Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-10-09


the tourniauet. "I,adial artery; ulnar,
say" for the bright streams shot out
and dyed one side of her linen riding
habit.
With a steady hand Florence held the
arm motionless at the required angle
and told herself that want of courage
was simply unusedness AID inexperi-
ence. If she knew more she would not
be afraid.
DR.. Winter worked rapidly, and
Florence held her machine-like pose
until a splint and sling kept the arm
m%otionless. Then the doctor became
the genial host and turned cordially to
Mrs. Lindsay.
I'm glad you came to-day. Marcia
and | are in need of Il little of your
society"
Florence shook her head and told
him her errand.
Erred Dennison! Poor fellow. |
hoped much from that chloralmide for
him. That and the mountain life will
put him on his feet. BY jove! The
SUN Is 'DiuluS ouL vi INC lolc ram
and it will take me an hour afterward
to get it. You'll have to stay and take
it up in the morning" He hurried to
his Office for a possible grain or two
of the precious drug.
Florence felt that here vas a test
for her new panoply. If she con-
quered this time she would eXult in
ynt,,,, Ta,In,an,,, s.n1l D,l, lao
early dark by the time she reached
camp, where her refuge waited. She
turned to Mrs. Winter, who stood
ready to sponge the red stain from her
skirt.
'Id lend you one" said the lady,
but I've not learned to use the cross
saddle and there's no time to wash this
properly if YOU must CO. looking at
the shadow on the mountains above
the town.
The warm air was still burdcned
with the odors of the operation, and
Florence felt for a moment as If she
had been under the knife herself. II
wa with relief almost painful that she
heard the whistle on the evening train
The shadows were pointing long
fingers down the %darkening canyons
as she rode up the mountain path
leaving the last struggling farm wei
behind.
The first CULVER Of fear stole upor
her when a great gray owl winged Its
noiseless flight to its lookout on a deaf
pine tree on the mountain across the
canyon. Laughing lightly she SPOKE
to her horse:
Bear me we'll, good Jess. We ma,
find an arInorer on the way who vii
touch the weak spots in my links o
mail and make it strong again"
But the evcr-lurking terror leape'
upon her like a thing OF life bred b.
the shadows, when Jess, snoring will
sudden fright, and qnivcring in ever.
tense muscle, started on a gallOp M
the steep road. The instinct of tn
trained horscwOman led Florence Il
rein the good creature to a rapid wall
before she dared look through tn,
gathering dusk for the cause of tn,
animals sudden fear. Jess answered
perfectly. but pushed on at n rapi'
pace, knowing the hOmeward way
The Caldwell gate was near, and be
yond it through tho pines was a fairl.
level stretch before the road becam
hilly again toward the terrace wher
the amp stood
A late streak of pale sunligh
cleaned through a narrow gap on tn
other side of the canyon, and Florence
forcing herself to look down the wood
ed slope at her left and search tn
stream, saw a movement through tn
brush or the opposite mountain slope
While she watched, her senses keenl
alert, there lightly leapcd across tn
narrow path of light n long. tlwn
body. The shadows beyond receive
/, II, but not before Florence, clutchin
Jess name with her rein hand, kre'
her danger. A mountain lion was fol
lowing them. falling back. roundin
a bowlder. gliding through the tree.
but eve hesitating. never turnin
away For II moment a numb agon
held her stricken. but she was pres
entity surprised to find herself gro"
, ing resentful.
why should a woman be 80 muc
more helpless in the face of DANCE
, than a man? Why. for instance, ha
she not been taught to measure dis
} tanccs? How could she know II tn
lion might take the space down tn
stream and up on her side of the car
yOn in three leaps or five? Now sh
: knew how a maniac felt when h
laughed. Was there no escape? Wit
new dismay she recalled the stain o
, her skirt, feeling that this had led tn