The Lamar register., 1895-05-25

tonic llftA nAtA ny
after dark. dragging his familiar old
two-wheeled wooden cart The cart
was empty for the old man had Just
carried down to the village fish market
couple OF bushels OF soft clans, and,
having disposed OF them. was on his
way home He was tired. and al
though the cart was light. the road is
uphill nearly all the way, and his pro-
gress was slow. Just as he was pass
ing through Widow Benham's woods,
which adjoin the Grinnell place on the
north. he heard a low moaning upon
the ridge to the right and back OF him.
ledge knew we'll enough what the sound
was. for he had not forgotten an en-
counter Of fortnight ago with Wild
cats. He began to run at fast jog
still keeping hold of his cart pole. His
speed would have been greater II he
had left the vehicle behind, but he
didn't think Of that Before he had run
dozen steps he heard the mournful
cry answered from the river bank on
his left. not a hundred yards ahead OF
him. He stopped and listened. and
could hear the calls coming nearer
showing that the cats were closing in
on him. To add TO his panic. the old
er-slavc discovered. on feeling In his
blouse, that his graveyard rabbits left
hind foot was not in its accustomed
place. With no charm to help him he
began 10 plan way out OF the scrape
First II occurred TO him that he might
swim across TO Duck island near the
5uatford shore. but as the water was
70 cold and the island a full mile away
be gave up that scheme. At the mo
ment he abandoned II the brush crac'
sled right behind him. and turning. he
,a~ 4 little. dark body emerging into
The road. Quickly he overturned his
deep-sided little cart In the road and
srawled under it Soon he heard the
low calls close by. and then came 8
distinct snin at the edge OF the cart
The sniff was satisfactory. II seemed
Tor the two beasts now began paving
t~ay At the dirt under each edge. The
ledge waited until he thought they had
.eooped quite a little cavity. and ons
intruding claw had torn his coat tail
and then he managed TO shift the carl
along by easy jumps till he had ira
relied a yard or more. After one or two
II these mining ventures. the wildcats
Iecided that the process was too slow
They then proceeded to jump on this
-heels. and tried TO pry the whole
hing over Fearing they would sue
iced. the old man thrust one finger ou
through knothole In the bottom OF th'
tart, so that he might hold it down
With a yell one OF his enemies strucl
he finger and ripped 1t open. All h
sould do after that was TO press his
knees and shoulders against the side
and ends Of the cart. and pray that hi
muscles would not give out The cat
next tried to force the cart out OF th'
road down the river bank, and theI
nearly succeeded. Luckily they pushed
It against post. and there it stuck.
Jury seemed to seize the pair at thii
allure, for they both sprang on thu
blending cart and began to tear an(
lplinter the boards They had sue
seeded in loosening a board on one sid
when the sound OF approaching wheel
vas heard. ledge set up loud cries TO
Ieip, and the wildcats crawled back in
o the brush. They leaped out again
N the newcomers. who turned out to b
-em Smith and Lighthouse Charlie
Baldwin. Lem carries good old-iash
oned six-shooter. and he speedily le
Town one OF the pair. and wounded 1t