New-York tribune., 1910-08-21

SHE knew very well what had happenet- This vas
~ the power of the man. She knew her mate was dead
further sren heat added to her hate. but Il Gu
not make her reckless. She ran away down the slope
skrted the open at a safe distance and closed IN once
more upon the mans trail good mile farther on o1
had got ahead of the fugitive for now she cog
hear the faint thud-thud of his Looping feet. she a
herself far up tree, twenty feet from the a
and waited.
As the man came up she eyed him with ningng OF
mad hatred and anxious question She ne DulIV
on his back writhe violently, and she c-sht q A.-
growing complaint that came from II hat sette-
her policy Had she thought that the cu we're dea-
she might have dropped upon the man from her pos,
of vantage. But the cubs alive F clelr saAss
she would take risks with the man
When he had passed on. she foowcL safe diS
tance. The strange procession crossed tie 7dge l.
neared the clearing and the cabin. A. dis point TX
panther heard, little way back from -e tran Tx
tOnk-tOnk of COwbell. There was no r-.l Of toAo"
ing the man so very closely for the --ent- Se'
swerved aside, ran straight, like a cat : tor ni-H
through the thiCketS and with burst Of ,ntoIeEa'-
fury sprang upon the cows neck. There Hs not even
a struggle; for the animals neck WAS h-..o before
had time To know what was happening he teSpeL~-
mother tore her victim; but ate none OF lie men -
hurried toward the cabin. At least She ald rlS''"
some beginnings of vengeance.
As she reached the edge of the clearing nd caIe =.
sight OF the cabin, the man was Just entering 'ne
with the precious bundle in his hands She Sa" ~
door close behind him. At this she whInle q ufeaS-
and started round 10 skirt the clearing and come 0Y'-
the cabin from the rear
As she went she caught sight of the -aa rec S.1 S.1e-
feeding IN the pasture close by the fence Ne cte -
eying them. but too sagaCiouS tC reveal herself II -
open. As luck would have it, one of the cerS al ~
moment up close to the fence 10 scratch MS ~.
on the knots. With snarl the panthc- rutH a ~
through the rails. and drew long. ragged g>A cow
flank Snorttng with pain and terror I.e steer lui
and raced for home, tail IN ar. and ms cv.!e' '
the alarm, beloved nervouSly and followed hln- g.,
y few minutes later the man came on, OF his t4D.-
followed by his wife. The steers were - the barn uo'
a place they usually avoided at this season Ors Or4
them was shivering and bleeding. The man eN1llDr eNr
the wOund-and understood. Turning to the "0-
he said:
That there's the mothers work We wust hunk ~ =.
down an settle her to-norrer or she'll clean o0' "'
farm
Letting the frightened steers into the barn. nc "% %
anxiouSy for the tonk-a-tonk OF the h.,SN ana t
COW coming home 10 be MIXED. When Sae uU *
come. that too he understood only too Wt-L anu ar
wide mouth set itself grinly. 1t looked As II toS
gong 10 be an expensive pair OF cubs l.gf-
After dark. late the mother stole close up 10 ' oi
in. Everything was shut up tight, barn. Shet, -
house alike. At the doors she listened long Aas Ar
tently, like cat at a mousehole. Her nne ear e-n 80
out the heavy breathiugS OF the man dnd me fris
within Ii also AT length distinguished some Lt rv
grOWinpS and gruntingS, such the cubs utleVu ne
when they were we'll fed. She prowled TouHr Tou,,rs
house al night the pale flame of her savage ana an s
eyes glowing upon IL from every direction lhe' tteg
edge of dawn. she stole away. but not taT 70 1sha q
place whence she could command view OF th9 sn.
door 1t was within that door that her cubs I'@
iShed
THE sun was not q half hour high when the l,- tbe
Il f,-t, ,r,,Ir RI rO