Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1893-03-19
A MUSICAL BEAR.
The Novel Experience OF e DALI
fornie Girl
Her Piano Playing Attracts the Atten-
tion OF Bruip, Rnd Io Fnlls In Loyo .
with tho Young Lady and
tho Instrument.

Mary Carter was practicing her music
and was all alone in the housr. But for
some reason she was always alone when
she did SO. AS soon as she struck tho
frat note of her exercises everybody
went outdoora and staid there regard
less of the style with which she went
over the scales. Mary, accordingly tho
Elmira IN. W Telegram, was n San
Francisco girl who hnd gone to spend
the summer with her sister, who mar
ricd n rancher that lived away up in
the mountains near the hendwntcrs of
American river. Her brothcr-in-law,
Mr.. Matthews, was well-to-do and liked
the little house to which he took hi3
bride in nnc style. Things were so clc-
giant it was hard to imagine that tho
! place was nearly fifty miles from civili-
zation. When he was buying furniture
he was persuaded to tax q splendid
grand piano, which in duo timo arrived
ut the ranch, and it was IN this that
Mary was praGticing. She did not like
the idea of being alone ut first, but ns.
che found it impossible to persuade her
sister to stay with her she had to make
the best Of L bad job. She went over
the scales carefully every few minutes,
lsLElI5 u LOOK Out lnlO TIC EnTucl 10
see that her relatives did not get too far
away. After finishing ono picco sho
rested q moment, thinking of what she
would play next Suddenly she heard
n shufling sound, and, turning around,
she saw 4 large, brown bear standing In
the doorway leading to the back part of
the house. She was paralyzcd with
fear and could neither movo from licr
chair nor scrcam.
II saw the bear ~comercarcr, and sbS
tremblcd like n leaf. Oh, how she
wished she could faint. But she was n
strong girl and couldn't, and the bear
kept coming closer, and soon had his
paws around her. She gave herself up for
lost rs sho felt the grip, which 8ho
knew was deadly, tighten around her
and the warm breath of the creature on
her face. Looking through the window
she could sec her relatives %lounging
AROUND peacefully in the shade of ths
pines and tried to call them, but her
tongue would not tnovo and shc closed
her eyes, expecting to open them in
that happy land OF which she had been
taught from childhood. But what was
this? The bear was not hurting hor.
lie held her gently but firmly in his
paws. md was actually licking her
face, like n pet dog. She opened her
eyes, and the world was tho same M
usual. She could not tell whether she
was frightened or not, but somehow
she did not try to scream. She just
kept quiet, hoping something would
happen to end the agony, which she
did not undcr6tend. The bear did not
hold her moro than n second, although
IT. seemed ages to the girl. He did not
want to hold her, for he throw her on
the floor. Sho was still frightened und
expected tho beast to jump on her
md devour her at his leisure. But in
stead no turned around, commenced TO
claw tho piano and was evidently de-
tiShtcl with his performance. for he
kept time with Ei3 feet and looked
around n~pprovingly. Tho people out
side heard tho clutter but did not pay
any attention to it, as they aftcrward
said it was not unusual. Mary hns
never forgiven them for this. The bear
began to play furiou5ly, and Mary, sco-
ing n way to escape, took advantage OF
~ and ran away screaming from the
room. Her relations ut first refused u
believe her story, but hearing the clat-
ter ran to tho window and looked In.
Bruin was still ut it, md by this timc
had become so cnthuscd that he wns
performing Il sort Of cnn-can to his own
accompaniment. lie was in the height
Of hia glory and had found out whcro
the bass keys were, and with thc5o ho
wac particularly delighted. The deep,
continuous rumble seemed to afford him
tho greatest pleasure. and he would
execute Il bar hat sounded like the ca
denza of "a Storm Mt Sea-"
IL -.I1 - . - IT,
and ut last concluded his concert by
getting on tho piano on all fours and
executing n jig. AT this time Mr. Mint
thewS thought ho hnd better take n
hand, and he ran into tho room
with un NIX, "a TINT was tho
only weapon available. The bear
did not sccm surprised. but got
out Of the way, and hud there boon
room would have left tho house. IIo
wa CtruclS several times with tho 1S,
but did not show Fight, md the mnn
thought he must have found q ta,no
bear, although he's could not Imagine
where H. ca,ne from. lilo then changed
lie tactics md tried to capturn II, ms II
did not appear dangerous. lie got hold
OF t. md tried 10 tic IL Ia tho piano
cover. But NJ this tho hruto's wild mn
turo showed iteclt, and it got ready TO
mako an attack. Before the man could
realize what wns coming he heard n
deep, angry grovvl. and tho next mo
iucnt wS3 clutched nngrily by the mon.
stcr. Tho beast could have killed him
bat II did not want TO. II just gnvc
him a good squeeze and threw him VIC
lGntly nPoinot tho wall. After loolting
Mt him II moment the bcnr went cut tho
door and wolkcdlcisuroly into the yard.
Mira. Matthews md Merry rushed Ia
and eoon Ind Mr. Mattbowo beck TO
consciousness. lie got up and looked
ont Of the window mud SOW tho boar
walking quietly over tho hill In tho de
rcction of the mountain. b.
DRs. RUNNERS and Vcrnickc, OF Ham.
burg, who have been experimenting 70
SEQ II cholera germs con be transmitted
TO tobacco, claim to hnvo demonstrated
that tobnccoo smoke 10 sure death TO tho
bacilli