Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-07-01

my handsome mare the cougar cOVeueu,
but. seeing me, it deferred the fatal
spring it had contemplated at the mo-
ment its eyes first met mine.
/ soothed Petaluma as best l could,
but her trembling was not in the least
abated, though she rubbed her nose
against my coat sleeve, as was her wont
when | caressed her. She seemed lit
tls more passive--that is, she did not
attempt those frantic jumps in her ef-
forts to get away that at first character
lied her terrible fright when she
smelled the cougar. or by some instinct
became aware of its proximity.
What had to do, and do quickly. was
to get away from there as soon as posi-
Bile, for l did not know how soon the
ferocious brute. nearly famished with
hunger, maybe. might make an effort to
fasten its horrid claws into the tanks of
my mare. ignoring my presence entire
ly. So hurriedly knocled the tobacco
from my pipe. and, stroking Petaluma
OIL the shoulder. mounted her as rapidly
as ever had before in my life, and was
no sooner seated firmly in my saddle
than. without a word or other impulse
from me. she made bolt down tine
trail that nearly threw me over her
head. at the same instant seeming to
shrink convulsively in a frantic effort to
look behind her.
l sympathetical,y turned my head
around and gazed at the bare hilltop
this side of the blasted cedars. and, to
my horror, saw those great green eyes
but few rods behind me, following
my trail with sort of crouching,
crawling motion, all ready. evidently,
to spring the moment it had covered
the right distance.
When | noticed that the cougar was
crawling in its crouching attitude be-
hind me had presence of mind enough
to think that if refined my horse and
made her walk, it would impress the
cougar with the fact that | was there
as well as the animal it wanted to de-
YOUR for its late supper. lcodd thwart
itsdesigns, as feltcontident that where
had first seen the cougar, in marrow
valley, surrounded by lofty mountains,
heavily timbered. the government had
erected a blockhouse and corral, in
which were herded a number of horses
and mules, to be used as relays between
the military posts.
hoped that should be able to make
that point in about two hours from the
cluster of ccdars, but now that the cou-
gar had entered as a factor in my cal
culations, did not know whether 1
should reach the blockhouse at all, or
maybe only on foot, with my beautiful
mares bones left ON the trail, picked
clean by the vicious beast that was fol.
lowing me.
True to its instincts, it was really
afraid of me. succeeded with great
difficulty, however, in coaXing my
mare into a slow walk, the effect OF
which resulted as | surmised 1t would.
The cougar ceased at once its fearful
bounds, and settled down into sham
bling sort of gait, dropping further be-
hind me at the moment.
DESTROYS of knowing for certainty
whether my tactics were the sudden
cause of the creatures abrupt change Of
movement, | allowed Petaluma to
break into quick lope, and the instant
the huge cat noticed the mares re-
newed effort to get away, it CON-
menced its former action. then
slackcned my gait, and to my intense
satisfaction the cougar once more
Jagged behind, renewing its slow move
ments, and seemed to be now watch
ing the rider closer than itdid the mare.
| did not again dare to let Petaluma
60 any faster than a walk, and during
the whole IL miles to the blockhouse,
as long as l maintained that slow gait,
the cougar did not try to spring toward
us.
After continuing in that tiresome
manner for about four hours, at last
entered the little valley, and just as |
rode out Of the heavy timber into the
bright moonlight, the terrible beast
gave one awful roar and turned back |
into the forest, a sad and disappointed
cougar.
| changed animals at the blockhousc
and rode on to the river without fur
ther adventure, happy in having saved
my beautiful Petaluma, and possibly |
myself, from the jaws of the hungry
beast, which had been my llnwelcome
companion for so many weary miles.
OMAHA, Neb., June ss.-Ex-State
Treasurer Joseph BARLEY, convicted,
Of embezzling $15O,OOO, was sentenced
to 20 years Imprisonment in the peni-
tertiary and fined SSOS,76S. BARLEY |
took the sentence coolly, but appealed |
TO the supreme court. He is yet to be
tried for embezzling $500, 900 more.
A Noted Auth0ress Dead.
LONDON, June 2S.-Mrs. MARGARET |