The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-09-22

I den atfir5
uieEl 4 sasped despefately.
'.Get nay reVolFer deere on de. aOoFs
ana ifs6 .bnt Cor Gods rake keep
down don't let the brute zee YOU
She must have hehfd. but there was
no r6sponse. although her crying
ceased. Yet my own struggle to rid
myself Of that crushing weight and
those Iron jaws drowned all other
sounds, drove all other thoughts from
me. Every muscle Of my body began
to weaken from the strain, my eyes
blurred, fa4ntness swept over me, I
felt my brain reeling, when there
burst 4 vivid flash Of flame within
e foot Of my face. singeing my fore
head; then followed q deafening re-
port, and the huge brute sprang. back
ward with q Snarl Of pain, his teeth
clicking together like coRB Of steel,
Then he stitfened and Ten prone
acrosS me, q dead. inert weight. pin
ming me breathlesS TO the door.
For the moment I could dc no more
than he there helpless, gasping for
breath, scarce conscious even Of my
deiiveranee. Then, Is sufficient
strength returned for action, / rolled
the body Of the dead brute off me.
and lifting myself by aid Of the wan
against which my head rested, looked
about. Two broken chairs overturned
upon the floor, ana the ShRpaIes1,
huddled body Of my late Assailant.
alone spoke Of the Violence OF that
deadly struggle; but the cabin was
yet fun Of smoke, and I could per
coivo the figure Of the girl leaning
against the frame OF the open door.
the revolver st1ll graSped In her hand.
Her posture was that q frightened
deer, as her t0rr0r-ftlled eyes sought
the dark interior. 2
at is SAFELY over" said weakly,
Cor my breath yet came to me in
Gesps. ''The brut0 IL dead"
could scarcely mark her coming
across the narrow streak Of moon
light. moving toward me as . fright
ened bird might, startled at every
thing, and passing a. far from the
iifeless mass on the floor az the small
space would allow. As she bent
anxiousIy over me her face was SO In
shadow that could distinguish moth
ing of its features.
What is it? Are you indeed severe
ly hurt?"
mot seriously. I think, yet 1 have
lost some blood, and am in great pain.
There is brandy in the inner pocket
of my jacket, but I am unable to
move my arm in order to reach it.
Would you endeaVor to draw the flask
out?"
I felt her bend over me. her soft
breath coming almost in sobs upon my
face, as with trembling fingers she
undid the buttons of my troopers
jacket and extracted the small fiat
flask had been thoughtful enough
to store, away, there sssl
The4nery liquid seemed toeput new
blood into my veins, and with it there
Getuned all my lold-tfue audacity.
with that intense. hopefulness in which
and selE-reliance.
II trust you realIzee..' Il said, that
[ am neither thoughtless nor migrate
full. Years OF war service make one
careless Of life, but I know it was
your shot that saved me. You are
brave R1rl."i a
Her overtaxed nerves gave way at
my words. and knew she was crying
softly The sobbing was in her voice
as she strove to speak.
"Oh, no, am not; you do not
guess how great a coward am.
scarcely knew what was doing when
1 fired. That horrid thing-what was
it?"
"a huge mastiff. imagine; one Of
the largest of his breed. But what
ever it may have been, the beast
is dead. and we have nothing more
to fear from him"
yet 1 tremble So" she confessed.
almost Historically. Every shadow
frightens me-"
realized that no amount OF con-
versation would quiet her nerves so
effectively as some positive action; be-
sides, l felt the hot blood constantly
trfckling down my arm, and realized
that something needed to be done at
once to stanch it's flow, before weak
ness should render me equally useless
DO you think you could build
fire on the hearth yonder?'' 1 asked.
81 am afraid am hardly capable of
helping you as yet; but we must
have light in this gloomy old hole,
or it is bound to craze US both. Take
those broken chairs If you find moth
ing better"
She instantly did as bade her,
moving here and there about the room
until she gathered together the ma
terials necessary, but keeping care
fully away from where the dead dog
lay, until in a brief space of time the
welcome flame Ieaped up in the wide
black chimney. and cast its red glare
all over the little room The activity
did her good, the light flooding the
gloomy apartment yielded renewed