapping birds. Of course that wasn't true-I just happened to think of it while I was t

we get to g

n and Bert th

e the sort you're going to get to join your club

have an object to gain, and we mustn't allow

ld join such a club aft

likes to be first in e

disgust. "I never saw a fellow try to sho

make him President of the club; and we'l

ote for eit

ide; for if they promise to go in with us ev

and do just what they do. One would think by the way they act that they belonged to some royal family. They don't notice me at all. They've had a crowd of boys in that shooting-box of theirs every spring and fall since I can remember, and I h

t his own views exactly. "Don't so much as hint it to a living person. We'll give them a chance to make friends with us if they want to, and

the objects of such organizations as well as he could, and after some debate they crossed over to the house, intending to go int

"That's what we're working for, isn't it? Well, now, i

ll that man up North that we are the only one's here who can fill his order. Then we'll go quietly to work and

e us when we are putt

and Dave will help themselves. We can afford to be indifferent to th

ob. "I never could have thought up su

rse you

ill become

erved our purpose, it can go to smash and w

the chance. But you'll have

r up among the boys, that is, if Don and Bert agree

rom game laws, and remembered that Greek and Latin names were used therein. He could recall some of these names, and he put them in as they occurred to him, and talked about them so glibly, and appeared to be so thoroughly posted in natural history that Bob was greatly astonished. Of cou