THE BARN OWL 



"I am sure that I didn't," I urged, in the hope that he would 

 say something in contradiction that would help me to remember. 



"But you did," he said positively. "Having to tell me when 

 to pull, trying to imitate the babies and work the bulb all at once 

 made so much you can't remember. Can't you tell from the 

 camera if you did?" 



"Why, of course!" I cried joyously. "Get it down at once; 

 and, dear boy, were you ever careful?" 



I vow his eyes were wet as he answered, "Several times lately. 

 You look the other way. It shall come down like a box of eggs," 

 and it did, with the shutter closed. 



My hands shook as I pushed the slide into the plate-holder, 

 and, withdrawing the holder, wrapped it in a sheet of rubber. 

 Before eating or sleeping I carried that plate to my boarding- 

 house and developed it, with the guide peering over my shoulder. 

 It was breathless work. 



"Are you sure that stuff is all right?" he asked as the chemi- 

 cals were measured in the beginning. A little later, "Can you sec 

 anything yet?" Then, "Would it hurt just to take a little peep 

 now? She ought to be out enough that you can see if she really is 

 coming/' When I first held the dripping plate to the ruby lamp 

 he shouted, "Hello, old monkey faced-mooneye ! I knew we had 

 you! Stopped to look back, didn't you? And just see what we 

 got! Ginger! Ain't she a bird? Yessir! That's the way she 

 looked, just exact!" 



THE FACE A PERFECT HEART-SHAPE 



61 



