The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-18
Copyright
BY S. S. Mcclure Co.


ems. he had lots of time. There wasn't
any good in that.
But as 1 reached around for an
other weapon, my hand struck the can
of alcohol, and right then had gen.
uine three-X inspiration. / pulled the
plug from the can and poured the
spirits down. The bear howled MUIR
der as the stuff ran into his eyes, and
plunking himself on his hunkies, he
began to paw and scrape it out. There
was my chancei fumbled through all
my pockets as fast as my hand could
trayel-no matches! Then cussing and
praying like a steam engine, tried it
again; found handful in the first
pocket; dropped most of EN-. being so
nervous, but scratched what was left
land chucked sem on Mr.. Bear.
= Great Moses in the bulrushesi
Events began on that instant. I've
seen a cyclone and an earthquake and
a eloudburst and an Injun outbreak
and a Democratic convention, but roll
'en into one and that bear would give
'em cards spades, big and little casino,
a stuffed deck and the tally board, too,
and then beat EN- without looking at
his hand.
Il simply can't begin to tell you all
the different kinds of pure, unadulter-
ated hell he raised with the stock of
. euriosities Aggy had bought in town.
And the looks of himi White with
flour half way, spouting flames and
smoke, and apparently three times as
big as he was when he started! He
was something before the people now,
tell you! And, the burning hair smelt
scandalous, and the way he ripped and
roared made the ground tremble
When he finally broke through the
door was so interested that I forgot
to be afraid, and hoped down to watch
him go, and then l saw the last act of
the tragedy.
Miguel had heard the shot, and,
knowing we were in trouble, he was
coming up the trail on his old buck
skin, fairly burning the earth.
He rounded a little elump of trees
and came plumb on my bear, roaring,
foaming, blazing, smoking, ripping and
flying! Well, sir, you can believe me
or not, but | want to tell you that that
eayuse of Mee's jumped right out from
under him and was half way up Will
kin's hill before the Mexican touched
the ground. He was headed due west,
and he must have reached the coast
the next day, the gait he was travelling.
Anyhow, he vanished from the sight Of
man forever, as far as we know.
Nee sat froZe just as he had land
ed, scarf so there wasn't no more eX-
preston on his face than a pumpkin
pie, and the bear hoped right over the
top Of his head. Then 1 reckon Nee
thought his family friend had come
for him, for he jumped ten foot in the
air. and when he touched ground it
was in full motion.
It's only fair to say that Miguel
could run when he put his mind to it.
Ell Infernio esta cueito!' he yellS San
tiago! Santiagoi Ten quidado commi-
go! Madre mia! Salvame! Salvame
pronto!
Lord, can. see him now, scuttling
over the fair face of the Territory OF
Idaho in the bright moonlight like a
little bird-chest out; hands up; head
back; black hair swapping in the
breeze; long legs waving like the
spokes of f1ywheel, and yelling for
Santiago to keep an eye on him, and
for his mother to save him quick, as
long as he was in sight. And when he
passed, he passed out. He took
different direction from his horse, so
it amt likely they ever met, but
neither one of 'em was seen no more
around our part of the country.
"Still, by and by there f1oated back
to us a story of how a greaser had
been chased by a horrible white devil
that stood twenty foot high, with teeth
a foot long, horns, hoofs, claws and
a spiked tail; which travelled at rate
of speed that made a streak of light
ming seem like way freight, scattering
red fire and birthstone as it ran; which
chased said greaser forty mile over
hill and dale and gulch and mountain
top and badland district, after polish
ing off his horse in one bite, and finally
sank into the ground with a report like
a ton of giant powder.
, And I've often wondered what real
ly become of that BEAR"