Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-11-14


long solitary eallops beside the shin.
mcling sou that she loved SO well or
up The winding valleys into the foot
hills where echoed the roar of swift
waters or ginted the fash Of shovel
blades This morning her horse was
lame, so she determined to walk. In
her early rambles she had looked tim
idly askance at the rough men she met
TIL she discovered their genuine re-
spect and courtesy. The most I'M
kempt among them wore often college
bred although for that matter the
toughest OF The miners showed album
dant consideration for n woman. So
she was glad to allow the men to talk
to her with the fine freedom inspired
by the new country and its wide
spaces Tho wilderness breeds a chiv-
airy all It's own.
Thus there seemed to he no danger
abroad though they had told the girl
of mad dogs which roamcd the city.
explaining that tho hot weather affects
powerfully the thick coated, shaggy
"malamoots" This is the land Of the
dog. and. whereas in winter his lot Is
to labor and shlycr and starve, in sum-
mer he loafs fights grows fat and
runs mad with the heat
Helen walked far and. returning.
chose an unfamiliar course through
the outskirts Of the town to avoid
meeting any of the women she knew
because Of that vivid memory of the
night before. As she walked swiftly
along she thought that she heard faint
cries far behind her. Looking up, shn
noted that il was lonely. barren
quarter and that the only figure in
sight was woman some distance
away. a few PAGES farther on tho
shouts rccuryed. more plainly this
time, and n gun shot sounded. GIanc-
ing back. she saw several men run
ming, one bearing n smoking revolver,
and heard nearer sUll the snarling
hubbub of fighting dogs In a fash
the girls curiosity became horror for
as she watched one Of the dogs made
a sudden dash through tho now sub
dued group Of animals and ran swiftly
along the planking en- which she stood.
1t was 4 handsome specimen of the
Eskimo malamoot tail. gray and coat
ed like n wolf, with the speed, strength
and cunning Of ITS cousin. It's head
hung low and swung from side to side
as 1t trottcd. the motion fecking foam
and SLAYER. The creature had scattered
the pack and now swift. nenaciuG.
relentless was coming toward Helen.
There was no shelter near. no fence.
no hOu g. save tn" distant one toward
her way. The men. too fur away TO
protect her, shouted hoarse warnings.
Helen did net scream or hesitate
she turned and ran. terror stricken to.
ward the distant cottage. She was
blind nth fright nrd felt AZ utter GER
tanti that the deg would attack her
before she could reach safety. Yes;
there was III" quick patter Of his pads
close up behind h"r Her knees weak
encd The sheitering door was Yet
some yards away. But horse tethcr-
ed near the walk reared and snorted as
the flying pD. drew near. Tho mad
creature swc 'vcsA lr0ped nj the horse
legs and snapp,. in fury. Badly fright
cnci at this attack. the horse hinged al
his halter. broke Il AMI galloped away.
but tho delay had served for Helen,
weak and faint. TO reach the door. She
wrenChed nj the knob 1t was locked
As she turned hopclessly away she
saw that the other woman was Girect
ly behind her and was, in her torn
awaiting the mad animals onslaught
but calmly, tiny revolver in her
hand
"Shoot" screamed Helen. "Why
don't you shootf" The little gun
spoke, the dog spun around, snarlinc
and yelplng The woman fired several
times more before it lay still and then
remarked calmly as she broke the
weapon and elected the shells:
The caliber Is too small to be good
for much"
Helen sank down upon the steps.
How we'll you shoot" she gasped
Her eyes We're on the gray bundle
whose death agonies had thrist it al
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