Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-02-06

q IOEk i1uAOS Ss<A1@ esCA sS " ASs1s esS>Ssv
in motion as he prepared for the fatal
spring.
TO aim and IRE was the impulse Of
a second, and the tawny brute sprang
outward with snarl OF rage and
pain, and fell squarely into the IRE.
There was an unearthly shrek. a
smell of burning hair, a shower OF
Goals and lighted wood, then the
brute stood wounded and blinded
near the tree.
cat him, boys: at him." cried
Clyde.
And the dogs, closed on him, but,
wounded as he was, he was more than
a.match for them.
He killed one and sent the others
bowling to safe distance before
their master could surely aim the
second bullet, which quoted him.
He was not an instant too soon,
however, for there came another ter
rife scream, this time from the tree
directly over his head.
'1'm ready for you now" he cried,
coolly sighting another panther dl-
rectly between the scintillatiDg eyes.
He fired and sprang aside, while
the animal fell, struck the ground
with heavy thud, clawed the earth
and air convulusively, for a few sec
onds, and then lay quite still.
''This is getting interesting" NUT
tered Clyde grimly cycling the two
huge, tawny bodies, the dead dog and
the skulking living ones, while ne
threw fresh wood on the scattered
fire and peered in every direction.
"Meow! Meow! Sct-t-t!'
He turned sharply to see the heads
of two panther cubs thrust out OF the
hole near the tree, their ears laid
close to their round heads and their
eyes sweeping the scene in fierce in
quiry.
'sHa, ha! A regular family party
I've stumbled on" laughed Clyde.
1855! Seek 'em, boys!'
And the dogs pulled one kitten out
to his death, while the others scram-
bled back in the hole.
Suddenly there was slight noise in
the edge of the forest, and two half
grown panthers came cautiously into
the circle of the lighu, shifting the all
uneasily and evidently afraid OF
trap.
The smell of the scorched hair and
the binding glare of the fire puzzled
them.
But Clyde did not wait for them to
become satisfied of the safety Of an
attack. He fred two shots in quick
succession, killing one animal and
badly wounding the other, which the
dogs attacked at once.
When the sharp, short fight was
over, one dog limped back to receive
the praise of his master, while the
other lay dead beside its dead foe.
'sYou and I are alone now, Brave,
my boy" said his master, patting the
dogs head. ''Well, when daylight
comes we'll see after that little var
mint in the hole"
The night passed without further
molestation, but Clyde kept the fire
burning brightly while he busted him
self in skinning three of the panthers
the one which had sprung into the
ire being worthless.
Two were mOnstrous brutes, male
and female, evidently the parents of
the smaller pair as well as the kit
tens.
After a generous breakfast Of
roasted venison he enlarged the hole
with his pick and shovel, and after
examining his revolvers, crept eau
tiously with a lighted torch, while
the dog remained outside protesting
against such foolhardy conduct by
dismal yelps and whines.
The cavity under the spreading
roots was deserted, but larger open
ing led into the rocky mountain side,
and through this the astOnished young
man crept, to find himself in natu-
raj cavern.
He soon discovered and killed the
kitten, but could find no signs of any
more.
The floor of the cave was covered
Will UOuCS, duu lCdUly MdOC uCSU
of sticks and leaves was in one corner.
But Clyde did not notice these; he
was examining the rocky sides, which
were of a peculiar veined grayish
stone.
There was smile of satisfaction
on his face when he had finished this
examination, and when he crept forth
into daylight again he muttered,
tweaking Braves ears until the dog
yelped in pain and wonder:
s.Queen Bess is mine, Brave!
There's gold enough there to satisfy
even George Randolf, I should say,
and I claim it as the panther's be-
quest" :
George Randolf could say no more,
although he insisted on visiting the
panther's den to see for himself.
ssSpme folks are lucky" he adj
mitted, reluctantly. ssIf that mine
is worth 500, 900 you can have her,
for a Randolf never goes back on his
word"
That was only year ago, and the