Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-03-14

carefully drawing it back an inch or
TWO, he cautiously listened for u mo
ment.
Nothing unusual greeted his ear
One of the horses stamp ID, bat it was
precisely as he would have done under
ordinary circnnst4ncss. II. could
hear the munching Of another perhaps
as he enjoyed his rather late snppsr;
but in other respects all was silent as
the tomb.
It's all mighty strange ne thought,
still hesitating. L wonder if he could
have gotten into quarrel with some
other tramp
But I'm sure there wasn't any one
else Ia tho barn when l closed the
door
1t WAS certain that nothing could be
gained by st.ndlng outside AMI so he
drew back tn, door, and stepped with.
in.
why didn't I bring the lantern'' he
asked him self, the next minute. That
would havo 3et:lel the question at
once.
He concluded, however, before turn
ing back for that auxiliary, to see
whether he coull not ,talong without
it.
His irst proceeding vas to call oat,
in a rather loud voice:
Hello! who's thrre?'
His tone sounded hollov and ghost
Iy, and the horse stopped nunching us
if he WAS listening, but no other effect,
was noticeable.
IF you don't answer, I'll shot!
That however, was an idle thre It, for
Williams dii not prop)s' 10 fire his gan
unless he knew what the target VAS
So he stood and listened few minutes
longer, and then, determined to probe
the mystery to the bottom, be turned
about to 20 after his lantern.
Pushing the door back, he stepped
out into the m)olIlght. anl, rs he did
SO strange ru5tling noise cllght his
ear; but before he could turn his hea(
in the right direction. a heavy body
landed st"al -ht upon hi, shoulders, an |
he knew at oncn th4t he was att tck d
by a wild anim,l, which hal ?, obably
leaped out OF the same window from
whi3h the tramp hld sprung.
The flvmer WAS IA powerful, man but
he was totally taken untwares that ev
erything was against him.
The brute, IN reality, wls q panther,
winch made an attempt to grapple his
throat.
Under the momentum, or rather
weight. Of his ass liI4nt, Williams stag
cered backward, and would have fallen
to the ground had he not thrown up
his arms and sripped the door with one
hand, the involuntary movement cauS
ing hun to drop his gun, one barrel of
which was discharged by the concus-
sion.
The stunning report startled the
beast, and ctused him to release his
hold, sprlnging lightly back several
feet.
Williams instantly turned to face
him, and then, for the first time, under
stood the formidable nature Of the
brute which had aSsaIlel him.
The panther, however, had no idea
Of relinaulshing his prey, and as the
latter stopped down to regain posses,
sion Of his gun, the panther again
bounded toward him like rubber ball
Williams WAS not expecting this, but
being materially 1.-THE and quick oI
movement, he dolg lged to one side, duck.
ing his shoulders at the same time, SC
that his foe bounded over, actually
azing him as he did SO.
But Williams had his gun in his
grasp, and he faced about witt the pur,
pose Of giving the beast The
contents of the remaining barrel. The
surprising agility of the panther en-
abIed him to reach the man before the
latter could get the muzzle turned tow
ard him.
Well ware Of the dangerous nature
of his foe, the farmer now tried TO get
behind the door, so as to close it, and
shut him either withn or without; but
the beast has already fastened upon his
arm, which was badly lacerAted, and he
hung on with grip which was impos-
sible to shake off,
Rendered desperate by his pain, Will
liams moved backward, dragging the
brute after him. Its teeth were buried
in his lett arm, and with his right the
man drew back the door, still holding
the gun, stepped within, Set down the
gun, and then pulled the door as near
shut as he could with his arm thru st
through and with the panther clinging