Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-21

other Shock in the Wagon.
There were few biscuits in her trav-
cling bag, and she remembered that she
had been presented with a small jar of
California honey at San Jose. This she
took out and opened on the seat before
her, and, spreading the honey on the bis
cults. ate them with keen schoolgirl
relish and a pleasant suggestion Of syl-
van picnic. in spite of the cold. 1t was all
very strange; quite an experience for her
to speak of afterward People would hard-
ly believe that she had spent an hour or
two, all alone, in deserted wagon in a
mountain snow pass. 1t was an adventure
such as one reads of in the magazines. Only
something was lacking which the maya
zines always supplied-something heroic
something done by somebody. If that aw-
Unlocking mountaineer-that man with the
long hair and mustache-and that horrible
gold ring-why such ring?-was only diff
ferent! But he was probably gorging beef
steak or venison with her father and MIR.
Waterhouse-men were always such selfish
creatures!-and had quite forgotten all
about her. 1t would only have been decent
for them to have brought her down some
thing hot; biscuits and honey were certain
ly cloying, and somehow didn't agree with
the temperature She was really half starry
ed. And much they cared 1t would just
serve them right If something did happen 10
her-or seem to happen TO her-if only to
frishten them. And the pretty face that
was turned up In the moonlight wore
charming but decided pout
Good gracious! What Was that? The
horses were either struggling or fghtlng
in their snow shelters. Then one with a
heightened neigh broke from it's halter and
snorting and helpless into the drifts. Then
the other followed! How silly! Something
had frightened them. Perhaps only rab-
bit or a mole; horses were such abSurdly
nervous creatures! However, it was just
as well-somebody would see them or hear
them-that neigh was really quite human
and awful-and they would hurry down to
see what was the matter. She couldn't be
expected to get out and look after the
horses IN the snow. Anyhow, she wouldn't!
She was a good deal safer where she was
1t might have been rats or mice about that
frightened them. Goodness.
She was still watching with curious Won
der the continued fright of the animals
when suddenly she felt the wagon half
bumped, half lifted from behind. 1t was
such a lazy, deliberate movement that for
a moment she thought it came from the
party who had returned noiselessly with
the runners. She scrambled over TO the
back seat. unbuttoned the leather curtain,
lifted it, but nothing was to be seen. Con-
sequently, with feminine quickness she
said, Il see you perfectly, Mr.. Warehouse
don't be slly!' But at this moment there
was another shock to the wagon and from
beneath 1t arose what at first seemed to
her to be an uplifting of the drift itself
but as the snow was shaken away from its
heavy bulk, proved to be the enormous
Htdu anu OF a Dear!
Yet even then she was not wholly fright
ened. for the snout that confronted her had
a feeble inoffenSiveness, the small eyes
Were bright with an eager. almost childish
curiosity rather than savage ardor. and
the whole attitude of the creature lifted
upon his hind legs was circus-like and ludi-
crous rather than aggressive She was en-
abled to say with some dignity, GO away
shoo! and to wave her luncheon basket at
1t with exemplary frmness. But here the
creature laid one paw on the back seat as
If to steady itself. with the singular effect
OF collapSlDg the whole side of the wagon
and then opened its mouth as if in some
sort of inarticulate reply But the reveal
ton of it's red tongue, it's glistening teeth
and, above all, the hot, carnivorous fume
of its breath, brought the first scream from
the lips OF Miss Amy. 1t was real and con-
Vinclng; the horses joined in it; the three
screamed together! The bear hesitated for
an instant then, catching sight of the
money pot on the front seat which the
shrinking back of the young girl had dis
closed, he slowly reached forward his other
paw and attempted to grasp it, This ex
ceedlng simple movement however at once
doubled up the front seat. sent the honey
pot dozen feet into the air, and dropped
Miss Amy upon her knees in the bed of The
wagon. The combined mental and physical
shock was too much for her; she instantly
and sincerely tainted; the last thing in her
ears amidst this wreck Of matter being the
whlrp OF bullet and the sharp crack of
rifle.
She recovered her consciousness in the
hlckering light of fire of bark. that
played upon the rafters of roof matched
with park and upon floor of strewn and
shredded bark. She even suspected she Wac
lying upon a mattress of bark underneath
the neavy bearskin she could feel and
touch. She had a delicious sense of
warmth, and mingled with a strange spic-
ing of woodland freedom. even sense of
home protection And, surely enough
looking around, she saw her father at her
side. ~ -eA
He briefly explained the situation. Thew
nad been at first attracted by the cry Of
the frightened horses and their punpinp
which they could see distinctly. althoueh
they saw nothing else.
But Mr. TenbZook-
rafters. ~ ~
The owner of this cabin-the man who
helped us-caught up his gun, and, calling
us TO follow. ran like lightning Gown the
trail. At first we followed blindly and un-
knowingly, for we could only see the stru--
Cling horses. who, however seemed TO be
alone, and the wagon from which you did
not seem to have stirrerd. Then, for the
first time, my dear child, we suddenly saw
your danger. Imagine how We felt as that
hldeous brute rose up in the road and he
gan attacking the wagon. We calleI on
Ienbrook to fire, but for some inconceiva-
BILE reason he did not, although he still kept
running at the top of his speed. Then we
heard you shriek-''
Il didn't shrek, papa it was the horses. I"
MY child, l knew your voice.
well, 1t was only very little scream
because I had tumbled." The color was
coming back rapidly to her pink checks.
And, then, at your scream, renbrook
fred!-it was wonderful shot for the dis
lance, so everybody says-and Killed the
bear. though Tenbrook says it oughtn't to.
believe he wanted to capture the creature
alive. They've queer notions, these hun
tiers. And them as you were unconscious.
he brought you up here"
Who brought me?"
"Tenbrook; he's as strong as a horse.
Slung you up on his shoulder like a feather
pillow"
"Ohv'
And then, as the wagon required some
repairing from the brute's attack, we con-
cluded to take it leisurely, and let you rest
here for awhile"
and where is-where are thay?"
AT work on the wagon. I determined to
stay with you. though you are perfectly
safe here
Il suppose 1 ought to thank-this man.
papa?"
Most certainly, though, Of course.
have already done so. But he was rather
curt in reply. These half-savage men have
such singular ideas. He said the beast
would never have attacked you except for
the honey pot which it scented. That's
absurd"
"Then it's all my fault?"
Nonsense! How could you know?'
"And I've made all this trouble And
cd fhn