The Coolidge examiner., 1934-02-09

Steve vas FIRST TO the window.
lie sav taFane's three children on
the beach. walking toward The
store. tie youngest With n hand held
BY each - the others The scream
came again and they turned and
saw whhi Drake saw. o huge wolf
Ike dog. a length of chain attached
70 bis collar curling and swapping
behind hlm. racing along the sand
head low. the hair along his back
on end
A mao appeared iu the doorway
- The store. looked oui aud whlrled
back. The children stood silll an
instant and then the eldest. with
frightened cry tuEgcd AZ the baby's
hand and ran for sanctuary.
Come o. Z" cried Drake. Get a
gun. Mac.
lie yauitcd out the window and
ran 90 intercept the dog.
The children had stopped. were
huddled together as the dog. lash
Ing vlth his fauEs az the youngest.
ripped a slash lu her dress. bat evi-
denily missing the flesh. went past.
whlrllng to stop. his feet claw.
INK 10 the vet sand for hold TO
turn and be at them again.
The man reappcared ln the store
doorway. rife butt against his
cheek.
Don't shooi.- Steve cried.
Don't
No need of that warning the man
saw that be could not send n sAv-
INK bullet without grave danger of
having Il iniure the ehlld
The larges; girl. sweeping The 9th.
ers behind her proiecilngly. stopped.
scoopcd her hands full of pebbles
and sand and as the dog rushed at
her. fanEs barred. fiung the grit full
In his face
II drove him. blinking and rag.
ing. from his course. made bis rush
harmless and gave Steve Drake
time 20 close In.
No more than time The dog
leapei FOR the baby aud bore her
down. The teeth bad missed hold
but Steve saw blood on the ehlld's
cheek where q paw had raked. as
be raised a foot for the Kick that
lifted the animal spun him about
and threw him clear of the little
girl.
Pick her up Get her away
Run - be shouted to the largest.
stamping aud kicking ai the dog
Ills toe caught the beast on the
point of the hose as be leaped In
10 accept this challenge. With a
short yein the creature backed
away. circlluE. and Steve. not TAX
ing his eyes from him. stopped and
seized a stout hardwood stick which
lay on the sand
The dog had forgotten TIE run
ming children. evidently lie clrcled
the man. Jaws drooling. eyes nxel.
Steve. turning as the dog moved.
braced himself FOR the rush which
be knew would come.
When Il did come II was with that
suddenness which only a creature
with the wild In his blood could
summon. lie huriled straight ut the
man.
with a grunt Drake put the
whole OF his strength into the blow.
The club caught the animal along
the ribs.
He went over twice. chain wrap
ping about his body. and even
though the man closed quickly.
raining blows. be scuttled free and
circled briefly AT a safe distance.
once again he rushed. hurllng bis
hundred pounds OF fury through
the air. straight for Steve's throat.
This time the club caught him atop
the skull and he went down with
yelp.
The llmplng individual with the
rifle was close. shouting. his weapon
at his shoulder.
Put up that gun! :" Steve snapped.
You'll get me-
He struck at the dogs back. but
the animal threw himself sideways.
going with the blow. and scurry-
Ing a few feet to safety. whirled
again.
"Now. - painted McNally, coming
with n gun himself. Get back I'll
fix hlml"
let him alone" said Drake. lift
Ing his eyes Just long enough 10
see the children disappearing into
the doorway OF the store. 10 see
their mother. who had run past
him, close behind them. This seems
TO be a kind Of personal matter"
Indeed IL was. The look In the