The Press., 1889-09-19

themselves up Tor lost. and mother, selZ1ng an old curtain pole which lay among the attic timber, prepared to sch my infant life at pretty high figure.
 All escape from the attic was blocked by the articles they had so carefully wedged into . the stairway This it would take them some time to clear.
 "They never imagined that so fierce a brute as the panther co,zld be stopped by an ordinary sash and glass, however strong.
 "But the Indian devil is wary, and this one was suspicious of the glass When, on at- tempting to put his head down through the skyIght, he met with an obstacle when he did not see any, he thought he detected trap.
 s'He sniffed all over each pane, stopping every moment to eye us hungrily. Then he scratched, but very gingerly, at the sash. and only tore away some splinters The sash was stout and new. @"
 "At last he thrust his muzzle over roughly against the pane, and his nose went through the glass Susan sank in heap, while mother, with deadly purpose, grasped her curtain pole, expecting instant attack.
 1t was not to be 30, however-for which the world Is much to be congratulated. The panther cut his nose pretty severely on the broken glass, and shrank back, snarltpg vi ciousay.
 ssHe was more than ever convinced that the daylight was trap, and he would not trust his muzzle again in the opening.
 Observing the beasts caution, mother plucked up new hope. She remembered having read that Hons and tigers were afraid of fire, and forthwith she hit on a truly bril- liant expedient.
 "'Get up, Susan,' she commanded, and be some use. Go and light that lamp on your washstand and bring 1t to ma' -..
 Susan obeyed with alacrity cheered by the thought that there was anything left to do. When the lamp was brought mother wick so as to give flaring, smoky blaze. Then she handed the lamp back to Susan.
 Take it, sshe said, 'and set 1t on the top oR the ladder, right under the broken pane
 "Thts was too much for poor Susan
 ."Oh, 1 dasn't-neverf she whimpered, backing hastily out of her mistress reach.
 Mother regarded her with withering scorn, then turned and looked at me, where Lay close behind Ter in the basket of old clothes. .
 Assuring herself that the panther could not get me iu her absence she seized the lamp and marched upthe ladder with it.. The pan ther growled most menacingly, and thrust his face down to the opening, but as the smoke and dame came under his nose, he marled and drew back.
 Ion the very topmost step did mother de- post the lamp, where it blazed right up through the broken pane. As she turned down the ladder the panther's claws were heard along the shingles, beating reluctant retreat.
 "In a moment or two he was heard on the shed, and then mother opened the skyiight, reached out and clapped down the wooden shutter Susan's courage revived.
 ''Now that the danger was over, mother picked me out of the basket and gathered me again to her bosom, while Susan began to speculate what the panther would be up to next. On this point she was not long left in doubt. a+. ..sz ;.
 ''Ip the corner of the barnyard was pig pen. inhabited at the time by pig three months old. Presently the poor little pig set upa terrific squealing. and mother and Susan rushed to the gable window.
 ''As have said before, this window com nlanded view Of the barn yard. The pan ther was on the roof of the pen. peering down through the cracks and scratching vigorously to gain an entrance Baby had been denied him; buf pork he was determined to have. E.
 ''The pig squealed in a way that mother trusted would alarm the neighborhood, and tried to hide himself in the straw from the reach of those pale, cruel eyes. At last the panther quilted the root and found the pen door. Here he paused moment or two, s,,s- pecting another trap Then, finding nothing suspicious; In he glided There was one, ter rifn squeal. and all was stin H '
 '.I fancy mother and Susan both wept. 1 thinking how wel the fate of poor piggie might have been their own-and mine.
 eFer long while the two women kept watch at the window. At last the panther reappeared, walking very lazily and licking his chops. He glanced atzthe house in a good natured fashion, as if he bore us no grudge; cleaned his great face with one paw. njffed the air thoughtfully in various directions, and then made off toward the woods-and we knew that our pig went with him.
 ''When he was well out of sight mother and Susan removed the harricades and for sock the attic. You may be sure they fas- tened every window, kept keen lookout and went about their work in fear and trembling
 tWhen my father got home, in the middle of the afternoon. be heard the story before he could unharness the horse. Straightway he set ont again and organized hunting party among the neighbors; The party was armed with all sorts and conditions of weapons, but . 1t bagged that panther before sundown, whereby was my mother much consoled. And now, have lstuck to the factsp' said Stranion, turning to Willis
 'so my surprise, you havel' responded the latter. =
 "WeN," went on Stranion, un-ufied, 'ssince they took the trouble to get after me 30 early, it's not 30 much cause for wonder if they've kept it up.n
 At this moment astrange upearthly, gur- gling cry broke the nights stiffness, and we started, involuntarfly.
 "He's on your track, sure, Stranion," etac- ulated Sam. But. to judge from bis voice. your story has rather sickened him.
 That noise came off the lake,n growled Wilts He's coming after you by water, maybeta
 My dear boys" was Stranion's sleepy re- ply, ''that's nothing but a young loon, learn ing his notes. Now itis time to turn inss- Charles D. Roberts in Golden Days
 Differences.