Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-09-25

i
AIT length. one day b month later, d
grand hunt was planned by the gentle
men, to last several days. They had
found no large game as yet, and were
anxious to meet that grizzly Jake had
half promised. So they set off In the
gayest spirits imaginable one fine
morning, leaving the camp in charge OF
the Indies and the half dozen servants
they had brought along.
The four men found sign of the mon
ster they sought within mile of camp.
They followed the trail for hours, and
then lost il on one side of deep valley
whose sides were covered by jagged,
broken rocks tumbled about in the
strangest disorder and confusion.
Here John Ovens sat down hot and
tired, and the others spread out over
the valley for some distance, in hopes
of recovering the trail. Owens sat with
his hat of, idly enjoying the cool breeze
when, without q preliminary sound save
o slight rustling, a huge grizzly up-
reared itself almost within arms length
of the astonished man.
His rifle was leaning against a rock q
few feet away, and he knew he could
not reach it, So as last chance, he
drew revolver from his pocket and
fired at the brute's open mouth. Ere
he could pull the trigger the second
time, the creature struck the weapon
from his hand, and with second blow
tore flesh and clothing from the un-
fortunate mans neck and shoulders,
and knocking him down. He gave him
self up for lost then, for, following up
his attack, he caught Ovens leg in his
teeth, with blood-curdling roar, and
shook him as terrier would rat.
AS his teeth crunched through the
flesh the wretched man tainted, and but
for Jake Hines opportune arrival would
have been torn limb from limb. Half
dozen well-aimed shots laid the mon
ster low, and then Hines examined into
the wounded mans condition. At first
he thought him dead, but at length
signs of life rewarded his ministrations.
Picking Owens up, Hines carried him
down to where a stream of water
splashed noisily along, and soon was
pleased to see him recover conscious
ness.
Shall i have to go this time, old
man?" he asked, speaking with much
difficulty.
"I'm afraid SO, SIR" with dismal
shake of the head.
"Set me up, and give me my pencil
and that blank book in my pocket" he
ordered, and grumbling over the risk,
Hines obeyed.
For few minutes he wrote rapidly,
his right arm being the uninjured one.
While lie was writing the two young
men appeared, and Jake went to meet
them and explain the terrible ending of
their hunt. Owens saw them, and in q
faint voice called to Jake and Karl
Shultz to come and sign what he had
written, saying it was his last will and
testament.
They signed, and he exacted prom
Use from Karl to see its provisions faith
fully carried out.
AS Karl promised, Owens settled
back to all appearances dead. As they
stood about in sorrowful silence, loud
scream in woman's voice rang out
from among the rocks some where above
them.
"Nell," gasped Ross Emerson, and he
dashed rapidly up the hill followed by
both Karl and Hines.
Returning half an hour later after a
fruitless search of the rocks, what was
their horror to find John Owens body
had disappeared. Search as they might
no trace of it ever could be discovered,
and the next day they returned to camp
with their dismal tale.
To their further undoing, they found
the camp in an uproar, and Nell Owens
missing since the previous noon.
She had wandered away from the
camp alone, they said, and all search
had as yet failed to reveal her where
abouts. Without an instant's delay, the
weary men resumed their tramping
here, there, everywhere, but after a
week spent in fruitless indeavor, they
broke camp and returned to their now
desolate home.
The evening before they started, Karl
Shultz and Olive Dame were walking
by themselves along the brink of the
large pool the spring formed, and set
ting ont on its long journey "some-
where. They had been talking earnestly,
and Karl in the course of conversation
related the making of John Owens
will, and his picking up the book near
where the body had disappeared.
Olive listened eagerly
did you read the will?"
mo, the time has not yet Gomez
"Give me that book" she demanded
imperiously, and he did so at once. Il
am going to read what he has written
before it is too late"
"Too late?" he echoed questioningly,
bnt she did not reply.
She was heaping up quantity of
dry leaves, and when they were lighted,
crouched beside them and holding the
book in the glare read.
Il. John Owens, being of sound mind,
but in fear of approaching death, do
declare this my last will and testament.
l hereby acknowledge Ross Emerson as
my dearly beloved son. and inheritor of
all my fortune, barring the following
requests: To my dear sister Muncy,
the sum of $25O,00o. To each of my
dear nieces $4,000 as marriage por-
ton, and to Kare Shultz, also the son
OF my dead friend, $4,000 to start him
in business. [Signedl JOHN OWENS.
Witnesses KARL SHULTz,
{ JAKE HINES.
When she had finished reading Olive
broke out wrathfully.
"Ten thousand, indeed, I'll show
him." Catching the book by the covers,
she shook the leaves loose and before
Karl could hinder her, even had he
1,onn nnip1a5 too che bad ba1d - ~,