The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-10-14

nit no excuse for It's again forming,
FOR II you but onoe fully realize our
tituatfon you WIN certainly feel that
! am merely endea]oring to perform
my plain duty"
! II will. Of course, bow to the newt
kble, SIR" she said, land shall en-
aeavor to adapt myself to the require
ments of my unfortunate situation.
May I venture to inquire what you
bow propose to DOR
To the right Of where we stood the
ground sloped rapidly downward un-
fil the dense darkness at the foot OF
the steep deflle shrouded everything
from view. The descent appeared
rocky and impraetioable, and could
distinguish the sound OF rapid water
far below. On the opposite side stood
p dense wood, tho outs fringe of
trees overhanging the road, and
through the waving leaves the moon
light checkered the ground with SILL
yer, while the dense mass beyond
seemed to flow back up the steep side
OF the mountain, thick with under
brush. Just below us, and possibly
fifty feet from the highway, could
perceive a small o-e-story log cabin,
as silent, gloomy, and deserted to all
outward appearance az were the som-
Der woods Of which It formed part.
There seems small choice" said,
speaking as cheerfully as possible.
But propose to Investigate the log
hut yonder. and learn II 1t may not
afford some degree of shelter. If you
will rest here, In the shadow of these
trees. will soon discover whether 1t
has inmates or not"
She followed me In silence across
the road to the spot designated, but as
l turned to leave her seated upon the
grass, and we'll protected from prying
eyes, she hurried quickly after me,
and In her agitation so far forgot her.
self as to touch my sic We with her
hand.
ooh, please do not leave ME here
everything is SO gloomy cannot stand
IT. Let me go with you, If you must
Most assuredly you shall II you de-
SIRE" I returned heartily
There appeared before us a dim, lit
tle-used path leading in among the
trees. and following its cratic curves
we were soon before the cabin, which
grew even more uninviting as we
drew near. AS paused a moment be-
fore the closed door, In order that
might listen for any poss sle sound
within, could hear her quick breath
Ing. as though the terror of the mo-
ment had driven all else from her
mind. The wooden latch yielded
readily enough to my pressure, and
pushing wide open the door, which
creaked slightly upon its rusty hinges,
| stepped across the puncheon thres-
hold onto the hard earthen floor. There
was no window visible, and the slight
reflection Of moonlight which crept
in through the doorway scarcely re-
vealed the nature Of that dark inter-
Tor. could dimly perceive what be.
lieved to be table directly in front of
me, while certain other indistinct and
Ill defined shadows might be chairs
pushed back against the wall At least
this room was without occupants; yet
1t was with every sense alert that l
entered, pressing slowly past the table
toward where l felt the fireplace
would naturally be, knowing that my
companion was yet with me, her hand
clutching my arm.
"Oh!" she cried sharply in terror,
what was that?"
1t was something certainly dead
,ened, mufiled. shutting sound directly
in our front, followed by strange
noise of scraping, as II with dull
knife on wood.
Wait here" l said sternly. prob
ably it is nothing more dangerous
than a rat"
felt my way carefully around the
table, a revolver ready In my hand.
There was nothing to be found there
nothing, indeed, in the room; for
from my new position could look
backward and distinguish in the moon.
light the details of that simple,
squalid interior. / ran my hands
along the rough logs of the further
wall. Ay! here was q break, doubt.
less door; and cropping along the
crack I found the latch
There was no longer any noise
audible, and drew the door inward,
! never dreaming OF danger. Suddenly,
with fierce, wild spring out of the
dark. huge body hurled itself di.
rectly at my throat, striking with such
headlong impetus that l went back.
ward as If shot, crashing against the
table, then to the floor, dropping my
weapon as fell. There was no noise.
no sound, while for an instant, with
strength of sheer desperation, I held
back the swapping jaws that breathed
hot fire into my very face. With a
bound backward of its great body the
beast 5erked free from my grip, and
the next instant had sunk its dripping
fangs, deep and hard. into the flesh
of my shoulder. AS tho intense pain
shot through me, my right hand,
driven with all the force could mus.