The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-09
1conti1tieti FROM Last Issue)


ripplfg through the lungs, tearing
he great arteries about the heart,
shiyerins even q portion of the
heart ttself. Aud yet the grizzly
sprins like q demon through the
deep snow straight toward him.
yifglnih.s Mortified eyes saw his
fingers race as he worked the lever
actipn o. the gun, The bear seem.
I'd alinost upon him. And she
screaHied when she. heard the i'm
patent click Of the hammer against
The breach. Bill had fired the
slngle shot that was in the gun.
Before ever he heard The sound
Harold remembered. In one wave
of horror he recalled that he had
fofKptten 10 refill the magazine
With shells, Yet Ieaping fast-red
and deadly upon the heels OF his
feraorse there came an emotion
that scared him likeSa wall OF fire.
Heasaw BIS fate
HereSwas MS enemy, the man he
hated above Ill living creatures,
and tho blood lust surged through
him like a madpess In one wave
% ECSTASY he felt that he was
about to sec the qualification OF his
hatred.
10 the hands OF brave and 10y.
Of man the rife Harold carried
might yet have been Bill's saliva
tion. Yet Harold didn't lift Il to
mis- shoulder.
But at that instant aid came
from an unexpected quarter. Vir-
gtnia remembered the pistol at
her belt and she drew 1t in a flash
ofShlre steel True and straight she
aimed toward the glowing eyes Of
the grizzly.
Az the angle that they struck,
her bullets did not pentrate the
brain; but they did give Bill an
ilstant's roprieve. The bear struck
Az the wounds they made, then
lated bawling in the snow. His
rowing eye caught sight Of Viz.
ginia's form. With roar he
bounded toward her.
The next instant was one Of
drama, Of Incredible stress and
movement. For all his mortal
wounds, the short distance be.
tween the bear and the girl SEEM
edto recede with tragic swittness.
Virginia stood her ground, firing
Shot after shot into the animals
head. Because It was an automa-
70, she was able to send home
the loads in rapid succession.
But Bill by now had found one
the extra shells Harold had
given him.
The grizzly was upon them.
He dropped the shell into the
glln. There was no time to raise
the weapon to his shoulder. He
pplnted Il instinctlvely toward the
fray throat. And the end OF the
barrel was against the bears flesh
60 he, pressed the trigger.
No human eye could follow the
6lighthing events OF the next frac-
ton OF a second. Ono Instant aud
tie three figures seemed all to.
gether; Bill crouched with life
Held pointed in his arms. Virginia
behind him, the grizzly full open
sa sa, DOTH.
IhesneXt and Harold stood alone
e tlle snow and the siience-awed,
sstIlliea, and estranged as 1t In n
Except for three forms that lay
STU, half buried and concealed In
pe drifts 1t was as II tho adveu.
tnTe nad never occurred.
US, pullet mad gone true. It had
pierced the animals neck breaking
tne yertnrae OF the spinal column
nv NE nad gone out OF him as a
ZANE goes out In the wind.
aAl was the first to move. He
9adj received only a glanctng blow,
lpe arftts into which be had fallen
MeFe sott as pillows. He crawled
9s Sel 20 sirg1nia's SIDE
He seized her shoulder and
sh9ok her gently.
instantly her eyes opened. Her
lnli consciousness returned to her
WIN g rush She was not scratch
ep not even shocked by the fall,
and she reached up quickly for
BINS hands. And instantly With a
n laugn on her lips, she sprang to
aer feet,
You killed him. she asked.
Bears all dead" he answered