The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-06-21

ANNAN AANtl hNNAAl
after dark. dragging his familiar old
two-wheelod wooden cart. The cart
was empty for the old man had just
carried down to the village fsh market
a couple Of bushels OF soft clans. and.
having disposed OF them. was on his
way home. lie was tired. and al
though the cart was light. the road Is
uphill nearly all the way. and his pro-
gross was slow. Just as he was pass
Ing through Widow Benham's woods.
which adioin the Grlnnell place on the
north. he heard n low moaning upon
the ridge to the right and back Of him.
ledge knew well enough what the sound
was. for he had not forgotten an en-
counter Of a fortnight ago with Wild
cats. He began to run at a fast jog.
ntill 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
n dozen steps he heard the mournful
cry answered from the river bank on
his left, not hundred yards ahead OF
him. lie 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
oX-slaye 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 scrapc.
First Il occurred TO him that he might
swim across to Duck island near the
Stratford shore. but 90 the water was
80 cold and the Island q full mile away.
he gave up that scheme. Al the mo-
mont he abandoned Il the brush crac-
hed right behind him. and turning. he
saw n little, dark body emerging into
the road. Quickly he overturned his
deep-sldod little cart In the road and
crawled under Il, Soon he hoard the
low calls close by. and then came
distinct sniff at the edge OF the cart.
the snlr was satisfactory. Il seemed.
for the two beasts now began paving
away az the dirt under each edge The
Jedgc waited until he thought they had
scoopcd quito a little cavity. and one
inirudlng claw had torn his coat tail.
and then he managed to shift tho cart
along by easy jumps TIL he had ira
yelcd yard or more. After one or two
Of these mining ventures. the wildcats
decided that the process was too slow.
They then proceeded to jump on the
wheels. and tried to pry the whole
thing over. Fearing they would sue
coed. the old man thrust one finger out
through Enotholo In the bottom OF tho
cart, 80 that he might hold II down.
with yell one OF his enemies struck
the finger and ripped II open. All he
could do after that was TO press his
knees and shoulders against the Sides
and ends Of the cart. and pray that his
muscles would not give out. Tho cats
next tried to force the cart out OF the
road down the river bank. and they
nearly succeeded. Luckily thoy pushed
II against post. and there II stuck. 4
fury seemed TO seize the pair at this
failure. for they both sprang on the
offending cart and began 10 tear and
splinter the boards. They had sue
cceded In loosenlng a board on one side
when the sound OF approaching wheels
was heard. Jedge set up loud cries for
help, and the wildcats crnwled back in
to the brush. They lenped out again
on the newcomers who turned out to be
Lem Smith ana Lighthouse Charley
Baldwin. Lem carries a good old-fash-
loaed slX-shooter, and he speedily let
down one OF the PAR. and wounded It's
mate so that II He'd. They rightod the
cert and found the Jodge nearly dead
with cramps and fear. He had recov-
cred from his fright, however. and was
hard at work repairing his faithful
cart, when a New York sun corrospon-
dent arrived to interview him. That
ancient vehicle Is badly scratched and
split. but the Jedgc Is replacing the
broken boards and says he is going to
put claw-proof coat OF tin on the
outside ana iron handles on the inside.
with a view to future sicgos. lie lays
all hi1 trouble to tho mislaylng OF the
rabbits hind foot,