The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-02-10

trees. | will soon discover whether II
has inmates or not.
She followed me In silence across
the road 20 the spot designated. but as
Il turned 10 leave her seated upon tine
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.
"Oh, please do not leave me here
alone | am not naturally timid. yet
everything is SO gloomy cannot stand
il. Let me 10 with YOU, II you must
go!"
Most assuredly you shall II YOU de-
sire" | returned heartily.
There appeared before US dim, lit
tle-used path leading In among the
trees. and following its erratie curves
we were soon before the cabin, which
grew even more uninyiting as we
drew near. AS paused a moment be-
fore the closed door, In order that
might listen for any possible sound
within, I 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 TIRES
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 20 be- table directly In front OF
me, while certain other indistinct and
III defined shadows might be chairs
pushed back against the wall st least
this room Was without occupants VET
II WAS with every sense alert tha
entered. pressing slowly past the table
toward where 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.
4 ened mufIled shutting sound directly
in our front followed BY strange
noise Of scraping, as Il with dull
knife on wood
Wait here. said sternly Prob
ably it IS nothing more dangerous
than rat
Ifelt nay way carefully around the
+ table. q revolver ready IN MY hand
There was nothing 10 be found here
nothing, indeed in the room: ioI
from my new position could look
backward and distinguish in the moon
light the details OF that simple
squalid interior ran my hands
! along ne rough logs OF the further
wall. Az here was break, doubt
less door and cropping along the
crack | found the latch.
There was no longer any noise
audible. and | drew the door inward
never dreaming OF danger Suddenly
with a fierce Wild spring out OF the
dark. a huge body hurled itself di
rectly at my throat. striking with sucf
| headlong impetus that | went back
ward as II shot. crashing against the
! table then TO the floor. dropping my
weapon as | fell There was no noise
no sound while fer an instant viii
strength Of sheer desperation ! helt
hack the swapping jaws that breatheC
hot IRE into my very face With I
bound backward Of rs great body I'M
\ beast ierkea free from my grip anG
tho next instant bad sunk it's drippini
fangs deep aud hard into the iiesl
Of my shoulder AS the intense pair
shot through me. my right hand
driven with an the force ! could mus
ter. caught the monster once, twice
fu,i In the throat. but tighter ant
tighter those clirched jaws locked
until Ii seemed as II every bone be
tween them must be ground 70 pow
der Even as ] grasped the lowe
jaw. seeking yainly 20 wrench I
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 keel
down: don't LET the brute see you"
She must have heard. but there wa
no response. although her crying
ceased Yet my own struggle TO ris
myself OF that crushing weight ant
those iron jaws drowned all othe
sounds, drove all other thoughts from
me. Every muscle OF my body begal
TO weaken from the strain, my eye
blurred, faintness swept over me.
felt my brain Keeling, when ther,
burst vivid flash OF flame within
foot of my face. singing my fore
head; then followed a deafening re-
port. and the huge brute sprsng back
ward with a snsrl OF pain. his teetl
clicking together like cogs OF steel
Then he stiffened and fell prom
across me, dead inert weight. pin
ming me breathless TO the floor.
For the moment I could do no NOR
than lie there helpless. gasping 70
breath. scarce conscious even OF IN.