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She seemed ‘a very matter-of- fact girl.
“Ob, that’s all right, ” she said with
evident impatience, “Vm all right, I
wasn’t hurt in the least.
our nerves must have been
awfully shaken,” gushed one young lady.
“Do allow me to offer you my vina!
grette!”
“No, thank you, I don't want' it,” said
the girl petulently, “I haven’t got any
nerves.” .
“Haven't got any nerves!” giggled the
young lady. “I wish I could say so!”
“Well, why don’t you:then?” was the
inquiry of this decidedly original miss,
“The fact is,” she continued, “it was all
my own fault that I came so near getting
killed.”
“Your own fault?” screamed the ladies
in, unis|
ae got rattled when I saw the
engine, and Gian’ t. know where I was or
what I was d oing.
Rattled
The ladies gazed at each other in con-
sternation and horror as this slang word
proceeded from the delicately chiseled
lips of the maiden.
She was perhaps secretly pleased at the
sensation she had created, but she did
not give her companions a chance to
make any comments.
“Please go back to your seats,” she
said. “I don’t need any help, and I want
to see the brave boy who saved my life.”
The ladies returned to their seats; and
the one with the vinaigette was obliged
to apply that useful article to her aristo-
eratic nose a number of times to keep
from fainting at the shock her sensibili-
tles had received.
But Sam had disappeared.
The fact is, he had taken advantage of
the excitement to quietly slip into the
smoking-car, where he remained until
nearly eight’ o’clock.
When he at last returned to his seat
the excitement created by the little ad-
venture at aven had subsided, and
no one looked ‘ipon him with any especial
paterest except the young lady whom he
ad
she made up what the ‘others
lacked in enthusiasm.
Springing to her feet, she extended both
hands, and, her pretty face glowing with
excitement, demanded in utter disregard
of the amazed glances of the fellow- ~pas-
sengers
a here have you been?”
m was a good deal embarrassed, but
he could not help taking her han
“I’ve been in the smoking- anaes
stammered.
{You havet I T hope you don’t smoke,”
“Seldom,
“Well, never ‘mind; sit dow
Our hero was only too glad % ” sbey this
imperative comma:
“I’m awfully glad, you’ye come back,”
the girl continued, “for I have a great
deal to say to you, J
“Indeed, miss?” returned Sam, scarcely
knowing “what he was saying, for the
little miss was still holding his,band, and
the eyes.of every one in the car were
upon them.
“Yes, indeed,” continued the maiden.
“Do you know that I owe my life to you?”
he
“Oh, that’s of no account,” said Sam,
next instant he was going to
apologize, his cheeks suffused with
blushes, but his companion replied de-
murely: __ | .
“Maybe not to you, but it’s of a good
deal of account to me. If it hadn't been
-for you I should have met a horrible
death—that’s certain. You have wonder-
ful Pee of min
I always try to carry my m: ina with
me,” said Sam. “But please let’s dismiss
the subject.”
“Well, we will, then, for the present.
But I want to know a good deal more
about you. Will you let me catechtise you
a little?
“As much as you like.
But first I must offer you
“I was real mean to you before we got
to New Haven, and in the dining-room
s all my fault, I guess,” sald
Sam. “I did stare at you, I know, but I
couldn’t help it, and I don’t think you
ought to blame me.”
This audacious speech brought the
roses to the young lady’: 8 cheeks.
But she replied naively: .
Well, I don't know that I ought. But
rdon?”
“Yes, indeed!
“Then I'll begin my catechism: what is
your name?”
aSamuel Westbro
. suppose your f Tetons call you Sam?”
suggested the mal
“They do, ¢ mane
“Then I will, too. What business are
you in?—or do you go to school?”
“No, I don’t go to school. For some
* to come off.
m
‘the glaring eyes
GOLDEN HOURS
time I have been employed in the Brook-
lyn Post-' Ofice as a special-delivery mes-
senger, but now I’m on my w yay to Bos-
to! on to take a peter position.
‘m real glad of that, ‘for I think a
special de delivery boy’s work must be aw-
fu
"Oh, no, “it isn’t; I rather liked it.”
d you? Well, there must be a good
deal it excitement in
“n o eee of a, 2, place are you going
to take in Boston
“No. A gentleman in Brooklyn got it
for me, and I’m not exactly sure what my
duties will be till I get there.
“That seems queer, What firm are you
oing to work for?
“Stafford & Stafford.”
“What?” cried the girl in evident ex-
citement.
v “Stafford & Stafford.”
“The bankers?”
“Yes.”
non Degonshire street?”
s. Do you know the
“r, should think I did. ‘There’ 3 only one
of the firm now, and he’: s. my Papa
“Your father!” exclaim:
“Yes,” cried the girl, talking 5 sO rapidly
that Sam could hardly understand her,
“And so o work in that
learn to like me, though I know you don’t
10 I'm Fannie Stafford—horrible name,
isn’t {t? I’m papa’s only child, and they
say I’m spoiled: And I guess they’re
about right, too. Oh, I think we shall
get along famously together.”
