The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-27

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her grasp upon her husbands arm, the
pluclSy woman made no sign. Face to
face with danger, her courageous nature
asserted itself, and the woman Who
would have run shrieking from a mouse
lay comparatively calm and collected in
the presence of almost certain death.
Having thus awakened his wife TO the
dangers Of their situation, the merchant,
n man Of much resource, was quick TO
act. Tho bed upon which they lay was
an old fashioned and heavy one, solidly
built Of mahogany. Like most old fash
toned bedstcads, it stood close to the
floor. so that n man could but barely
squeeze under it. Their one chance OF
escape lay in their being able to get be-
meath this shelter before the animal
should make the fatal leap, which they
were now every moment expecting.
With admirable GOODNESS, never for a
moment removing his eyes from those Of
the tiger, he instructed his wife to creep
out softly on her side and get under the
bed, she being next to the wall. I'm a
few moments. the words "All right,
coming from beneath, assured him that
the plucky little woman had successfully
accomplished the feat Now to get there
himself
Suddenly Selling all the bcdclOthes in
his hands, with a loud cry the merchant
sprang towards the tiger, and ere the
startled beast could cxtricate himself
from the coverings thus hurled upon
him, Mr.. Hartley had also squeezed his
way in under tho bed.
"The corner! The corncrr he shouted
desperately, and realizing the intentions
of her husband. Mrs. Hartley assisted
him to push the heavy bedstead up into
the corner of the room, thus leaving only
two sides of their iagoniously contrived
fortress open TO attack. II soon came
With q blood curdling yell, having dis
entancled himself from tho clothes, the
onragcd animal spranG forward. Mad
dcnod at the escape of his prey, he thrust
his huge paws again and again beneath
the bed. uttering deep mouthed cries
and cndeavoring 10 force his massive
head and shoulders beneath tho bodstead.
Realizing that their lives depended
upon keeping tho bedstead upon the
noor the terror stricken pair chung dos
peratcly to the STATS Twice the animal
succeeded IN forcing the fore part Of his
head underneath, and twice no was com.
nelled bv the weight above him to aban-
don the advantage thus gained. Oh, if
the Ledstead was only an inch or two
lower "Thc castots, James, shouted
Mrs. Hartley; "romovo the castors.
Quick as fash the merchant, drag
cing himself TO one corner, raised Wl.ll
his back the heavy piece Of furniture and
Withdrew the casters. and this he did TO
the other three corners in succession as
the opportunity occurred, thus bringing
the bedstcad down 50 low that the ami
NAL could no more than get his nose
under the sides The merchant, however,
was hy this time so much exhausted by
his terrible cxcrtiona a5 to DO physically
incapablccf longer holding tho bed down
upon tho floor.
Breathing heavily, tho perspiration
streaming from every pore, he awaited
with q feeling akin to despair the mo-
mont ~hen lhe huge man cater, which,
baiiled for a moment, had drawn oil to
d little distance, should renew his fierce
attempts 70 reach them. Just then his
loot struck against hard substance. Ii
was the sharp edge of small box Of
tools which no had but short time pre-
yiously given to his son, boy OF H.
then absent on q visit to school mate
in Now York, and which the little fellow
had, no DOUBT placed under his parents
bed for greater sccnnty during ms aO-
sencc. Thank heavens. his own gen
crosby % his son now provided means
Of dolvoianoo. II the tiger would but
remain whore he was for minute
LONGER he cOald scrow lhc bed down to
tho floor and thus cffectually prevent
Che animal from reaching them With
trembling hand he drew the box toward
him. What if il should be locked?
\ cold sweat broke out upon him as 1t
resisted his efforts 10 open It. No, he
was trying to open it on the hinged side
The other. II opened readily, and
little fumbling brought 10 light Tour
long screws and q good sized screw
driver. 4 gimlet also, rewarded ms
further search Ia two minutes tho bed
was securely screwed to the floor, ana
not moment too soon, for aroused by
the noise which this operation rendered
necessary. the infatuated animal again
sprang to tho attack. Time after time
he savagely thrust his head as far as he
could reach under the bed, the desperate
man. guided more by the sound OF the
animals breathing than anything else,
thrusting ncrcely at the bristiing mnz~le
with the sharp screwdrieer.
Suddenly, however the huge cat
changed his tactics. Taking rapid turn
around the room rs if to reconnolter
with a furious bound it sprang upon the
bed. and with its sharp claws rapidly
stripped the two mattresses from It's sur
face. 4 woven wire mattress ana the
Stats now alone interposed an apparently
frail barrier between the enraged animal
and its helpless victims.
Maddened with rage, the huge man
eater tore nercely at this fresh obstacle
its sharp claws, however, falling tomake
any impression upon the tempered spring
steel. But it bent dreadfully. VIII 1t
hold? Yes, it bends, it IS true, but even
those claws, terrible weapons though
they be. rebound harmless from tho slip
perry and springy surface. Thank heaven
il forms coat Of mail through which
the hugo beast cannot penetrate
After few minutes Of futile endeayor
the tiger exhausted with its exertions,
lay crouched above them. Tho man,
white with terror. could see the saliva
dripping from It's jaws and mark the TO-
rocious CLEAN in its yellow eyes as It
elared savagcly down upon them. With
out covering, it was bitter cold. deadly
chill crept over him. Would no and his
wife survive the horrible experience.
His wifcl He reached out his hand and
touched her. 10 spoke to her, low at