The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-08-01

Ing when nhe found the vicinity Of the
house deserted she was not one bit
worried. David the day before had
made famous sale and had gone on
to a distance 70 negotiate for new
herd. Most OF the men had accom-
panied him. The others had been Civ.
en- a holiday and had gone TO Last
Limit, where a circus had come along.
Beatrice went about her pleasant
home tasks happy as sprite. singing
merrlly planning with delight a fam
Gus strawberry pie OF gigantic proper
tions for her formidable horde when
they should return, ravenous and de-
lighted at supper time She had gath
cred a great apron full of the rich,
luscious fruit in the ravine about q
quarter of a mile from the house. when
she heard shots and shouts in the dis
tance These died away. and she
started for the house leisurely, attrib.
uting the commotion to some hurrah
exploits OF the cowboys on a neighbor.
ing ranch.
Then suddenly Beatrice uttered a
sharp cry There burst from a copsa
a great shagged bear. Its mouth waa
foamlng, the blood was trickling down
from It's face, and II swung along at
a fearful rate in the direction Of tho
house.
Il won't faint" determined Beatrice
Although | hardly know what to
do Oh, dear!"
She iuttered ike a frightened but
teray, Seeking refuge or eatables, the
bear tore through the little house gar
den, aimed for the open cellar doors
darted down the steps, and then
Beatrice ran fast as she could, reached
the house, slammed down the cellar
doors and set the heavy oaken bars
across the heavy planks. Then she
ran into the house, locked and bolted
the door leading into the cellar and
sat down to cry.
II was only as relief to her over
wrought excitement that the teara
came, for Beatrice felt fairly trium
phant She had controlled her fright,
she had Gagged the enemy. Wlat an
exploit to write to Meta about!
What a grand thing TO narrate to her
husband! How the gallant cowboys
would praise and make a veritable
heroine Of her! Beatrice was very
proud OF her first exploit in capturing
"a wild savage denizen Of the primeval
forest"
Beatrice valiantly took down the
house rife from the antlers over the
dining room clock and placed II on
the table. Then she got the axe from
the yard. Next she added the poker
to this warlike equipment.
She listened for some demonstra.
tions from below. The "frenzied
growls," the "frightful leaps" she had
read about as pertaining to bears, did
not ensue as she had expected. She
wondered If the infuriated animal had
gone to sleep She hoped he had not
discovered the old cupboard in which
she kept the butter and milk.
About an hour later Beatrice heard
the tramp of horses and the sound OF
human voices along the trail. Six
mounted men came into view. Their
leader doffed his hat as he drove up
to the doorway where Beatrice stood.
I'VE are looking for stray bear,
he began.
"Oh, yes!" announced Beatrice Gag
erly, "a great ferocious monster
Not at ala harmless toothless old
animal escaped from the circus in
Last Limit, but valuable as trick
bear, and 800 offered for its cap
ture."
why what is this?" inquired David
Merrill, as he and his hearty crowd
sat down to the smoking supper that
evening, and he found little heap OF
bank notes under his plate.
Then Beatrice told her story, with
dancing eyes. And David swung her
up in the air and kissed her at ita
termination, while the enthusiastic
cowboys gave "Huzza!" with an ad
miring echo for their brave little
sister"
Copyright 1913, by W. C. Chapman)
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