Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-05-23

-smAnsh 'um.' but Didn't--Lake's suhss-
auent Fondness for Large Knives.
Who Is that gentleman with tina largo
gray whiskers7
This Is the question often asked of IN
old. well known blacksmith In Berrien
county. now nearing on 90 a ripe old
age.
II Is Luke Faulkner, the man who had
such terrible encounter with cata-
mount some thirty years ago. don't
suppose you would find one-half dozen
men in Berrien county that would have
had half the courage that this man did
possess Mt the time / write of.
The facts and circumstances of the
case are about as follows.
You will recollect that thirty or thirty
five years ago Berrien county was very
thinly settled, and consequently wild
animals were more numerous than they
are now. IL Is true there are now In
these days of George Mics and Shade
Dorminy's occasionally a caiamount, but
they are not TO DO compared to the cata-
mount Of thirty years ago.
SHE THOUGHT 1T WAS THE DOG.
But to the subject In hand Luke had
not long been married He lived on a
little clearing near the ten mile creek
famous for the number of wild cats,
catamounts, etc. that roamed its banks
and swamps In quest of fish or stray
litter Of young pigs.
The day ON which this episode took
place was mill day with Luke, and as
the mill was some distance off IL was a
pretty big days trip, and II tho mill hap
pened to be crowded IL took till in the
night TO accomplish the trip And IL so
happened that the mill was crowded.
No one was left with Mrs. Faulkner
for the day as no danger was apprehend
ed during the day time, and Luke i'm.
strueted her that II perehance he was gone
till after dark she should so down at
shutdown 10 neighbours house, little
way distant on the road to the mill. so
that she should be ready when her hus-
band came back from the mill
The day wore heavily away, as Il does
to all young wives when first left to
themselves. until the sun seemed to stand
still But finally the shades of evening
began to lengthen. and many an anxious
glance was cast up the road to see If Luke
was yet coming
No Luke
The fuel was prepared for the night,
the supper cooked, all preparations
were made for the night and Mrs. Faux
ner was sitting by slow fire knitting
and waiting. Waiting for tho one or
both of two things. For the return of
her husband or for the approach of the
time when she should go to the neigh
boris
1t was now time she should start She
would knit around once more. Pit-a-pat
-pit-a-pat. She hears the dog jump the
fence and come walking in the piazza.
and she turns to look. expecting to see
her husband driving up the lane.
What was her fear and surprise when
instead Of the dog, a great big, ugly
catamount walked in. eyed things eau
tiously for a moment during which time
she was afraid To movel and turned and
walked under the bed and lay down on
a pile of seed cotton.
Can you imagine her feelings7 Gently
easing up from her chair and out at the
door she fairly flew 10 the neighbor's
house already mentioned II was dis
tant only about half mile. and the dis.
lance was made in quick time.
This man was the owner Of a slave.
a large, heavy fellow, whom she thought
she would get to go and run the cat of
But "No, sahl Me to 'fraid of dat war
mint Can't go"
In IN hour or so Luke returned from
the mill, stopped and called for his wife,
according to previous arrangement, and
was told the story of the cat.
He'd so. Frank would go with him II
he'd take the two dogs along. Yes,
they'd take them. A large hand light
was procured and they started
Now, nlassa, If he jump on me you
smash UNI, and II he jump on you
smash 'um."