Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-10-22


mn DO You want that little woman
tore 70 piecesg Oh, please help me
hurry Please LET me get to her, God.''
III do anything for You, II You'll Just
let me save her life We Amt movinu
We're crawlin', Jest crawlin'! n
wouldn't
The words died on the mans lips as
they reached the top Of the hill, and
involun,arily refining his team TO
walk, Ebenexer sank slowly TO his
knees, staring dumbly between the
horses heads and wondering II what
he saw were real, or II he actually had
gone mad, as he had thought he
should do during the floundsring race
over the back track.
When she started home from her
fathers house Melissa was tired, for
she had had long and exciting day.
In the Luxurious warmth Of the
feather bed and tho log cabin "com-
fort" she curled up like well-sed kit
ten AID went to sleep.
She was awakened suddenly BY
some kind Of shock, the nature Of
which could not determine at once. In
fact, she could not remember where
abe was. Struggling to free herself from,
the weight which hampcred her, she
drew herself to her feet. The cold air
and the snowy s,ene waksned her
thoroughly She saw the sled just dis.
appearing at the ,cp Of the hill, and
called her husbands name.
Before she could call again, there
came the terrifying scream that
; had sent Ehenezer 80 wildly hurrying
| home. The horror Of her situstion
seemed, for the moment, to stop the
beating Of her heart.
Again the cry ~ The panther came,
| and this time ucarer. Melissa looked
about her. She had no weapon. Eb
had his revolver In his pocket. Then
her eyes fell upon the package which
her mother had given her.
Throwing off her wooden mittens,
she tore open the parcel aud lit a
| match, Will, fingers which did not
tremble, although the waiting cat was
coming nearer. She ligtcd candle aud
/ fixed il firmly in the snow just beyond
the edge Of her feather bed. Another
she placed a short distance from the
first. Then third she lighted, and
others until she had cncircled bersclf
with the OTIS OF fire.
| Her heart swelied with thankfulness
for the utter absence Of the wind The
tongues Of flame did not waver.
Seating herself, she waited, know
Ing that her husband wo..ld tarn back
the minute be missed her Soon she
saw the dark, 1.-the figure OF the dread
ed animal, sometimes low on the snow
when the trees we're far apart, but
leap.ng from tree to tree when they
| were close together. Occasionally the
cat gave atterance to the mournful
wall which is one of the most terrify.
| ing sounds In nature.
Melissa sat perfectly still, but kept
her eyes fixed upon her enemy, which
finally stopped on long, low hang
ing limb Of tree not twenty feet away
! from the brave little woman. There 1t
crouched, and Melissa watched intent
ly the fire Of Its eyes, remembering
that she had been told that wild ami
mails would not attack person who
kept his gaze unwaveripgIy upon the
/ eyes Of the beast. She could see, with
out looking, that the long tail was un-
ceasingly In molten, while the cat fire.
quently sharpened its claws on the
bark Of the branch upon which 1t
crouched.
/ But the candles we're burning down!
/ A sick wonder grew in MeIIs "a Is
heart. What kept Ebenezer so lorp?
Had something happened to him?
Then, faint ana far-away, but reassur-
ing, she heard bis voice calling her
name. She could tell by the sound
that he was driving furiousIy. A chok-
Ing came into her throat, thinking IT
what the state Of bis mind must be.
The sound came nearer. Now she
could hear the thud oil the horses feet
and the rattle Of chain. She knew
when they reached the top OF the hill,
but her eyes never swerved from tho, .
OF the panther.
The horses, FESTIVE and frightened,
came slowly down the hill and stop
ped. Melissa knew that her husband
stood near her. Without turning, she
put out her hand.
! sGive me your revolver, Eb.u
| Instantly he passed the weapon to
her. His own hand was shaking as
withIthe agme, but hers was as steady
as steel. She brought the gIittering
thing up to where II sighted straight