The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-08-04

asi, into the water hole. A little
hr.3wn rabbit skipped around bunch
IF catclaw and sat twitching his
whiskers and looking humorously at
Giyens. The pony went on eating
grass.
1t is well to be reasonably watchful
when Mexican lion sings soprano
along the arroyos at sundown. The
burden of his song may be that young
calves and fat lambs are scarce and
that he has carnivorOus desire for
your acquaintance.
In the grass lay an empty fruit can,
cast there by some former sojourner.
Givens caught sight Of it with grunt
Of satisfaction. In his coat pocket
tied behind his saddle was a handful
Or two Of ground coffee. Black coffee
and cigarettes-what ranchero could
desire more2
In two minutes he had little fire
going clearly. He started. with his
can, for the water hole. When within
fifteen yards Of its edge he saw be-
tween the bushes a sidesaddled pony
with down dropped reins cropping
grass little distance to his left. Just
rising from her hands and knees on
the brink Of the water hole was Josefa
O'Donnell. She had been drinking
water and she brushed the sand from
the palms Of her hands. Ten yards
away, to her right. half concealed by
clump of sacuista, Givens saw the
crouching form Of Mexican lion. His
amber eyeballs glared hungrily. Six
feet from them was the tip Of the tail
stretched straight, like pointers.
His hind quarters rocked with the mo-
ton Of the cat tribe preliminary to
leaping.
Givens did what he could. His six
shooter was thirty-five yards away. ly.
Ing on the grass. He gave a loud yell
and dashed between the lion and the
princess.
The ''rucus," as Givens called it aft
erward. was brief and somewhat con
fused. When he arrived on the line OF
attack he saw dim streak in the all
and heard couple of faint cracks
Then hundred pounds of Mexican
lion pumped down upon his head ant
flattened him with 4 heavy jar to tht
ground. He remembered calling out
Let up, now; no fair gougingr' ant
then he crawled from under the lio,
like a worm, with his mouth full o
grass and dirt and big lump on til,
back Of his head where it had strucl
the root of water elm. The lion In!
motionless. Givens, feeling aggrievet
and suspicious of fouls. shook his fis
at the lion and shouted. III rastle yo1
again for twenty And then he go
back to himself.
.!osefa was standing in her tracks
quietly reloading her silver MOUNTS
3S caliber. 1t had not been a Difficult
shot. The lions head made an easie
mark than tomato can swinging Il
the end Of a string. There was prt
voking, teasing, maddening smile upo
her mouth and in her dark eyes. Th
would be rescuing knight felt the fir
Of his fasco burn down to his sou
Here had been his chance. the chanc
that he had dreamed Of. and NOmu
: and not Cupid. had presided over !
. The satyrs in the wood were II
doubt holding their sides in hilari"1!
, silent laughter. There had been SOM
thing like vaudeville--say, SignOr Gil
ems and his funny knockabOut act wit
the stuffed lion.
lis that you, Mr. Givens:' said j
sefa in her deliberate, saccharine col
tralto. "You nearly spoiled my sh'
, when you yelled. Did you hurt yo'
r head when you fell?"
E "Oh, no. said Givens quietly. .Th;
\ didn't hurt" He stopped ignominiou
! ly and slowly dragged his best II;
= from under the beast. 1t was crusht
and wrinkled to fine comedy efet
Then he knelt down and softly stroke
the fierce, open jawed head OF the de:
lion.
I "poor old Billr' he exclaimed mour
: fully.
d whats that?'' asked Josefa shar
u ly.
r "Of course you didn't know, Mi
+, Josefa," said Givens, with an air
: one allowing magnanimity to triuml
:, over grief. "Nobody can blame 20
:, l tried to save him, but l couldn't
y you know in time"
: 'Save whO?'
:. "Why, Bill. I've been looking
! him all day. You see. he's been
re- camp pet for two years. Poor old t
: low! He wouldn't have hurt cote
- tail rabbit. It'll break the boys all
= when they hear about it. But y
=, couldn't tell, Of course, that Bill "
:. just trying to play with you."
~ Josefa's black eyes burned stead
! upon him. Ripley Givens met the t
,s successfully. He stood rumpling
- yellow brown curls Oh his head p
,.s sively. In his eyes was regret.
NJ unmingled with a gentle reproa
His smooth features were set to I; i
- tern of indisputable sorrow. Jos
~ wavered
40 "What was your pet doing herr
= she asked. making last sta
- 'There's no camp near the WI
10 Horse crossing"
y "The old rascal ran away from ca
90 Yesterday" answered Givens read
:. "It's a wonder the coyotes didn't sc
ho him to death. You see, Jim Webs
our horse wrangler, brought Il II
,e terrier pup into camp last week.
Il, puD made life miserable for Bill.
IN used to chase him around and cf
4. his hind legs for hours Mt 4 IL
4. Every night when bedtime came
ad would sneak under one OF the b.
:. blankets and sleep to keep the