The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-17

AFFORD some degree OF shelter. II YOU
Will rest here, In the shadow OF these
trees. will soon discover whether it
has inmates or not"
She followed me In silence across
the road to the spot designated, but as
l turned to leave her seated upon the
grass. and veil 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. l am not naturally timid, yet
everything Is so gloomy cannot stand
1t. Let me go with you, If you must
go!"
Most assuredly you shall II you de.
sire" returned heartily.
There appeared before us a dim, lit.
tle-used path leading In among the
trees, and following It's erratic curves
We were soon before the cabin, which
grew even more uninviting as we
drew near. As paused moment be-
fore the closed door, In order that |
might listen for any possible sound
within, ! could hear her quick breath
Ing. as though the terror of the mo-
inent 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 thres.
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.
ior. could dimly perceive what be.
heved TO be table directly in front of
me, while certain other indistinct and
ali defined shadows might be chairs
pushed back against che wall. At least
this roonHHas without occupants; yet
1t was WITH every sense alert that |
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 thst?"
1t was something certainly-a dead.
ened. mufied, stunning sound directly
In our front. followed by q strange
noise OF scraping. "a II with q dull
knife on wood.
Wait here" said sternly. Prob
ably II Is nothing more dangerous
than q rat"
felt my way carefully around the
table, q revolver ready in my hand.
There was nothing to be found there
nothing. indeed, in the room; for
from my new position I could look
backward and distinguish In the moon
light the details of that simple,
sQual!d interior. ran my hands
along the rough logs of the further
wall. Ay! here was O break, doubt.
less a door: and cropping along the
crack found the latch.
There was no longer any noisS
audible, and I drew the door inward,
never dreaming Of danger. Suddenly.
with q fierce. wild spring out OF the
dark, huge body hurled itself di.
rectly at my throat, striking with such
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 for an instant, with
strength Of sheer desperation, I held
back the swapping jaws that breathed
hot fire into my very face. With q
bound backward Of its great body the
beast 5erked free from my grip, and
the next instant had sunk its dripping
fangs, deep and hard, into the flesh
OF my shoulder. As the intense pain
shot through me. my right hand,
driven with all the force I could mus.
ter, caught the monster once, twice,
full In the throat, but tighter and
tighter those clinched jaws locked,
until 1t seemed as II every bone be.
tween them must be ground to DOW.
der. Even as I grasped the lower
Jaw. seeking vainly to wrench 1t
loose. heard the girl scream In sud.
den alright.
Quick" I sasped 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 reeling, when there
burst a vivid flash of flame within
foot OF my face. singeing my fore.
head; then followed a deafcning re-
port. and the huge brute sprang back.
ward with snarl Of pain, his teeth