The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1905-01-06

In the river is Brighams Island. The
arst bridge is just below, aud we sinai!
soon zach it." As she mentioned
Brjgham's island m involuntary SILVER
ran up my back, for remembered the
hoarse scream Of the night before.
What an hour this would be to meet
crouChing panther in the road,
A few minutes later we reached the
bridge, which was a covered structure.
The water was already pling up
against the framework, and now and
then We could hear timber credk I'M
der its pressure shall we drive on"
asked. and risk it,
a think we'd better replied my
companion THE bridge seems to rest
Hrmly yet on It's abutments and we
won't be long crossing"
urged the horse mp the sharp pitch
Of the roadhed TO the entrance of the
bridge and the animal after halting
and snorting for a moment. with a re-
luctanCc which could not understand,
finally plunged with rush upon the
planss At that moment there came
an Ominuus Erowl and snarl from the
darkness ahead The horse began To
rear. and leaped over the wheel and
caught him by the bride.
Before leaprd had seen the glow
Of two baleful. yellow ewes. like dull
candle flames, in the GLOOM ahead, and
the incident Of the preceding day, the
scream from Brgham's island. was
again and still more vividly recalled
Instantly the conviction took possess
sion of my mind thar The creature con-
fronting us in the bridge was the PAN
Their. The food had driven him from
his den on Brigham island, and he
had followed the bank Of the stream
until the caycrnous opening of the
bridge offered him shelter from tho
storm. There he had crouchcd. until
the sound Of our horses hoofs on the
blanks had reused him to angry pro-
test
AS struggled to hold the frightened
horse, felt, all at once the hridg" be-
shining to lit on the Hood. and then
| heard it slowly grating off the stone
abutments All Of a sudden 1t lurchcd
settled at ono end, and then drifrod OFF
with the swift current Of the stream
We were anoat with a panther in a
covered bridge from which there was
now no way Of escape
II ,ost my beod far n r,omop, in
tho bcviIdormont nj morn, n,pcIry Iutlc
Mr. Wnhpr did nor AZ tho horse he
ror IA back sim rcarinr and drocrinr
mo with II she too spraug llrbtly ont
over tho wheel and came TO nv assist
qncp Bpt our combined efforts we're
powcrIess 10 hold the terrified horse
which continued IN r,ar and hack to-
ward the end Of the bridge wen
boye 10 LET him 20 nautrl nv com.
/ panIon Don't keen hold tin vou're
dragged into the water"
Tho horse. with fierce shake and
backward plunge. broke from MS. and
the next instant dls.ppcarcd over the
| end of the bridge. dragged hy III, bug
| ey. As our lfRltcru on the dashboard
vanished we were left In total dark
ness.
| "Haye Won match" asked the IT.
/ tie woman nj nv side. with wonderful
| GOODNESS III so. please light IT, and
| LET rs see what that creature u.s."
had, fortunately a pocket matcn-
safe filed with pnrlur matches which
give strong bright blaze struck
one Of these and we. soon saw, as | had
suspected. that our fellow voyagcr in
the bridge WAS panther. Since first
saw the CLEAN of his eyes, he had
sprung up 10 ono Of the transverse
beams. and had crawled nearer the cen
ter of the bridge. where he was now
crcrchinE ont of reach OF the water
which covered the floor plauks to the