Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-10-26

/ full in the throat, but tighter and
tighter those clinched jaws locked,
until It seemed as II every bone DO
tween them must be ground to pow
der. Even as / grasped the lower
jaw, seeking vainly to wrench II
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. faintness swept over me. !
felt my brain Keeling, when there
burst a vivid flash Of flame within
foot Of my face. smuggling my fore
head: then followed a deafening re-
port, and the huge brute sprang back
ward with a snarl OF pain. his teeth
clicking together like cogs OF steel.
Then he stiffened and fell prone
across me, a dead, inert weight. pin
ming me breathless to the floor.
For the moment could do no more
than lie there helpless. gasping Tor
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'
huddled 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 the frame Of the open door,
the revolver still graspeC in her hand.
Her posture was that Of frightened
deer, as her terror.filled eyes sought
the dark interior.
1T is SAFELY over" | said weakly
for my breath yet came to me IN
rcsps. THE brute is 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 Us far from the
lfeless mass on the floor as the small
space would allow. AS she bent
anxlously over me her face was so N
shadow that could distinguish moth
ing of its features.
What is 1t? Are you indeed severe
iy 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
undid the buttons Of my troopers
jscket 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 It there
returned all my old-time audacity.
with that intense hopefulness In which
I had been trained BY years Of war
and self-reliance.
II trust you realize" said. that
am neither thoughtless nor migrate
full. Years Of war service make one
careless of life. but ! know 1t was
your shot that saved me. You are
braV, girl"
Her overtaxed nerves gave way at
my words, and knew she was crying
softly. The sobbing wa in her voice
as she strove to speak.
"Oh. no. ! am not: you do not
guess how great q coward ] am.
scarcely knew what l was dong when
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
IL dead, and we have nothing more
10 fear from him."
yet | tremble So" she confessed,
almost Historically. Every shadow
lrightens me-"
realized that no amount Of con-
Versation would quiet her nerves so
as some positive action; be