Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-19
6AFFLED BY : :
: : : A PUMA.

Gh5idnu IL years DelOIe, anu ne Was
now the sole owner of the Lone
Mountain Ranch, where one evening
he sat smoking with his friend, Mat
thew Quin.
you have come at just the right
time, old chap" said Kenwood, in an
swer to remark of Quin's. "a couple
of pumas have been Carrying off my
sheep lately, and I'll help you to bag
them, if it can be done. And if you
care for other sport-man-hunting, for
instance-you can try your hand at
Black Barton. the hiShwayman, who
is operating in this end of the Terri
tory. He has held up four stage
coaches in as many weeks. I'm afraid
he's too cunning to be caught, though
there is a heavy reward offered for
him. dead or alive"
Il shan't trouble Black Barton" re-
| piled Quin, but | want those pumas
badly. Hamrach & Co. have an or
der for them"
The puma-or California lion. as it
| is sometimes called-iS large, tawny,
| yellow beast larger than a panther,
with a reputation for strength and
ferocity. But the pair that lurked in
the foothills north of Lone Mountain
Ranch, came to speedy grief, once
| Quin set to work. Within a week the
| female puma was taken in cleverly-
constructed box-trap baited with a
freshly killed lamb. A brace OF kitten
ish cubs, found in a rocky den half
way up precipice, shared their
mothers captivity.
A warm. sunny morning, several
days later, witnessed the departure of
| Kenwood's guest for the little settle
ment of Peak City. 40 miles to the
southeast, which was connected by
stage with the nearest point on the
railway. A large four-wheeled vehi-
| Gle, drawn by pair of mules, was in
charge of Rube Darrell, strapping
big fellow Of the cowboy type, loud
voiced, but sound at the bottom. The
forepart of the wagon was heaped
with bales of wood, and the puma and
| her cubs, confined in a stout wooden
box, occupied the rear.
A tight clasp of the hands and a
| few quiet words of farewell marked
| the parting between Kenwood and
! Quin. The latter climbed to the mar
| row seat of the vehicle beside the
| driver, and examined the fastenings of
a leather bag that was strapped round
| his chest underneath his coat. 1t con-
! tanned some hundreds of dollars, in
gold and notes, that he had consented
to take charge of for his friend as far
| as Peak City, where it WAS to be
turned over to branch of New York
bank.
Keep your eyes peeled for Black
Barton, old man." he said, with
smile. "He shan't get your money"
vowed Quin, patting the stock of his
revolver. "Pll take care of that all
| right"
The crack of Rube Darrell's whip
cut into the conversation and sent the
mules off at a trot. All went well un-
til early In the afternoon, when
heavy rain came up. At sunset the
travellers descended to the valley OF
the Deer river, tributary of the Yel-
lowstone, and were dismayed to find
it muddy, raging torrent, several
feet above its normal level
"Confound that Storm" exclaimed
Darrell. But the flood will go down
| just about as quick as it rose, if you
care to wait couple of hours. If
not, why, l reckon l can find the ford.
What do you say, pardner?"
Quin hesitated. Peak City was 10
miles further on, and just across the
river the road threaded a narrow,
rugged gorge with steep hills on either
| side. He was reluctant to go through
this after dark, nor did he like the
| idea of spending the night where he
| was; Kenwood's bag of money was
not light responsibility.
"What is your opinion?" he asked.
81 think we can do it, pardner," was
the reply.
"Then go ahead"
The mules plunged into the swirl
ing, yellow tide. For third of the
distance they kept to the fording.
Then they deviated, tried to struggle
on until the wagon swung round. and
| the wafer SuTBeu over IHe DoItOIn
boards.
Its no use-we'll never make the
shore" cried Darrell. "Stick where
you are, pardner. l must give the
poor beasts a chance for their lives"
With that, drawing his knife, the
plucky fellow leaped down upon the
submerged pole, and with a few
strokes he succeeded in cutting the
mules loose from the traces.
Meanwhile Quin was chiefly con-
cerned for the safety of his compan-
ion and of the pumas. The wagon
floating lightly down the stream, sud
denly struck a narrow bar of grass
and gravel that lay in mid-channel,
then over it went, and of Sid the
bales of cotton and the box Of pumas.
A quick jump saved Quin and Dar-
rell from a thorough wetting, and
landed them hip deep. The two fought
their way ashore, and shook their
dripping clothes.