Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-09
A AIGHTNING SHOT.

understood.
1t was hard to be driven from the
home they had occupied several years
and which Nathan RaWson had believed
his when he died but a few months be-
fore His last words We're, Il am
thankful that L leave you a comfort
able home, Mary, you and Caleb
He had passed into the beyond with
this belief, and now the rich cattle
king, Silas Gudgeon, whose vast estate
joined theirs on the west, had found a
flaw in RawsOn's title and had secured
the land and ordered the widow and
ner son to get off the place.
Il want no more fooling, Mrs. Raw
son." declared the cattle king as he
turned to leave the room. IF you and
this impudent boy Of yours aren't out
side Of here inside of d hours, my men
will throw you out, neck and heels
And then the hard money getter
strobe from the room, leaving the
widow in tears, and Caleb white with
righteous anger.
The mean old sllin1int.' exclaimed
the boy. II could kill him.
Hush, my son." uttered the mother
in shocked voice, ''yOu must not feel
like that. 1t is as bad as murder"
II can't help it." reioined the boy.
This is our home, that we have en-
joyed for three years. Over there faith
er lies, and and"--
The lads emotions overcame him, ann
he rushed from the room.
In the next apartment he snatched a
rifle fro the hooks and went forth into
the sunlight, an awful Wilderness on his
face.
eyes, I could kill him for robbing my
mother He is rich and has no right to
covet our little home. Mother, / will
save yOu if I die for it," and the re-
vengeful boy hurried in pursuit Of the
cattle king.
In the meantime the object of so
much bitter feeling made his way along
a wagon road that led through a ravine
toward his own home Il mile distant.
The cattle king had long coveted the
rich quarter section on which the elder
Rawson had squatted, and soon after
the settlers death GudgeOn began plot
ting to secure the land. BY the aid of
a constituencies lawyer the rich man
discovered a flaw in the RaWson papers,
and in little while had secured a title
to the land.
Gudgeon was chucllling to himself
over the situation when he was brought
to n sudden halt by a peculiar sound.
It's the panther" exclaimed the cat
tie king, recOiling as he caught sight of
pair Of glittering eyes fixed upon him
from above his position in the narrow
ravine.
On Il iutting rock, almost hidden by a
dense growth Of vines and bushes, not
10 feet from his position, crOuched that
terror of the weSt-a mountain panther
One growl from the ferocious beast
was enough to halt the land king.
He realized that he had gone too far
to retreat.
Truly death stared him in the face.
The animal was crouched ready for a
spring. Gudgeon had no weapon, for
which he cursed himself at this moment.
For one terrible second Silas Gudgeon
watched the flaming eyes and glittering
teeth of the forest monster. His face
blanched, his knees knocked together,
and he felt that he was dying.
Only one brief second.
Then the panther dashed upon his
prey.
Even as the animal gathered itself for
n spring the whinlile crack of a rifle
rang out. The next instant man and
beast rolled on the ground.
The panther rolled from his intended
victim in dying agonies.
A bullet had pierced it's heart
A boy. bearing a smoking rifle in his
gave the panther second shot. which
Quieted its struggles.
Then the boy turned to Mr.. GudGeCn,
who still lay upon the ground, insens-
ihle and bleeding.
Going to q spring near at hand, the
lad, using his hat for a basin. brought
water and dashed it into the insensible
mans face. This had the desired effect.
and Mr. Gudge0n, who had tainted
from fright. was able to stand on his
feet once more.
"T7he panther gasped the cattle king,
gazing sh,ldderingly about him.
'"There he is said the lad pointing
70 the dead animal
''Dead?"
Dead as he can be. sir" answered
Caleb Rawson.
Noticing the gun in the hand of the
boy. Mr. Gudgeon understood how his
life had been saved Putting out his
hand he said:
'eYou saved my life. Caleb Rawson.
7 thank you I'll give SO for the panth-
or's hide if you will bring it to me at
the ranch
And then the great cattle king strobe
away
Tears of INDIGNATION and anger filed
and blinded the eyes of the young
homesteader
LAS mean as everr' exclaimed Caleb
'Tf I'd only left my rifle at home, or
hadn't fired that instant, our home
would have been saved. Skin the
PANTHER and sell him the hide, I wish
I'd never followed after the old skin.
flint today"
Then the boy turned on his heel and
rushed ND the ravine toward home.
Two DAYS passed. and Caleb and his
mother had completed all preparations
for departure. Both knew the futility
Of fighting the cattle king. so made
ready to depart Ten miles distant was
a., aha,,d, nod claim which the widow