The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-01-04

Ing a low CbuJlOu6 udUS NIUu HeT paw
began to ascend again.
But mechanical difficulties now in
terfered The wires stoutly resisted
her progress; besides, the tapering
pole Afforded very poor hold for the
Upward struggle.
While she was wrestling with This
dilemma, the two baby bears came
rolliclsing up, squatted on their
launches while gazing with expectant
relish at the fresh meat perched on
the cross-arm, then clambered eagerly
after the mother 1t looked to Dan
Maloy as if he were freed by whole
bear family.
But at the moment of the gloomy
reverie, and Just as the old mother
bear succeeded in wrenching off an in
sulator thereby enabling her to wrig-
gle under one wire and over the 9TH
er, Dams face lighted up with
swift relief. 1t had occurred to him
that damp bear on a wet pole would
be most excellent conductor for
electricity.
He began fumbling in his pockets,
and in a few moments produced
small roll of wire. Strengthening 1t,
he ripped the insulation from one
end and bent the wire into hook
Then he paused, scared by the line
mans instructive dread of handling
electricity in rainy weather.
But there was no pause on the part
of the bear With eyes Fastened
angrily on his dangling legs, she was
slowly and surely working her way
upward. This would have nerved any
one to action. Pulling out SILK
handkerchief from an inner pocket,
Dan wrapped it about the wire, and
gripped it with his insulated pincers,
thus doubly protecting himself from
the fluid so prone to follow moisture
He then hooked his improvised con-
ductor over the nearest wire OF the
transmission line.
All this happened in a great deal
less time than is taken in the tell
ing OF it. Nor was it done Wnlt
too soon: for at the moment when ne
was making the connection the pear
fell only trifie short in a vicious
swing at his legs.
AS she buckled to the pole for an
other upward wriggle, Dan swung Inc
end of his connector against her arch
ed back. There was slight hiss as
it touched her wet hair, and WIN
wrathful roar and arms wildly n.y.
ing the bear tumbled backward
smashing down through the telephone
wires and scraping her babies on the
pole on her way to the ground. Inc
downfall of the bear family was COM
plete. Up above on the cross-arm'
the lineman laughed uproariously.
"Weli! well! WE'LL" he shouted.
Divided they stand, united they
| fall
For a moment the old bear lay
feebly paving the air. Then she
struggled to a sitting position, facing
the world and her offspring with an
| invalid's Good morning, children.
air that set the lineman off IN an
other roar of laughter
The little bears, on rushing forward
for nolrishment and comfort, were
brushed aside so roughly that they
ugopped themselves up on their
haunches at safe distance, ana
cooking their heads to one side, re-
garded their mother quizzically, as IL
in wonder at her unwonted severity
Then the bear began overhauling her
self. and Dan laughed again at nef
seeming surprise in not finding mel
skin torn to bloody ribbons.
.Now. old LADY, he called down
'the laugh is on you, and you'd pet
ter take those babies of yours and
hit the trail!"
The bear seemed to be much O
this mind herself for while; Du'
the sight of Dan Maloy astride the
cross-arm seemed to recall the indig
nifty he had heaped upon her. Fol
lowed at respectful distance by hei
sbairns," she began to shuttle un
easily about, soon assuming, however
a warlike stride that finally terminal
ed in another charge upon the line
man.
But the charge Of big bear up
small pole is necessarily laborioui
affair and long before she neared tne
top Dan was ready to receive her. This
time. as she approached the covetef
legs, she struck at the proffered ivt
wire with her wet paw, and Tel
Imply to the ground, loose. culver
ing heap.
Dan did not laugh now, for tn'
baby bears rushed forward, and VIII
soft, low sounds sought to rouse tn'
fallen mother. Silently Dan de
seconded the pole,
perhaps she'll come out OF 1t" NJ
soliloquized, gazing at the prostrat'
animal and Remembering hopeful!
how he himself had been struci
down once at noon, and had conn
out of it, when the moon was shin
ing.