The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-06-18
1t Was the Last
Word
tCopyright.l
By CLARISSA MACKIE

tCopyright1
GOO you will not come with usf"
~ demanded Dorothy with a
scornful infection In her tremulous
voice. "Mr. Viner says the cave is
quite safe to enter. He knows per-
sonally that the bear was killed last
week"
Her tone and words implied that
Tommy Viner might have killed the
vicious black bear with his own hands.
Viner swelled importantly and Law
renee Allen WINGED, but his counte-
nance did not betray his thoughts
about Viner. His concern for Doro-
thy Wales safety was evident.
II happen to know that the bear
was alive this morning and very ugly
because there are some cubs inside.
Dorothy, I beg you will not go there
this morning." he said while he knew
that she would not take his advice.
Come along and protect us, then,"
laughed Viner, tauntingly. you may
lead the way, eh, DorothyT
"Yes,' said Dorothy coldly.
II know better way than that
one" muttered Lawrence, who knew
the mountain side like an open book,
and he vanished around the shoulder
Of the great rock formation
"Gone back to Canyon Creek for
the ambulance" sneered Viner. Dan
ger will be over by the time he comes
back!"
"Oh" exclaimed the dazed Dor
othy. Coward, coward!" she said
and stamped her foot. ''Come on,
Tommy. You are not a coward"
Lawrence heard as he made his way
among the rocks to that narrow OPEN
ing near the den of the bears. If he
could pry away some of the smaller
rocks and enlarge the opening, it
would attract the anger of the bears
and keep them at this end Of the cave.
If Dorothy and viner went in the en-
trance they would hear the sounds OF
disturbance and, he prayed, have sense
enough left to escape before the en-
ragged beasts discovered their pres
ence. Viner had rifle over his
shoulder, and Lawrence had his own
shotgun In evidence.
The word-that last word of Dor
othy's ranked like thorn in his
breast as he crept forward. Coward
--coward-coward %
'aThis is the end of my case so far
as Dorothy Is concerned" he told him
self grimly, as he stood before that
heap of stone tnat marked the small
hole "You can't blame any girl for
despising coward!'' He wished, how
ever, he might be in the two places
at once to protect the girl from her
own folly.
With a hard stick he began to pry
the stones away from the opening. In
a moment he heard an ominous growl
from within, and a deeper one at a
distance
He pounded furiously at the loose
rocks and in a moment they gave way
before heavy onslaught from within.
The she bear was clawing her way
out.
He knew that Dorothy was in the
cave for he heard her scream, then a
great pounding of the earth beside
him whirled him about to face the
male, an ugly red-eyed brute, foaming
with rage at this attack on his home.
Lawrence dubbed his gun and
struck the bear on the nose, then he
jumped back and fired at the ferocious
eyes. The badly wounded animal
sprang forward and fell across Larry,
knocking him into the bushes and at
the same time the she bear broke out
and entered the fray.
Dorothy and Viner had already en-
tered the ill-smelling cavern when the
sounds Of growls in the farthermost
depths told them too plainly that Law
ence had been right. The she bear and
her cubs were there-if the male en-
tered the cave behind them, they were
trapped.
IF Lawrence had really had a
spark of manhood he would not have
deserted us this way" whined Viner
nervously.
"He is doing something about it, you
may be sure" said the girl with sur.
prising GOODNESS.
She screamed as she heard shot
"He is out there-alone, in danger
coming, Larry, coming!" she called
rushing out Of the cave, Viner close
at her heels. AS they reached the back
of the rock pile, she kept on calling
Coming, Larry-coming, hold on
dear!" And Larry, hearing the words
through the agony he was suffering
smiled suddenly and thought, II have
those to remember-those last words
that last word" But he did see things
dimly just before he lost consciousness
saw Dorothy snatch Viner's rifle
from his futile hands, saw her rush
up to the male bear and press the
weapon into the thick furry ear anG
fire. In another moment she was pur
suing the she bear back to the squeal
ing cubs. When the clumsy, infuriateG
beast had shouldered her way back
into the cave, to lie there nursing hel
rage and grief for the loss of her mate
Dorothy went back to Lawrence lying
therc so white ord still, the dead beaI