The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-03-15


reached the edge of his clearing.
Once or twice he had thought that he
heard some one calling. and now he
recognized the voice Of his wife. She
was not at the cabin, but down by the
edge Of the clearing that lay nearest the
river.
He gave a quick start when he heard
the burden Of her cry. She was calling
for the children. and the tone Of her
voice told him that she was alarmed at
their absence.
He fastened toward the cabin. calling
to her as he went. With glad cry she
answered him, and in the deepening
gloom he saw her hurrying in the same
direction.
what is 1t, Mary!" he cried. as she
came nearer.
"The children are gone, and cannot
find them" she answered. Il have gone
all about the clearing, but they are not
here. have called to them over and
over again, but received no answer ex-
cept the echoes until heard your
voice"
Where can they have gomez"
81 know not, but I fear some harm
has come to them"
when did you see them lasti"
ut must have been more than an hour
ago. was 30 busy at work that did
not miss them until short time ago."
what can have become OF them!"
81 don't know, but am almost afraid
that they have tried to follow you"
He gave great start at these words
of his wife, for he suddenly remembered
the tracks he had seen in the sand.
What II they had wandered up along the
stream, and the panther should discover
| them?
The thought sent q thrill Of terror to
his heart, and his limbs trembled from
the agitation that shook his frame. But
1t lasted only for q moment, and then
he recovered his self-possession.
Rushing into the cabin, he took down
his rife and was out again beside his
wife in almost moments time. (which
way shall we go?" she said.
up the branch; they must have gone
that way. Robert wanted to go with me
when I started out"
"And he wanted to follow you some
time after you had started. II must be
that they have gone that way"
They hurried away toward the banh
Of the stream, where the darkness lay
thick beneath the thick branches of the
overhanging trees. There upon the
sand they sought for the footprints Of
the missing ones, but the gloom was SC
great that they could distinguish moth
ing. In little time, however. the moor
would be shining brightly. for 1t was
already rising above the tree tops.
They called aloud, but the echoes were
the only answer that came back save the
sound of the dashing water.
On they hurried along the rough, I'M
even way. At last they saw before then
patch of bright moonlight lying OF
the sand, where it came down through
rift in the foliage.
Here, alongside of his own. the father
saw the footsteps of his children in TIT
sand.
They were on the right trail then
Would Heaven save them from danger
till they could clasp them in their arms
Only moment did they stop to exam
inc the footprints, and then they hurried
onward. Even now the panther nigh
be watching them, catlike. or feastins
off their flesh. The thought filled then
with horror, and faster they went, clam
bering over huge powders or hurryins
along the sand, seeking eagerly for thu
lost ones
More than once they cast troubled
look toward some dark pool. as though
they half expected they might be burie'
in it's waters.
At last they were close upon the spo
where he had seen the tracks of tn
panther.
Before them was a ledge of granite
which came down close to the water
edge. The moonlight lay along it
face and rested at its foot, where wa
, heaped a pile of dead forest trees.
Both the parents uttered cry of JOY
for here, nestled in each others arm.
e they beheld their lost ones.
Calling them by name, the mothe
s sprang forward, but suddenly arreste
s her steps, with a cry of terror upo
e her lips. The fierce growl of a par
Their fell upon their ears.
CHANGING toward the summit of th
;, cliff, they saw the huge brute prepare
o to spring upon the helpless children
n There was not an instant to los
With the rapidity Of thought Ella
e Towle brought his rife to his shoulde
n and fred.
l. There was wild shrek, and Ii
u panther sprang high in the air an
4. fell at their feet. There was a fiert