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

vas FAR distant Go finish the feast.
Tom knew that traps would not DO.
To he In ambush was no better
because pounoo would come az night
But now Tom was visited hy bold
idea. lie went first 10 the door Of
tho Cabin swinging 10 open and shut,
Attic Il was strongly and heavily
made, It moved easily ON It's hinges
and posse0scd a good latch,
Then he examined the heavy walls
Of tho hut. and particularly the sim
sic small window az one side The
pane was hardly more than a foot
square. and the easing was reinforced
by the heavy logs 81 tho wall itself.
Tom went speedily TO work The
door opened ehwardly. after the man
ncr OF most cabin doors In snow
country. and with a rope and heavy
stone he weighed Il 30 that Il would
slam shu; as soon as the hand was
removed from the knob Then he
laid the Venisou on the table inside
OF the cabin. attaching a cord 90 H.
which he led down TO the floor. thru
staple and up 20 the knob OF tho
door. tying the door wide open, The
pull OF the Weighted door was not
strong enough 10 draw tho heavy
carcass from the table. but as soon as
tho deer was dragged down 10 the
floor. the cord would slack sufficient
~ 10 let the door swing shut
II was the simplest kind o. device.
But Tom knew that by simplicity
alone could be outwit the great eon-
gar that he had been sent 20 slay'
This work done. Tom took a pack
OF supplies blankets and food-and
removed his unwantrd presence. Tho
shadows were already deepening In
the thlckots II was almost Pounce'A
time OF glory-tho beginning OF his
hunting
Pouueo slept OF his fear IN the
coverts and Weakened desperately
hungry. Five days had passed since
he had last taken deer The shortage
OF game tina; 10 irrltated his rival
slayer, Iandy. wns beginning TO OPP
press him. too. Many a time of late
Pounce had watched all night By the
llckS and not even a fawn had come
20 break his fast. He remembered
with surginE eagerness the fat car
eass he had shifted at that afternoon.
The memory strengthened as one
hour after another found him unfed.
And when the moon was M and It's
glory upon him. he turned softly
down toward tho cabin.
He slipped from shadow TO shadow
like serpent. and the twin moons
OF hts eyes were terrible TO see. He
paused. watching and alert, at the
edge OF the thickctS
Hc cFept slowly round the cabin.
pauslng at the least little sound %
ehipmunk in the weeds None OF
his foes was here. The vcnison lay
waiting for his pleasure.
He crept softly toward the door.
Only the darkness lay within. Again
he waited. and agnin he moved for
ward: he stood on the Threshold.
His enemy had been here. but be
had gone away There was no feel
Ing Of cold steel waiting In his path.
His flaming eyes made out tho out
line OF the vcnlSon but n few feet
farther in the almost lmpcnetrable
darkness OF the room.
lie moved toward Il. shifting. Not
even a pack-rat scratched in thr
walls. His white fanEs closed. and
he wrrnchcd sharply. Tho carcass
rolled from the table onto the floor.
Pounce was expecting the sound OF
tho falling venison. The thing he
did not expect, and which almost
killed him with terror. WINS the siam
Of the door swinging shut behind him.
The moonlight that had been stream
ing thru the doorway winkcd out as
the door closed. and left only an Inn
ponderabic darkness that pressed
upon him like death,
Instincts born OF terror seized him.
and he made one reckless spring
toward the only source Of light that
remained-the little pale square Of
the window. There was no measur
Ing the speed OF that flash Of In
stinct. and the thud Of the falling
vsnison. the slam Of the closing door
and the smashing crash OF his body
against the pane Of glass came 80
swiftly upon each other that they
seemed as one great sound, But the
strong window-casing held, and
Pounce dropped. half stunned. 10 the
floor.
He did not waste his strength IN
Ieaping again. Instead, he played the
cats game--drawiug back into a
cor-r,or ~, walt Lila fntn Is.,r... .,.......