The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-12-28

I full In the throat. but tighter and
tighter those clinched Jaws locked,
until II seemed as II every bone be
tween them must be ground TO pow
der. Even as | graspeI the lower
jaw. seeking vainly to wrench Il
loose. heard the girl scream in sud.
den alright
Quick" gasped desperately.
Get my revolver there on the floor.
and use it--but for Gods sake keep
down; don't let the brute see you"
She must have heard. but there was
no response. 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. laintness swept over me,
felt my brain reehng, when there
burst a vivid flash of flame within
n foot OF my face. smuggling my fore.
port. and the huge brute sprang back
ward with snarl OF pain. his teeth
clicking together like cogs OF steel.
Then he stIffeued and fell prone
across me, a dead. inert weight, pin
ming me GREATNESS to the floor.
For the moment could dc no more
than lie there helpless, gasping for
breath. scarce conscious even OF my
| deliverance. Then. as sufficient
strength returned for action. rolled
the body OF the dead brute off me.
and lifting myself by aid OF the wall
against which my head rested. looked
about Two broken chairs overturned
upon the floor, and the shapeless,
hudded body Of my late assailant,
alone spoke of the violence OF that
deadly struggle; but the cabin was
yet full of smoke. and ! could per
ceive the figure OF the girl leaning
against tho frame of the open door.
the revolver still graspeC In her hand.
Her posture was that Of frightened
deer, IA her terror.filled eyes sought
tue DARK INTERIOR
1T is SAFELY over" said weakly,
for my breath yet came to me In
| rSsps The brute Is dead"
could scarcely mark her coming
across tho narrow streak of moon.
light, moving toward me ne a fright
eGed bird might, startled at every
thing. and passing as far from the
! lifeless mass on the floor as the small
space would allow As she bent
anxiuuE!y over me her face was so II
shadow that could dis;IH gulsh moth
ing Of its features.
"WhGt is It? Are you indeed severe
ly hurt?"
Not seriously, think. yet have
lost some blood. and am in great pain.
There is brandy in the inner pocket
Of my Jacket. but am unable to
move my arm in order to reach IT,
Would you endeavor to draw the flask
out?"
felt her bend over me, her soft
breath coming almost In sobs upon my
lace. as with trembling fingers she
undld the buttons of my troopers
jacket and extracted the small flat
flask had been thoughtful enough
to store away there.
The fiery liquid seemed to put new
blood into my veins. and with II there
returned all my old.time audacity.
with that intense hopefulness in which
| had been trained by years OF war
and sef.reliance.
Il trust you realize" said, that
| am neither thoughtless nor migrate
full. Years OF war service make one
careless OF life, but know Il was
your shot that saved me. You are a
brav, girl"
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 60 not
guess how great a coward | am
scarcely knew what was dong when
fired. That horrid thing-what was
~"
"A huge mastiff. imagine: one Of
the largest OF his breed. But what.
ever It may have been, the beast
ia dead, and we have nothing more
to fear from him"
yet 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. | felt the hot blood constantly
trickling down my arm. and realized
that something needed t. be done at
once TO stanch its flow. before weak.
ness should render me equally useless.
do you think you could build
fire on the hearth yonder?" ] asked
II am afraid | am hardly capable Of
helping you as yet; but We must
have ligb. 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 | babe 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
Inv until In n hrIaf aDaca of TINA tho