The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-09-22
E....s J; :: 80. .'i S.a L: : s
(COntinued from yesterday

loaaNpL 70 AluAPG E1y8gAG GQ. Inc GSQUA9C-
Eueuts Of my unfortunate Sttuetion.
Nay venture to inquire what you
NOW propose to do?"
no the right Of where wO stood the
ground aloped rapidly downward un-
I'll the dongo darkness ct the foot OF
the steep dod1o 6hrouded everything
nom view The descent appeared
rocky and impracticablo, and could
distinguish the sound Of rapid water
far below. On the opposite side stood
Q dense wood, the outer fringe Of
trees OVeFhanging the road, and
through the waving ISaV0s the moon
light ehacksrOd the ground with sill
yer, while the dense mass beyond
seemed to How back up the steep side
+ Of the mountain, thick with under
brush. Just below Us, ana possibly
fifty feet from the highway, could
perceive a small o1e-stoFy log cabin,
a. silent, gloomy, and deserted TO all
outward appearance as were the SOM
Der woods OF which It formed part
There seems small choice" said,
speaking as cheerfully az possible.
'sBut 1 propose to investigate the log
hut yonder, and learn II II may not
AFFORD some degree OF shelter. you
viii rest here, in the shadow of these
trees, will soon discover whether it
has inmates or not"
She followed me in silence across
the road to the spot designated, but as
/ turned to leave her seated upon the
grass, and well protected from prying
eyes, she hurried quickly after me,
= and IN her agitation SO far forgot her
self as to touch my sleeve with her
hand.
ooh, please do not leave me here
aione. Ifa am not naturally timid, yet
everything Is SO gloomy cannot stand
Eet me go With youSif you must
got"
Most assuredly you shall II you de-
~ resumed sheaFtily.s
There appeared before US a dim, lit
.tlafns ed, path leading In among the
ptrees, and following its. erratic curves
we were soon before the cabin, which
grew even more pninviting as we
drew near. AS paused moment be.
fore the closed door, in order that
might listen for any possible sound
within, Il could hear her quick breath
sltng. as though, the terror OF the mo
,menG had driven all else from her
mind. The wooden latch yielded
readily enough to my pressure, and
pushing wide open the door, which
II stepped across the puncheon TIRES
hold onto the hard earthen floor. There
was no window visible, and the slight
reelection of moonlight which crept
lin through the doorway scarcely re-
IVealed the nature of that dark inter
9 Tor. could dimly perceive what be
llieved to be table directly in front OF
me, while certain other indistinct and
I'll defined shadows might be chairs
pushed back against the wall. At least
this room was without occupants; yet
IT was with every sense alert that }
ENTERED pressing slowly past the table
2 Itowards where / felt the fireplace
would naturally he, knowing that my
companion was yet with me, her hand
clutchlng my arm
gOhf'' she cried sharply In terror,
what WIS .that2''
Il was something certainly dead.
iGned, mumed, shuf1ing sound directly
in our front, followed by a strange
noise Of scraping, as If with a dull
knife on. wood.
4 wait here said sternly. prob,
ably 1t is nothing more dangerous
than a rat"
felt my way carefully around the
Z table, a revolver ready in my hand.
There was nothing to be found there
nothing, indeed, in the room; for
from my new position I 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 Ayl here was break, doubt
/. less a door; and cropping along the
crack 1 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, a huge body hurled itself dt'
rectly at my throat, striking With such
: headlong impetus that went back
ward as II shot, crashing against the
table, then to the floor. dropping my
sweapon as fell. There was no noise
mo sound, while for an instant, With
strength OF sheer desperation, hold
back the swapping jaws that breathed
hot fire into my very face. With a
bound backward OF its great body the
beast ierked free from my grip, and
the next instant had sunk its dripping
fangs, deep and hard, into the flesh
Sof my shoulder. AS the intense pain
( shot through me, my right hand,
driven with all the force I could mus
ter, caught the monster once, twice,
full in the throat, but tighter and
tighter those clinched jaws locked,
until 1t seemed as II every bone be-
tween them must be ground to pow
der Even as / grasped the lowe