The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-09-26
They HEARD A NOISE
The Young Women Were
Sure 1t Was a Panther

Supper was over The camp fire
had nearly died out. even as had the
desultory conversation of the outing
party
The autocrat arose from his seat
on the old log. and yawned audibly.
Clearly his last story had not inter-
ested the crowd. and he had sat in
silence bordering over IL until he
had begun to get drowsy,
Now, Mrs Chaperon." he said Ian
guidly, III you ladies are trifle tired
we will excuse YOU from this nocturnal
visitation we intend making on the
finny tribe. You may stay here and
watch the camp and we men folks will
hike for the creek Billys asleep over
there in the hammock. so we will leave
him as your silent sentinel don't be-
| lleve anything will disturb you, how.
ever"
20, we are not the least bit
afraid. Take Billy with you; he's get.
ting lazy"
Billy, over in the hammock, blink
| ed resentiully, then knocked the
ashes from his pipe on the tree behind
| him
| Yes, III 60" he said, arising.
Never did have any luck loafing
where ! wasn't wanted"
| So the men strolled off toward the
creek, IA quarter of a mile away and
the feminine side of camp life soon
| IL, nxt;l 10 10
now in more comfortable neglgee,
chatted quietly by the Preside. Some
how they were not as gay as usual.
| Still, they We're not sleepy; every one
seemed just to enjoy her own particu-
| lar mood and was very thoughtful and
| generally silent. Away up above them
a full moon shone down through the
sturdy pines. Off in the distance
they could hear the monotonous roar
OF the little cataract down on the
stream, and internationally the cry Of
the hounds arose from far across the
creek, where they were trailing a
fox, or perhaps an elusive deer. EX
cept for these sounds all was very
quiet and time passed slowly. Some
how 1t was lonesome.
jeanette, gazing dreamily into the
fire with chin resting upon her hands,
suddenly sat upright.
Listen" she said.
What is it, dear?" asked Mrs. Chap
eron.
Il heard the awfullest thing just
now There it is again! It's COM
ing toward us!"
A deep, reverberating noise half
growl, half roar-seemed to fill the lit
tie valley, echoing from bluff and bluff.
IT'S catamount!" exclaimed Bea-
trice.
oh. isn't it terrible? ! know it's
coming here" said Augusta.
Me for the tent Build a big fire.
complacently remarked the matter-of-
fact Alice.
mo: we'had better go down toward
the creek and call the men, said Mrs.
Chaperon. Mr. Adams can shoot the
panther. He took the gun with him"
But the creature is down there
somewhere. l heard it," mourned
jeanette, tearfully. II wouldn't go
through those dark woods for all the
money in the world"
Nonsense, Jeanette" urged Mrs.
Chaperon. I'VE cant stay here. Get
lantern and come quickly. Animals
will not attack light"
Ten minutes later the midnight fish.
ermen We're surprised by five young
women crashing through the under.
brush toward the creek bank, halloo-
; ing at every step, their hair DISNEY
: eled, their clothing torn and their
hands and faces scratched by the
branches. Three of the five carried
lanterns.
Whats the natter" called the in
corrigible Billy, from limb that hung
out over the stream. What's the
matter; lost something" He sat non.
chalently pulling away at pipe, his
big straw hat pulled down over his
ears and his line and pole both dang
ling carelessly in the dark, ripping
water.
Hello! What's up?" shouted the au
tocrat further up stream
"W-we heard cat--a catamount
Its after u.s." chartered jeanette
All were silent. From down the
creek came the same deep, roaring
growl, echoing weirdly over the quiet
water and on the night wind.
Billy laughed cheerfully.
That's bullfrog," he said. Girls
run for your lives
-
Cure for Sore Throat.