Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1923-08-02

sntIering frost was in the air. Pesse
noofs creaked and crunebed On ~
frozen snow of the trail. Chef agai
ieit That strange haunted feeIin
that he had experienced before Res
NaS pulling on the bit so hard tina
ms hands hurt. Her ears twitcbe,
quickly this way and that and h,
could see the white rim of her fea,
ulstenoed eyes. She snorted contin
uaiiy. A great snowy owl fitted 81
lently overhear. Chef duckad .nd
bess jumped sideways and snorted
what made OF Bess act so crazy TO-
night. Chef had seen frightened
horses before but never had he seen
one SO terrified as Bess was now The
night was so quiet, confound il wbv
dint something move? Everything
seemed nightmare. In every Spruce
thlcket the shadows seemed to take
eird forms and terrifying propor-
'ions He was afraid to look around
A steady fear gripped his heart nv
the time he had gone half the dis
lance nome he was on the verge of
panic.
Crossing the creek fresh track
IN the snow caught his keen atten-
tion. He bent over the saddle scan-
ming the trail with wide eyes till he
grew dizzy. Suddenly his eyes went
wider and his heart seemed to skin
Jump. There along the trail as
pam as day was huge lion track
IND on the left hind foot was the
IMPRINT of only two toes. From all
appearances the lion had tracked him
Wo miles TO Van Ettens. Where was
Ie now? The hair seemed tn raise
long the back of Chefs neck. He
new that he was followed. He eouId
imost feel two greenish eyes fo-
used on his back. He cast a fearfuIi
lance over his shoulder. half expect
lg TO see a crouching beast ready
spring on him. Bess snorted sud-
emily The sound startled him he
ond belief.
Shut up you old fool" he cried
IS voice shrill with terror. He gave
er an unmercifuI cut with his ouirt
Id she jumped forward, nearly
rking him out of the saddle. At the
me instant he looked over his
louder and caught a glimpse of a
AZ wicked looking head with round
RS and slanting eyes. He was so
rror stricken that he hardly knew
nat he was doing. Somehow he had
s revolver in his hand and realized
at Bess was lunging down the trafIi
king knee deep at every lean. He
got about the severe bit and
ned her up so sharply that she
lred-her hind feet sIipped-she
nggied baekward-slipped off the
ked trail into four feet OF loose
W-floundered helplessly against N'
cruel bit to which Chef in de-
sslon elung-gave a slight grosn
1el over on her side pinning
It's leg underneath.
! tawny streak shot out of a lack
thicket and down the trail on
helpless horse and rider.
or an instant Chef was paraIyzed
fear. He could feel the cold -
OF the IS in his grip under the
v. From his position on his back y
'ouldn't see the lions attack but
the beast strike Bess, heard her
ole scream and the next instant -
vas looking into the yellowish q
OF crouching, snarling cougar
a yard from his face. He jerked
gun out of the snow diagonaIIv
IS his face and pulled the trig-
There was binding flash, Al
ening report! A sharp pain burn
ong his temple. Good God. he
shot himself A million bells -
dinging, ten thousand steam
les were screaming Justify.
ply he drapped his gun and clap
ais hands to his head to hold
rains in. He felt the hot breath VI
animal on his cheek. Some ~,
was licking his face. He turned
cad, how odd it was for his
to play him such tricks for it WI
d to be his own dog, Colonel. Frid.
ng there. Dimly he thought he CHA
someone calling his name. He
'eebiy to turn his head and then r.
darkness.
81 gu. ne a~0he ne was IN bed IN Hon
Jesse's voice droning in the I
n. He felt of his head but to I
lazement there wasn't even a
,e on it. Nothing but some
selts like mosquito bites. Pow
rms. In his excitement he had
{ he was shot. But for all Will
ey did smart like everything.
ly he sat up and listened to
&c in the other room
sis. when l got there he was
side of Ols PosS obold;,, -. u. q.