And so the young girl rattled on until
the train reached Boston
The moment after Sam had assisted his
pretty companion from the car’ she
rushed into the arms of a tall, dignified
looking elderly gentleman.
“I’m so glad to see you, papa!” she
cried. “But let me introduce Mr, Sam
vestbrook, your new clerk.”
next moment our hero stood face
to face with his employer.
[TO BE CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT.)
———_+ «+ ___ .
AMATEUR JOURNALISTS, ATTENTION.
“- Send us all the,current news of Ama-
, teurdom to'be published in the JUNIOR.
Also send us advance notices of matters
Don’t let your items or ar-
ticles exceed 50 words, unless absolutely
necessary. Send in on postal card; don’t
omit your name and address, so that we
can send you a reply postal for your next
item. Send in your reports the day after
the event about which you write; for late
news only this page willbe held open
until the 13th of June, All matter re-
ceived up to noon of that day, if re-
garded to be of sufficient importance, will
appear in the July JUNIOR,
[This Story Began in No, 799.]
LION-HEARTED JACK :
Adventures in Forest and Jungle.
By FRANK SHERIDAN,
COPYRIGHTED, 1903, BY N. L. MUNRO,
CHAPTER XX.
THE LYON AND PYTHON.
WAS afraid. My blood was at fever
heat, yet cold shiverings passed down
my ‘
I had always loved animals, but I
am afraid that while I was being carried
away against my will, I hated horses, and
my particular one, Manhattan, especially.
Once I'placed my hand on my revolver,
determined to kill the steed.
oment I should have done so, but I saw
of a lion not far from
me, and I quickly saw that I might save
myself from being killed by Manhattan,
be meet with a far more terrible death
from the king of beasts.
The monarch never deigned to notice
either the horse or its rider. Its atten-
tion was riveted on something which was
hdden by the thick bush..
Manhattan had become suddenly docile,
and really made me think that he wa:
sorry for the scare he had given me.
Soon I saw that, coiled up in front of
the lion, was a monster python or boa
constrictor,
In another -
The big snake's eyes shone like dia-
monds as the last rays of the setting sun
fell upon them. Its tongue darted in and
out like forked lightning.
I quickly took in the ‘whole situation.
The snake had been watching for some
prey, but was interrupted by the lion.
Courtesy would have prompted the
python to move on one side and give the
monarch a right of way, but angry at be-
ing disturbed, the snake refused to move
from the path, ‘ .
The lion was equally obstinate. He
could have gone round the snake but
would not,
-He maintalnea his dignity and was
working himself up into a frenzied excite-
ment because his way was barred.
e monarch of the forest showed his
and fearing I might be seen, I dismount-
ed, tethered my se to a tree,
glided along as softly as I could to a tree,
which grew close to the angry disputants,
I was‘lucky in not being notice
I climbed the tree without attracting
attention, and was well repaid for my
trouble,
Both creatures grew more angry each
moment, and watching with intense inter-
est, r gloated over the prospect of a
com!
Both animals were getting restless with
inaction hon was alert
sullen ugliness, his glistening head dart-
ing here and there like flashes of light.
The lion was more majestic and noble.
He had no vindictiveness about him. His
body quivered with wave upon wave of
rising anger,
He was not afraid. It was rather a
feeling of contempt which made him so
‘urious.
.Then there was an uncertainty about
such a combat.
will strike at a snake.
The forest monarch knew that a python
was a dangerous antagonist, and the
snake seemed to hesitate for the sam
reason,
At length, the lion determined to take
the offensive. Unable to restrain his
rage, he leaped at the serpent’s swaying
head. like a dazzle of light; but the
snake's head was not there.
The lion landed in the path on the
other side of the python; but almost
before he had touched the ground'I saw
a glittering coil had been thrown over
him. ‘ .
ave a thrilling cry (and leaped
fully a dozen feet into the
He landed on his own side ‘of the path,
shaken and terrified, oe full of fight.
The python was rea
The lion crouched ra ‘the path, waiting
to spring.
‘The snake quivered with nervous pre-
paration,
It was a sight never to be forgotten.
The moment was critical. I almost
gasped for breath, so excited had I be-
come,
Furtously the two animals sprung upon
each other in the same moment.
watch—there was poised in the air a red-
dish blur, wrapped about with great,
glistening coils Jike the trunk of a sma
tree, and then lion and snake rolled in
the dust together. It was the grandest
battle man ever saw,
The python tightened its coils about
the lion with convulsive, strained move-
ments.
The golden rays of the setting sun
seemed to linger as though Old Sol was
enjoying the spectacle.
