Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-07-09
DEG AND COUGAR IN A FIGHT.


Makes = Good Show Against Odds.
Jim McMal,on, who carries the mail
into Vance, was riding leisureiy along
the trail with the mail pouch slunt, over
his horses back, and his dog, a big,
courageous animal, brimful of fight,
and ready to tackle anything from .
mouse to a bear, was trotting ahead Of
the horse, occasionally making short
excursions into tho forest through
which the roads winds OH the trail 0f
soane wild animal.
Suddenly, after having made dash
through the brush. the dog came tear
ing out into the road, uttesing savage
and fierce barks, his hair bristli1,e and
evincing unmistakable signs OF terror.
Jim Mt once surmised that tho cause of
the dogs retreat must hive been duo
to an apparition OF some unusually
large wild animal.
Spurring lis horse he rude up to the
point where tho dog was still growing.
alh encouraged the animal to attack
the unseen cause Of the comuotion.
The dog responded by tierco rush into
the brush, and in a few minutes ap-
pcarcd near the road in savase con-
flict with n large cougar. After n short,
fierce round both went down, tho dog
on top. His master knew. however,
by his screams and growls that tho dog
was not having the fight all his own
way.
The cougar had lcaped and fastened
his cleaning fangs on tho dogs head,
while his hind feet, with sharp claws,
were tearing into the dogs side, and
were making the hair and the blood
fly. The horse, which had now seen
the wild animal, was plunging and
rearing in terror. Jumping from his
saddle, Jim drew his revolver and went
to the dogs rescue.
Cougar aud dog were rolling around
and round, now one OH top and then
the other. and moving SO swiftly it was
hard to distinguish them. They were
all tangled up in maze of hair, blood
and blood cu,dling yelps and screams.
Jim wanted to kill tho cougar, but
didn't want to kill the dog So he
waited for All opportunity, and then,
raising his big revolver, pulled the trig-
ger, but the gun missed fire. Again hs
aimed and pulled, with the same result.
In his excitement he had forgotten that
several Of the chambers Of the pistol
were empty. Luckily for man and dog
tie cougar at this time released his
hold on the dog and sprang into the
brush and disappeared. Nenounting
ard whipping up his horse, Jim rode of
with the dog to y safer place. An ex-
animation Of the faithful animals in
juri.s revealed the fact that one of its
eyes had been gouyed out, the side OF
its head lacerate,l and its neck and
body badly cut and torn by the fangs
and claws of the cougar. r.-Chchatis
Nugget.
why Sl,oemAkers Demand Deposits.
''If W. didn't secure deposit with
orders" said custom shoemaker while
trying to explain why it was that some
thing on account" was needed, I'VE
should soon have to start misfit parlors
Oh chr own account. 1t is not TINT
gentlemen deliberately order shoes
without intending to call for them, but
it is a certain thing that quite large
number of measurements are taken,
shoes made, and then never asked for.
When deposit has been left, there is
of course less danger of this, and if the
shoes arc not called for we can be sure
of prompt sale at a price high enough
to secure rs from loss.
'"Tlien there is another trouble about
this business. Almost every one who
comes wants his order filled by given
date, generally very near one, but
half the time week or more elapses
before the shoes are called for. This
naturally encourages habit of procras-
tination on our part, and unless this is
carefully checked delays and disap-
point,ncnts would be very general in
deed Nearly all custom work is done
out by shoemakers at their own homes,
and these ,nen nrc far moro autocratic
and independent than we dare to be-"
st. Louis Star Sayings.