The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-31

sudden. ragefui. shivering vail Tho
pony danced at IN. end Of his rope
and blew a whlstling snort Of com
pretending fear. Civens puffed ~
his cisaret. but he reached teisureiy
for his plsfoi-beit. which lay on The
grass. and swfried tho cyiindrr q hts
weapon tentatively. A great Ear
plunged with n loud splash into the
water hole A nth. brown rabbit
skipped around bunch Of catciaw
and sat twitchinr his whiskcr- and
looking humorously AZ Civena The
pony wen, on eating grass.
II IL well 20 NJ reasonably waschsui
when a Mexican lion sings soprano
along the arroyow al shutdown. The
burden Of his rons may b. that
young calves and fat lambs arc
scarce. and that he has a oaruivor.
Gus desire for your acquaintance.
In Tho grass lay an empty fruit
can. cas-, thero By some former 80
journcr. Owens caught sight Of n
with a grunt Of satisfaction. In his
coat pocket tied behind hin saddle
was a handful OF two Of ground cof.
fee. Black coffee and cigzrefs'
wha, ranehero could desire morer
In two minutes he had a little fire
going clearly. He started with hts
can. for IN. water holr. When with
In IS yards ~ It's edge he saw. be
tween the bushes. a ride-saddied pony
with down.siropped reins cropping
grass a little distance TO his left Jus;
rssinR from her hands and knees on
the brink ~ the water hole WAS
Ioncfa o'Donnsil She had been
drinking water. and she brushed the
sand from the palms Of her hands
Ten yards away. TO her right. halt
( concealed by clump OF racuisia,
Givcns snw the crouchinr form OF
the Mexican lion. Ills amber eye
balls Riar.d hunFrily; stu feet from
them WIS the tip OF the tail stretch
cd straight. like q pointers. His
hind .auarters rocked with the motion
OF the cat tribe preliminary 10 leap
ing.
Glvens aid what he could. His sir
shooter was % yards away lying or
the grass. He gave a loud ycll. and
dnshed between the hon and ths
princess.
The -rucus," as Givens called y
afier>waTyi. was brief and somewhat
confused. When he arrived on ths
line Of attack he saw dim streaj
in the air. and heard . couple oi
faint cracks. Then hundred pound
OF Mexican lion pumped down upor
his head and flattened him. with q
heavy Jar. 10 the ground. He re
mcmbercd calling out: Let up, nov
no fair gougingr' and then h
crawlcd frum under the Hon like q
worm. with his mouth fun OF Rras,
and dirt. and n big lump on the bach
Of his head where 1t had struck th'
root OF a water elm. The lion lay
motioniess. Givons. feeling aggricv
ed. and suspicious Of fouls. shook hi
fist at the Hon. and shouted: III
rastie you again for twenty and
then he got back to himself.
Joscfa was standing In her tracks
quietly reloading her silvtr.mounte,
as. II had not been difficult shot
The lions head made an easier mari
than n tomato can swinging at thu
end Of a string. There was pro
volSing. teasing. maddening srnli,
upon her mouth and In her dark eyes
The would.be-rescuing knight felt tn
fire OF his fiasco burn down 20 hi
soul. Here had been his chance
the chance that he had dreamed OF
and Momus. and not Cupid. had pre-
sided over H. The satyrs In tn,
wood were. no doubt. holding thei
sides In hilarious. silent laughter
There had been something like vauds
ville--say Signor Owens and hi
funny knockabout act with tn
stuffed lion.
SIS that you, Mr.. Givcnsr' sal
Joscfa. In her deliberate. saccharin
coptralto. you nearly spoiled m.
shot whom you yelled Did you hur
J your head when you fell7-
"Oh, no. said Givens. quietly
"that didn't hurt" He stoope
Isnominiously and dragged his bes
| Stetton hat from under thu bcaat I