Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-07-09

LeuluS tHdt the BEAST turned anu ran
back TO the front room, where it cow
cred in corner, snarling, and showing
its fangs most wickedly. Jack saw his
advantage and was quick to follow it
mp. Rushing forward, he got in pow
erful stroke upon the brute's skull. and
followed it with perfect rain of blows,
until the body of the foe lay limp and
lifeless. Then he seized the fallen
shutter and fastened it securely, after
which he ran back into the kitchen,
caught Kitty and baby in his arms and
burst into tears He was completely
unnerved, and after a few moments
fell upon the floor almost helplessly
weak.
Meanwhile matters were assuming a
new phase out of doors On the way
out through the settlement, Mr.. Linton
had heard that pack of wolves had
been seen the day before, and having
left his wife at her mothers, had after
a short rest started on his homeward
journey. 1t had already begun to snow,
and in a short time the snow became
so fierce and the road SO blocked with
drifts, that further progress with the
horse was out of the question. So
stopping at farmhouse he Sc
CuI GU SCd 1OI luC dulAd1. dhA. OOI-
rowing a pair of snowshoes, set out
through the darkness and storm. 1t was
a hard tramp, a very hard tramp. So
dark was it that he could not distin-
guish the inequalities on the surface of
the snow, and had MANY falls in conse-
quence; but the thought that his chill
dren might be exposed to danger from
the wolves inspired him, and he plodded
Nhr
within three miles of home, he saw
lights in the settlers houses and knew
that day was near at hand. Knocking
at the door of the nearest he was
greeted with surprise by the owner.
whats the matter, Linton he eX-
claimed? What are you doing here at
home, is Thereof
Linton briefly explained
''Oh yes, the wolves" said the farm
er. THAT must be what I heard dur
ing the night
(Which way were they going?" asked
Linton, earnestly.
Then it is as / feared. They have
are Alone
But, man, they cannot get into the
house.
Il know. but the children may go out
of doors;" and, with these words, he set
out again.
Hold on, Linton. If you think
there's likely to be any danger I'll go
with you as soon as l get my rifle and
snowshoes."
But Linton was already on the way,
and his friend was some little time in
overtaking him. To a suggestion that
he should ask other neighbors to join
them, he replied that he could not
wait; but his friend, with better
judgment, called at several houses; and
by the time Linton had reached his own
clearing. four wellarmed men were
following him. They called him to
stop until they could join him, but he
made no answer. 1t was daylight now,
and his keen eye detected red marks
on the snow around the house. The
sight almost crazed him; for he thought
the stains were made by the blood of
his children. He was almost frozen
with horror as he advanced near
enough to see a dozen or more wolves
struggling over body. It was in re-
atty that of the wolf which Jack had
shot as it stood looking in the win
dow; but to Mr.. Linton the only ex-
PLANTATION possible was that Jack had
gone out of doors for something, and
been seized by the furious wolves
He ran toward the snarling, fighting
group without stopping to think that
he was absolutely unarmcd. He would
doubtless have paid with his life the
penalty of his rashness, for two of the
brutes seeing him approach left the
others and came toward him with great
bounds; but two of his friends, seeing
the danger he was mourning. ran for
ward and with wcll-directed shots
stretched his assaiiantS dead in their
tracks. The other men fred into the
struggling pack. and the brutes, sur
prised at the sudden attack, left the
body over which they had been fighting,
and running about twenty yards away
stood crowded together, a hideous, snarl-
ing, wicked-looking group, furnish
ing a fair mark for rifle shots, as
four bullets testified. Linton was now
able to recognize what it was over
which the wolves had been struggling,
and the revulsion of feeling on seeing
that it was one of their own species
was so great as to almost completely
overcome him, and he reeled and would
have fallen had not one of his friends
supported him.
Kitty heard the rifle shots, but not
divining what they meant was only the
more alarmed. Jack had sunk into a
heavy sleep. from which she aroused
him with difficulty; but once awake he
understood that aid was at hand.
Springing to his feet, he took up the
rifle, reloaded it, opened the door and
stepped out into the snow just in time
to see his father coming around the
great drift which bad formed around
the south end OF his cabin. At the
same moment three wolves, which had
been slSulking behind the stable, caught
sight OF Mr.. Linton and Sprang to-
ward him. The other farmers were
not in sight. They had remained on
the other side of the house to drive off
the pack, and had not observed the
brutes at the stable. Jack was equal
to the emergency. His nerves became
like iron. He raised his Winchester
and three shots rang out in quick sue
cession. The leading wolf gave great
bound in the air and fell dead at Mr..
Unions feet; the second crawled
away with broken leg: the third
tr,rpeS and made fO. the woods. Int a