Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-05-21

~
ing his own eyes.
Its a house, all right" I answered.
Some French hunters shack"
He shook his head negatively.
They don't build like that. II beats
me. but whoever built that house put 1t
up to live in. Howsomever l don't see
no sign o. anybody thar now, an I'm
/ goin' ter find out what the shebang
looks like. Dutchy, you stay yere, an
watch these things, while the two O.
US scouts round a bit"
STOPPING low, SO as not to be so
easily perceived in the darkness. the
two Of US, grasping our rifles In readi-
ness. stole across the open space to-
ware the house. There was no sign Of
life so far as could be seer or heard,
yet II the place was deserted 1t could
not have been for long. as there were
no appearances Of decay or abandon
ment Of the premises. The log walls
were firm, the clay between resisting
the pressure Of III fingers in an at
tempt to dislodge 1t, and the only door
noticed was tightly closed. We hesi-
tated to open this, uncertain what
mystery might await US within. and
listening anxiously for any sound. The
stiffness was SC profound as to be pain
full, and, whispering to me to stand
back, with rifle poised Brady silently
lifted the strong wooden latch. The
door slid back in grooves. the sound of
movement barely p%erceptible. and we
stared into the black interior, seeing
nothing except a little section Of dirt
floor, dimly revealed by the stars over.
head.
We'll feel it out. boy" muttered the
scout, his hand gripping my arm. mo
body at home, l reckon, but 1t won't do
to risk a light. You take that side, an
III take this, an see what we find"
/ moved forward slowly, foot by foot,
feeling blindly with one hand. the other
grasping my rifle. l came to a rude
bench, homemade without nails,
touched a small table with crossed
legs, holding nothing but an empty
pewter bowl, felt the shaggy skin Of
some animal fastened against the log
wall, and then a few articles of warm
clothing dangling from wooden pins.
These were rough garments, made Of
skins, with a single coarse shirt. Be-
yond them my fingers came in contact
with the latch of a door. As I touched
this the menacing growl Of some ami.
NAL broke the intense stiffness. /
stepped back, startled, unnerved, and
in my recoil, came into contact with a
man. A hand like iron gripped me,
but 1t was Brady's voice that spoke:
From the other ROOM" he said
shortly. "a dog"
"A dog! Then why hasn't he
barked?"
Because he is not that kind,
reckon; a big brute from his growl.
Did you find anything?"
/ told him briefly.
Fireplace on my side, two chairs
and an ak in the corner" he added
shortly. Nobody home but the dog, l
reckon, but we will have to fight it out
with him. before we take possession.
Stand where you are until l feel out
the door. Leather hinges, and opens
this way. Here, Hayward, take hold Of
the latch; we'll have to brain the
brute. Don't open until I say so, and
then only about a foot. Brace yourself
to hold 1t firm, and keep your gun
ready; I've got the AK"
took my position, but with heart
beating rapidly, and waited. The dog,
as though realizing danger, flung him.
self with full force against the door,
and gave one deep bark of savage
ferocity. Brady touched my hand, To-
eating the opening. Then there was
an instant Of silence.
Now" he said.
lifted the wooden latch, gripping
with both hands, my shoulders and
foot braced. There was a fierce leap
Of the brute, SO sudden as to cause me
to give back, the thud of descending
ak, { howl Of pain and rage, the ugly
snap Of jaws. Coarse hair swept my
hands; there was another blow, the
sound of a falling body; then the helve
of the ak struck my foot. Back and
forth on the dirt floor man and brute
struggled, crashing into the table, and
overturning it. Brady uttered one
oath; then the dog snarled. and lay
still, while I stood with the ak poised,
unable to tell which was which in the
darkness. Something moved. and I
took a step forward.
Brady"
"All right" he said breathlessly, II
i had to knife the brute-he-was as