The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-11-30

goou Judgment ana common sense ne
placed great reliance.
The outfit all teld consisted of flf-
teen persons, twelve Mexican herdcrs
aud drivers, Sam aud the ranchman
aud his daughter.
To transport the camp equipage,
they took along two big prairie
schooners and an ambulance wagon.
The journey through that section Of
Texas, formerly comprised In the old
territory of Bcxar, was made by easy
stages aud without event.
Crossing the Rio Grande below Las
Cruces, New Mexico, the outfit pushed
on across the arid alkali plains toward
the Pinalcna Mo ,ntains, among the
foothills of which sam knew of
several fertile, we'll watered canyons,
from which the ranchman could take
his pick as grazing ground for herds
and 1ocks. After exploring several of
these canyons, Ranchmnn Boiling final
! " selected one that he thought suitable
and the outfit went into camp TO give
the horses and ponies few days rcst
and allow them to replenish their
lardcr with fresh mcat-for game was
very abundant
The journey had taken about n
month, aud during that time Sam had
fallen desperately in love with Miss
Sally.
Sam is a good-looking, fellow aud
has no bad habits and had saved mp
tidy sum that would help immense
ly toward stocking n ranch.
Miss Sally was os deeply IN love
with him as he was with her, aud the
father, having taking quito fancy to
the scout. was not avcrsc to having
! him for son-i law.
In climbing steep canyon wall one
afternoon In search of b'ack-tailcd
deer. sam slipped aud spraincd his
ankle 40 badly that on the following
day, when the hunters started out, he
was obliged to remain behind in
camp.
The entire outfit, with the exception
of two herdcrs, sailed forth in search
of game. and those left in the camp
proper were Sam aud Miss Sally.
OF course. being an invalid, he re-
qured great deal of attention. to
which he was not ayersc, SO long as
Miss Sally was the attendant.
She had concluded to 10 some wash
ing, and had big fire burning in
front of the line of tents. Sam re-
clined on a pile of blankets on one
side of tho fire under big 1.-Two oak
tree, while Miss Sally performed her
laundrying on the other side.
The forenoon passed very pleasantly
and without event. Sam had talcn
into dose, aud Miss Sally, having
finished her laundrying, was busiiy
engaged in filling half dozen lam
terms from large coal oil can.
The swapping of some dry branches
back of where her lover lay caused
her to look up suddenly just in time to
see an enormous grizzly bear that had
been attracted TO the camp by the
smell of fresh meat, shambling up the
shelving bank.
For moment the sight of the
gigantic beast robbed her of speecl,
and motion. She stood with wide
staring eyes aud loud-bcating heart,
while Sam, who had been awakened
by the crash, stared up on his elbow
aud looked around him.
just at this minute the bear reached
the top of the bank, and cspying the
scout, uttered a savage growl and
rose upon his hind legs.
"My rifle, Sally! Quick! shoot!' y
cried Sam, scrambling to his feet, for
getting in his excitement his spraincd
ankle.
Sally's lips parted, but no sound is
sued from them, and she tightene d
her grasp upon the handles of coal the
oil can.
The bear had been steadily advanc-
ing, beating the air with his strong
forepaws.
He was almost upon the scout, when
Sam, still forgetful Of his ankle,
started toward the tents.
One step only lie took, and then,
with groan Of pain, sank to tho
ground.
At the same instant the bear caugh
him hy tha arun aud hia lono tnifo.