The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-09

When he was gone. Chathurn and
Andcrson reflected together.
The only trouble I've had with
indiana" Anderson said. Is that they
take you altogether too literally"
You needn't worry In this case.
chathurn replied 4 said Just what
meant 10 SAY, and am willing 10 be
taken az my word"
Long Tom found after weeks 81
most fatlgulng work. that no was
dealing with no ordinary cougar.
Pounee avoided his traps and dead
fails as completely aud as scornfully
As those OF lAndy Gibbs. long Tom
also learned. past dOpbi. that some
white man who chose 60 avoid him
VAS spending his spare time hunting
this same cougar. he knew he was
white by certain characteristics OF
hts footprints and the camps that he
made in the forests; and he knew
that he chose TO avoid him by the
Tact that he found his fresh tracks.
ope morning. within a few yards OF
mis- own camp. As yet. Tom had had
no glimpse OF the mans form In the
thicketS
He got a fairly good idea soon or
what was happening TO tho deer. The
disastrous shortage could not be at
trieuted 10 Pounee alone. one day.
Tom encountered SET OF broken and
weather-stainod racks where many
skins had been cured
They made queer trio-the cat.
the white man and the Indian. Some
times when tho moon was up and his
glory upon him. Pounce tralled one
or the other OF the two men: but his
great eowardice always commanded
him in the end and kept him from
success. Tom hunted both tho
cougar and the white man steadily
and determinedly. because this was
the deal he had made with ChatbuFn.
i-andy hunted Pounce because his
depredations were spelling his own
profits. and he hunted Long Tom In
seif-defense. And II was not thru
any qualm OF Pity that he held his
fire one hreathiess twilight when he
saw the Indians form along his
sights The cause was not greatly
different than that which checked
tho puma's spring in his
wicked heart no was afraid. He had
met the law once before.
Tom set cunning traps. and he laid
out poison. and he watched with the
patience OF cat itself the decr-llcks
and drinking -pools: but never n great
cougar with Scared scalp came 10
his ambush. 10 was true that no
earned his pay. He caught many
lynx. and once or twice no found
lesser cougars. desperate and ready
10 fight IN his traps. And before the
summer was done. Lon. Tom came
the conclusion that both the great
eat and the human decr-sinyer were
too much for him. 1t would be only
the blindest chance. he thought. that
could throw either ono OF them into
his path.
When. finally. a chance did come.
one late afternoon In August. he let
u slip out OF his grasp. For the past
few weeks he had been making his
basc-camp in q log cabin at the end
OF tho wagon-ruad strongly built
hut TINT had once been the property
OF q miner or trapper. II had been
an arduous day. and he forgot 70
stalk: thus his step was heavy on
tho dry earth. His rifle lay careless
II In his arms. For n single moment
he was not earning the wage that
Chatburn promised
There was sudden rush--a steal.
Of light that sprang from the yawn-
Ing doorway of tho cabin into the
shelter OF tho thickets just in front.
Tho rifle ieaped In Toms arms
cleaning steel itself. but there was
no time for the keen black eyes "a
lower 10 the sights. Only the rustIIns
OF brush showed where the prey had
gone. Evidently his own heavy step
on tho trail had alarmed the beas,
almost the moment OF it's arrival: for
II had done nothing more than pull
a. carcass OF venison down from the
>>hcok-
Wise cougars ordinarily avoid tbs
cabins Of men. particularly when they
have onco been frightened away. By
tho rules OK tho woods. Pounce would
not come again. But rules are made
to be broken. and the law OF the for.
est and the natures of Wild beasts has
not yet been wholly written down
Long Tom had sudden knowledge Civ.
en- him, perhaps. because he was q
sorn woods-creature. too, that before
another sun had set Pounce would