Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-02-01
l~o<e<o~o~e>eo<
A PANTH
REQUEST
How Clyde Bro TcIrd a
Fortune and =. oa-e -irL

In large mining town Ia the far
west there lives George Rand Il. Il
mining King. WHO :. nature * rs stern
and arbitrar: as L.en ~" apt to be
when they acquire sud,i"G riches. In
addition 10 his sctl. h. possessed Il
rare treasure in The person of his
daughter ReSsic rs sweet seventeen
year-oll maiden rs ever lived.
Pretty BESSIE did not lack for lovers,
ana quite rs naturally the favored one
was the very one that her father OBJ
jccted IT,
Clyde Brown was fran!. spoken. with
an honest. manly face. Il true. loving
heart and little else
"Why. Elizabeth - her father nj
ways called her that when displeased-
''how can You forget that We are de-
seconded from the RandolfS of Vir-
GINA? Just little long I. daughter
year or two M the most and we will
go east and live AZ other people do.
Then my jewel may find worthy set
ting"
81 want no one but Clyde papa. -
protested Bessie iearfu,ly.
But tears made no impression on the
hard heart of George Randolf
However. he condoscendcd 10 give Il
conditional e nScnt 10 their union
such an absurd condition that people
laughed and shook their heads. and
Bessic'S merry face grew grave.
when you can show The possession
of hundred thousand dollars You can
have her" h" sold lrimly in answer to
Clyde Browns manly petition TN
Ill then III hear no more about it,"
You can never do IT," Sohhcd ReSSie
when they stood alone in the moon
light by the road 4 few moments later.
while her father watched angrily from
the window. Fortunes are wonder
fully made in these mines sometimes.
but none will fail To us"
Don't be discouraged. my precious
Queen BcsS." Clyde returned. with all
liver's unrcaSoning fonlnesS. only
trust in me through all and wait for
INV. iib VI ilsAt liIIltu W III
You promise me that
Indeed will dearest. You knew
that would before You asked she
murmured. But do not try me too
much. for father is rs hard aS a rock :
Il must 20 away for awhile. my
darling. Somewhere in yondcr end
less chain of mountains fortune is
;s., q.
as well as if it were already in my
grasp" he answered in solemn earnest
ness
God grant that 1t may be So" she
added.
And then she walked slowly TO the
house. TO her fathers great relief.
The next morning clyde left the
town fully equipped for n prospecting
tour. and quite alone excepting the
three large dogs which followed Sc
dateiy nj his heels
For some time the prize which he
sougbs elidcd him. but it came 10 him
al last in Il strange manner
One day. after following the course
of n noisy. shallow stream into Il mar
row valley bemmcd in by lofty noun
tainS. he camped at the foot of a
gigantic tree near the water.
The dogs whiued uncaSiiy and shifted
at n hole among the roots of the tree.
but he called them away and went on
building fire Ia cook supper from the
loose wood and branches around.
Now that The fire j. ready" he
unused aloud. II wonder If i'll find any
game hrrealoui."
As if in answer i lalf grown deer
came down to the stream Oh the oppo-
site bank not many rods away.
1t stopped. with one foot upraiScd.
AMI looked 1T the dogs with startled
eyes. I'll" next instant the report Z
Clydc's rifle RAM out. thu deer lcapcd
into the air. srrau. forward and fcll
into the str"am. from which it WAS
soon dragged by the do IS.
But the echoes m.dy ~ Ike report
had not died out among The hill, before
another sound aroused ~ III ;l;-iil.
II was the scream 90 an ar"i'y pan
Their from the mountnin hrhlnd him.
AMI II was Instant, werrd ny IN
other on the ri-li aad yet another far
down the valley on the lrft
Clyde heaped the Dry limbs upon the
fire. and the duiS. usually rs lr.tvc as
lions. whincd nitcoli,ly as the! >Aulkcd
close 10 his feet
He waited in GREATNESS anxiety for
several minutes Int co'ilG boar noih-
Ing except the cracking The Ere.
which now threw 4 wide clrrlr If
light ana the night wind anon. the
trees.
Soon. following magn, iism whirl.
he could not account f1r. i. fSyl his
gaze upon Il tail tree mar tho 'aSc #
the mountain and encountered Tie
glare Of two fierce yellow cysS
\ panther WAS crouchiIg there upon
long limb. every nerve Of his h,es N
motion as he pr pared FOR r!.r fatal
spring.
To aim ana fire II him WIS .n i'm
pulse of a s"r"nd. anal Il: tavny Gt.i.
spranS outward with Sn;rl 81 IT, -
and pain. ANA Sell squared! INFO ~"
fire.
There WAS nm mnoar;hly S,ri.k
smell of burning hair. Sh.,,er of
Goals and lighted wood I'll n ih. brute
stood. wounded ANA blinded. near The
tree.
AT him. boys nj him crirl Clyde
And the dogs 81 81 an him: hut.