The lion had buried its teeth, long and
sharp, in the python’s neck, and I knew
that neither would survive the battle.
Tighter grew the great coils of the ter-
tible constrictor.’ I heard the lion’s
bones cracking one by one. I saw the
convulsive pressure of the teeth in the
snake’s neck, the lion’s eyes glaring with
the glassiness of dea: r one moment
the lion tried to shake himself free from
the death-encircling coils, but they only
tightened the more.
Then the monarch of the forest again
closed his teeth in the snake’s body, de-
termined to
breath while fighting.
The python was equally brave. It tried
to crush its foe but its muscles refused
to obey its
Death glazed the eyes of lion and snake
alike. The python's head swayed on one
side. There was a feeble struggle in the
lion's shoulders, a quivering of the flesh
of the snake; a moan, half-groan, half-
roar from the lion, and all was still, save
that the silence was broken by a peculiar
cry from Manhattan,
It was weird and grewsome, as though
he had seen the minister of death strike
the forest combats, and had trembled at
the sight.
IT turned away from the dead animals
and mounted my horse, which was cov-
id.
[os
The lion very seldom ful escape
ered with white foam, as though he had
suffered agonies of fear.
Manhattan was docile enough now, and
seemed pleased when I was again on his
pack, headed for the lagoon where I had
ft my friends—not willingly—but be-
cause I was powerless to stay. -
CHAPTER XXI. aN
HIPPO HUNTING.
HAD ridden about two miles, and was
fearful that I had missed the trail,
did not realize that I had gone
the lagoon.
of me almost \
mate me tremble, for I was getting very
nervy
But as I drew nearer the cloud, I heard
a voice which sent the blood coursing
thyongh my veins at lightning sped.
Hurrah! Harry! Hurrah!”
It was Jack who shouted, and I wanted _
to make some response, but could .not
articulate anything but the American-
Hello!” .
“Wello!” came back like an echo, if
ever an echo could be ten times as loud
as the original voice.
‘ged my horse forward, and nearly
collided with Jack’s steed.
m we have laughed at girls -
kissing each other after being parted. I
shall never do so again.
Jack threw his arms around me-and
kis: ssed me, so pleased was he at my safe
oY feared—I thought—I——” he gasped. ; :
what, I was killed?”
“My "bo oy, you have had a most wonder-
\ “Harry is the best horseman I ever en-
countered,” was Mahmoud’s verdict, and
I
I-never told them
how frightened I had been, and even Jack
thought I was the bravest of the brave
until several weeks afterward when -I—
in a fit of confidence—narrated my-ex-_
perience and: admitted that-I had clung
o the horse’s neck half the time, too
much afraid of falling off ever to be
thrown. - Patsy congratulated me in his
naive manner.
“I watched ye as ye started, an’
moind wint back to ould Oireland an’ I
thought it would be yerself as would win
Punchestown wid such a horse. Augh!
but didn’t he show his heels! --By the
powers, says the gossoon will be
thrown. More power to the horse, says I
again, an’ thin I shouted to you, but ye
dn’t hear, Catch hoult ay his head,
says I, but ye took no notice. Whoorroo!
but didn’t ye just fly over the ground!
Them hippomot—himopot—arrah, it’s
laffin’ at me ye is, but it’s meself as was
never made to use such outlandish
But-as I was sayin’ I niver
thought of them animals; it was yerself
8 plazed me, Sure ye rode beautiful, an’
ies mesglt as will tell the folks at home
me
Nye had better strike for. the eral, or
we shall get belated on the plai
It ‘was Anderson who put’ stop to
Patsy’s long-winded eulogy of my skill
as a rider, a skill which I did not pos-
the suggestion was a sensible one, and
I was surprised to find the distance we
had ioe travel before we reached the
stocka
I told “of the battle between the lion
and the python, and saw by the faces of
my audience that the story was doubted.
My face, I know, was scarlet, for-it is
not pleasant to be disbelieved, so I in>~.”
sisted that early on the morning s some of
the party should ride over wit!
I-was so determined that they c consenit-
ed, and we found sufficient of the’ re-
-mains to prove that my story was true.
die game, to breathe his last .
We returned by the way of the lagoon,
and saw four hippopotami feeding on the
grass some distance away from the water, ‘
ho was anxious to
bag one of the monsters at least.
ye urged on our horses and succeeded
A preventing the animals from reaching
the wi
Thi ey on not seen our approach, but
when they did they made for the water. .
They do not fear human beings, and
will not attack without provocation,
They shambled along in a bee-line for
the lagoon, and had we not moved we
ghould have been run down and trampled
od .
One of the bulls passed close to us, so
close that Jack could almost touch it
with his rife.
I had my heavy Winchester to my shoul-
‘der, and fired at the creature’s side as it
passed, Jack fired almost at-tho same
a