The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-04-18

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and get a handful of candles and my
revolver. See that every chamber is
loaded and fetch a box of cartridges
besides. Tell you ma that we've got
the hunt of our lives on hand. Skip
now, soni"
Away went Willie in great glee. 1t
seems that he got the needful article
without attracting his mothers atten-
tion until it was too late for her to
interfere; he had a well-grounded sus-
picion that she would enter a protest
tried to convince Jack that it
would be the part of wisdom to wait
for daylight, but he refused to listen.
Jack was one Of the best-hearted fel-
lowers in the world but he possessed
a lack Of caution which was very ir-
ritating to more intelligent people.
Willie returned only too soon with
the munitions of war, and we began
our preparations.
Are you going to get that candle
lighted?" asked Jack impatiently.
l felt like answering, Not if can
HtlD nySell, DuJ l WllnSJOOu Jnt
temptation, and said instead
IT'S the funniest candle | ever saw.
l think it must be made of marble.
Match doesn't seem to have any effect
on it,"
That's cause your hand jiggles So"
remarked Willie.
l bent a stern brow on the young
man. Willie" said I, "is it possible
that you can make sport of the nervous
agitation brought on by the knowledge
of the danger through which you have
just passed."
Beg your pardon" said Willie hum
bly,.
Then | heard sound that cheered
my dropping soul. The mill door
which Willie had closed-save us,-so
that the lion could not get out, was
opened and feminine voice shrilled
through the echoing building with:
Jack Stevens, come right out of
there, and Willie, and you, too, Henry!
| never heard of such foolishness!
Come out, say"
Look out, Mollie. Shut the door,
quick! There he comes!" yelled Jack,
in well-simulated fright.
Slam! went the door, and rapid
pattering Of feet showed that my only
ally had deserted me. Then the hunt
began.
1t is a strange fact by nature that
the man who is the least interested in
an occasion of this kind is always the
one who> finds the quarry. This time
went by the rule-I discovered the
mountain-lion.
We had poked around for about a
quarter of an hour, with, the candle
shadows fitting strangely and un-
pleasantly about, and the foolish
notion entered my brain that perhaps
the lion was only creation of the
childrens imagination; therefore | re-
laxed my vigilant guard of the rear
and plunged carelessly ahead AS
stopped to pass under one of the big
braces of the mill, yell as of forty
seven demented Sioux Indians assault
ed my ear-drums, and was knocked
on the fiat of my back in a twinkling
There he goes." yelled Jack. Are
you hurt, Henry?"
"Oh, mo-" answered, cheerfully.
Nothing but fractured skull and a
few dislocated vertebrae. hope the
lion hasn't crippled himself. 'Twould
be too bad to spoil the fun right at the
start
Come on! Come on!" howled Jack.
Don't lie there talkingl" And with
thai; he and Willie tore after the flee
ing beast.
The chase led up the rickety steps
to the second floor of the mill. The
lion made it in two jumps and Jack
in four. l took it in dignifed one
step at a time, not being in so much
of hurry. The scene which presented
itself to my gaze as my head rose
above the floor was lively one.
The big cat, crazy with fright, bound
ed round the place in great leaps.
After him went Jack and Willie, Wild
ly excited and without any thought of
possible consequences. All-myself in
cluded, as found TO my astonishment
were screeching and yelling their
loudest.
The dust rose in sitting clouds from
beneath the hurrying feet. The lion
scrambled up one side of the mill, and
galloped across the beams toward me.
Head him off! Head him off"
shrieked Jack
l let six bullets fly in the general
direction Of the animal before one
could say scat" l didn't hit him but
the fountain of fire and noise caused
him TO change his mind
He stopped midway between US,
throwing quick glances first at one,
then the other. He was a beautiful
shot as he stood there, but the last
shell had jammed in the gun, and I
couldn't get it out to save me. AS l
tugged at the ejector Jack began to
howl:
Shoot! Shoot, You idiot! Why
don't you shoot?" he waved his revol-
yer over his head in a frenzy.