Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-01
rHAprrR xvr-tcOntinuedl.

'-fIushp' she whispered. "Hush'
rmeralda," for the woman's sobs and
sroans seemed TO have attracted the thing
tbat stalked there Just beyond the thin
wall.
A Kentle scratching sound was heard
Am the door. The brute tried 20 forco IN
entrance; but presently this ceased and
again she heard the great pads creeping
staaIthily around the cabin. Again they
Etopped-beneath the window on which
the terrified eyes Of the girl now glued
themselves.
God" she murmured. for now, Eilhou-
sttd against the moonlit sky beyond. she
saw framed In the tiny square OF the
iatticed window the head OF huge
lloness, Tho cleaning eyes were nxed
upon her in intent ferocity
Look, Esmeralda" she whispered
'For Gods sake, what shall we do7
Looki Quickl Tho Window
Esmeralda, covering still closer to her
mistress, took one affrlghted glance to-
ward the little square of moonlight. just
as the lloness emitted low, savage snarl
The sight that met the poor blacks eyes
was too much for the already overstrung
nerves.
"oh. Gabereller" she shrieked. and slid
10 the floor an inert and senseless mass.
For what seemed an eternity the great
brute stood with its fore paws upon the
sill, glaring into the little room. Presently
II tried the strength OF the lattice with
its great talons,
The girl had almost ceased to breathe,
VIXEN. TO her relief, the head disappeared
and she heard the brute's footsteps leav-
ing the window. But now they came to
the door again. and once more the
scratching commenced; this time with
Increasing force until the great beast was
tearing at the massive panels in perfect
frenzy OF eagerness to seize it's defense
less Victims.
Could Jane Porter have known the Inn
mense strength OF that door. builded piece
BY piece, she would have felt less fear
OF the lioness reaching her by this avenue.
Little did John Clayton imagine when
ne fashioned that crude but mighty portal
that one day, 20 years later, 1t would
shield fair American girl then unborn,
from the teeth and talons of man-eater.
For fully 20 minutes the brute alter
nately sniffed and tore at the door. &C.
eAHunally giving voice to a wild, savage
cly OF bafned rage. At length, however.
she save up the attempt. and Jane Porter
heard her returning toward the window,
beneath which she paused for an instant.
and then launched her great weight
4Ainst the time-worn lattice.
The girl heard the wooden rods Eroan
veneAfh the impact; but they held and
.ns hass body dropped back to the ground
Again ana again the Iionsss repeated
taess tactics, until hnsIly the horrinsd
prisoner within saw a portion OF the
Mttlee give way, and IN an instant one
tisAt paw and the head OF the animal
we're thrust within the room.
Slowly the powerful neck and shoulders
.pseAe the bars apart. and the 1.-THE body
ssouadsd further and further into the
AZ n trance. the girl rose. her hand
eRen hsr breast, wide eyes staring hor-
se.-suieken into the snarling face OF the
~ scarce 10 feet from her. At her
~ iay mo prostrats form OF the negrsss.
sne could but arouse her, then com
-sA me herce and blood-thirHty intruder.
Jane Porter stopped 10 grasp the black
ahook her.
-saefaidai Esmeraldal" she cried.
me, or we are lost"
~. aida slowly opened her eyes The
't 3olect they encountered was the drip
tsngs OF the hungry lioness.
tlsh horrlhed scream the poor woman
q Aer hands and knees, and IN this
tesi'ion seurried across the room. shrek
Gaberellel o GabeFelleP at the
'on @ hsr lungs.
salea weighed some $50 popnds.
enhanced nothing the gazeiie-like
,es O her carriage when walking erect,
neF extreme haste. added TO her
sas eorpuleney, produced a most
s result when Esmeralda eleetad
+4sel on an fours.
moment the lioness remained
WIN intense gaze directed upon the
Aaneraldal whose goal appeared
sae cupboard, into which she at
70 propel her huge bulk but. ~
fes Were hut nine or ten inches
sae only succeeded IN getting her
Nna-eapon. with 8 anal screseh.
nstea the lansie noises Into In-
nee. she faipied once again.