The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-05-07


lows ears. Slowly she stretched In
an arm. 1t was bare and round and
soft. He might have darted forward
the length of his body and buried his
fangs in it easily. But something held
him back. He knew that 1t was not an
enemy; he know that the dark eyes
shining at him so wonderfully were
not filed with the desire to harm
and the voice that came to him softly
was like a strange and thrilling music.
"Bareei BARGE! Upi Baree!"
Over and over again the Willow
face she tried to draw herself few
inches farther under the rock. She
could not reach him. There was still
foot between her hand and Baree.
and she could not wedge herself in an
inch more And then she saw where
was n hollow, shut in by stone. If
she had removed the stone, and come
in that way
She drew herself out and stood once
more in the sunshine. Her heart
thrilled. Pierrot was busy over his
bear-and she would not call him. She
made an effort to move the stone
which closed in the hollow under the
big bOwlder. but it was wedged in
tightly. Then she began digging with
stick. If Pierrot had been there, his
sharp eyes would have discovered the
significance of that stone, which was
not larger than water pail. Possibly
for centuries 1t had lain there. it's
support Keeping the huge rock from
tOppling down. just rs an ounce-weight
may swing the balance of wheel that
weighs ton.
Five mnutes-and Nepeese could
move the stone. She tugged at 1t.
Inch by inch she dragged it out until
ut last 1t lay mt her feet and the
opening was ready for her body. She
looked again toward Pierrot He was
still busy, AMI she laughed softly ms
she united a big red-and-white Bay
handkerchief from about her shout
ders. With this she would secure
Baree. She dropped on her hands and
knees and then lowered herself fiat
on the ground and began crawling into
the hollow under the bowlder
Baree had moved. With the back
of his head flattened against the rock.
he had heard something which Nepeese
had not heard: he had felt slow and
growing pressure, and from this pres
sure he had dragged himself slowly
and the pressure still followed. The
mass of rock was settling. Nepeese
did not see or hear or understand.
She was calling to him more AMI more
pleadingly:
"Baree-Baree-B
Her head and shoulders and both
arms were under the rock now. The
glow of her eyes was very close to
Baree. He whined. The thrill OF a
great and impeEG;ng danger stirred In
his blood. And thcn-
In that moment Ncpeese felt the
pressure of the rock on her shoulder.
and into the eyes that had been glow
ing SOFTLY at Baree there shot a sud
den wild look OF horror. And then
there came from her lips n cry that
was not like amy other sound BARGE
had ever hedrd in the wilderness
wild, piercing, filed with agonlzed
fear. Pierrot did not hear that first
cry. But he heard the second ard
the third-and then scream after
scream as the Willows tender body
was slowly crushed under the settling
mass. He ran toward 1t with the
speed of the wind. The cries were
weaker-dying away. He saw Baree
as The came out from under the rock
and ran into the canyon. and In the
same instant he saw part of the Will
lows dress and her moccasined feet.
The rest of her was hidden under the
death-trap. Like madman PierrOt
began digging. When few moments
later he drew Nepeese out from under
the bowlder she was white and death
ly still. Her eyes were closed. Ills
hnnd could not feel that she was Iiv-
Jig, and great moan CT anguish rose
out Of his soul. But he kuew how TO
fight for q life. He Tore open her
dress and found that she was not
crushed as he had feared. Then he
ran for water. When he returned. the
Willows eyes were open and she was
gasping for breath.
"The blessed saints be praised :"
sobbed Pierrot. falling on his knees at
her side. "Nepeese, ma Nepeese."
She smiled ut him, with her two
hands on her bare breast. and Pierrot
Rugged her up TO him. forgetting the
water he had run so hard to get.
Still later, when he got down ON his
knees and peered under the rock, his
fuce turned white and he said:
Mon Dleu. If It had not been for
that little hollow In the earth.
Nepeese-"
He shuddered, and said no more.
But Nepeese, happy in her salvation.
made a movement with her hand and
said, smiling at him: