The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-01-22

l never shall now. but in an instant
was a wide-awake as ever was. and
in the same second realized that the
baby was not in bed with me, but that
the heavy object that lay across my
chest was the hind paw of large ami
NAL
Il had sense enough to lie perfectly
still. How could have mistaken that
hoarse breathing for the baby's foolish
little snor.? Just because l said to
myself that it was the baby.
Il can't describe my feelings as /
lay there. First | grew cold and nv
skin seemed To Shrivcl mp in horror. My
nerves contracted 50 that it was posi-
lively painful. Then came the reaction.
and the perspiration poured all over
nv body. II was pitch dark. and. to
ada To my horror, ! had forgotten the
lay of the land My head didn't work
just right couldn't locat. tie door.
Try as | might, it was impossible for
me TO remember which side of the
room my bed faced
'-Of course. the only thing to do was
to lie still until there was enough light
To sac the door, and IN the meantime 20
pray that the object besi,.c me might
not bc reused 10y any noise in the
houSc. | had no idea what time il was
1 had no idea AT all except that some
enormous beast occupied part of my
bed and that Il heavy. curly paw, with
claws on the end lay over my body.
Il believe / was going crazy when /
heard baby sob 4 little N,.S he was in
my wifc's room. How happy l felt
when / heard that noise. for / didn't
know hut the animal had I:ladc Iayal
of BuStcr before it lay down. Then
feared that the baby would cause the
brute beside me To awake. Int at that
moment his mothers soothing voice
quicteI him. The words of Mrs. Paul
never seemed 80 sweet, never SO
musical
But all was again still except the
breathing of that beast. At this time /
had lain in one position, not even dar-
ing 10 move nay hand that rested on the
fur of the paw. 1t was growing cold,
the carly morning chll filled the air.
and there lay uncovered and in
clammy syv, ? There was no more
noise. OF course | have no idea how
long l remained. | counted one thou
sand brcaths taken by the animal;
then. strang, to say. felt slcCpy-cX-
hau ,tion was doing for me. That must
not lac. collected my faculties again
and once more was III abjvct terror.
~ faint glow appeared ut the side
of the room. 1t was II CLINT Of dawn
that lighted the space ut the window.
Only few moments more | SAID to
myself. Slowly the objects in the room
began to stand out, and finally / could
outline the door which was opposite
the foot of the bed 1t was staining
half open. l waited a few minutes
longer until more night came III. Uncn
scizing the paw | threw il from me and
with one bound | was out of the bed.
Another carried me into the hall. and
with a bang l p1Ilcd the door shut. and
rs | did so ! heard savage growl and
IA crash.
Mrs. Paul can do better justice to
the rest of the story, but a. she il not
here l will tell it "a she has often re-
lated
She was awakened 10y the most ter
rife yclls intcrspcrscd by the growls
oi IN animal, and the entire house was
,-rred rs if cannon balls were being
ITlcd against the walls. Running into
the hall snc found me holding on to
my door knob with both hands and
Jumping up and down. | had on only
legs moved up and down like pistons
in and ont of a cylinder. All the while
| was yelling at the top of my lungs
and by this time Buster had Joined in
the chorus Mrs. Paul thought me
crazy. but fortunately | had enough Of
my wits left to tell her TO call the men,
and in a few minutes the gardener and
the stable boy came in.
Il sent them for = rope, ard in few
moments we had the door fastened.
There was a rifle in my wifc's room,
fortunately. and ordering the gardener
to get ladder, ! sent Mrs. Paul with
Buster to the stabl.. for was fearful
that the brute NyoulI brc ak through
the partition. Then. without stopping
to put on nay clothes. which, 10y the
way, | couId not have done. is they
We're all in ny room. l hurried around
20 the side of the house and climbed mp
the ladder to my open window. which
was about six feet from the ground.
and was more of portfolio than any
thing else.
II soon caught sight of the brutcS
eyes and fired. There WAS Il ven and "a
crash. The animal had jumped for me.
Completely unstrung 10y the terrible
hours | had passed. / f.ll from the lad
der, and, znocllin the gardener of
his feet. we both rolled on the ground.
lie was certain that the animal had
him. and his cries caused Mrs. Paul to
run from the stable, she believing that
we were both killed In my fall
spraincd my ankle, and when | tried to
get up tainted from the pain.
"A half hour later found myself ly-
ing in my wife'S bed and doctor
standing beside me After had faint
ed Mrs Paul, wholly the way, is "A
very clever shot-had replaced the lad
der and, selzing my rifle, dispatched
the animal, which was nearly dead by
that time, for my bullet had entered its
brain"
ri