The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-07-11

srarify tho flesh. HUT this was nal ia
worst the muzzlc. cold and wei. ~,
with the hot breath rushing out from
Tho noStrils as from q fOnI-smclling fur.
mace. came next upon my face. acros,
my forehead and closed eyclid-. 10 NV
mouth. and here with another raspiny
scourgc Of that horrible tongue.
= can not dwell upon the situation.
by Gods mercy the rcsolnte determine.
lion 70 lie perfectly motionless did no.
desert me-. never 80 much AZ
qniycrcd, far less brcathcd: and thi,
saved my life. One more lick. one
more long. deep Inhalation close 10 NV
nose. a snifi or two AZ the pillow. and
the creature crcpt slowly beneath TIE
bed. Again the mattress heaycd. from
the upward pressure beneath. and then
a heavy thui and a bowling yaMn told
me that the beast had stretched itself
out upon the floor. exactly under me-
FOO lob does not attempt 10 describe
the agony Of mind hc thenceforward
endured. for-he does not know how
long. Afraid 70 move 4 muscle. lest he
should again arouse the animal. afraid
at first 70 even open his ewes. he ONLY
remembers poor chap. that bv degrees
the slowly increasing dawn OF dag rave
him courage to think and 10 coyitate on
whatit were best TO 10. 1t would not
BE- wise 70 give tho beast time 10 take
his nap aud then 60 for another prowl
round the room. Whatever he did he
knew must be done al a bound and 4
rush. and that soon. Should he make
a dash az the window standing invit-
inglg open. scale the balcony and DROP
No.: beside being high above ground. he
remembered That the window looked
out upon the kitchen garden. and just
below ~ were some cucumber frames.
and he dreaded the damage he would
inlet upon himself and the glass in the
inevitable smash which must ensue. Yet
the window WAS a little nearer than the
door he could almost reach il in two
strides: and the door would have to be
opened and closed after him. q process
which hc imagined might give his
visitor an opportunity Of springing
upon him. for. uniuckily. he had. con-
trarT 70 his custom. turned the kew in
his sense % strange depression. Still.
= -tA' ~ NAr ttAE lANE<N NIfAl4c ~
escape. and after a little more due con
sidriation be determined to adopt this
course. Quick and agile as 4 cat. he
thought he could manage 70 siip out ere
he could be bounced upon. Just how
ever. a. he was preparing for the at
tempt another yawning howl signitiei
that the reposc Of the intruder had been
disturbed The heavy breathing which
mad continued during my boys deliber-
alton Was not resumed. but instead there
cnsuci . licking. gnaNing. crunchinr
sound. such a. one hears at the Zoology
ical gardens when the beasts 81 prey
nave been led and are lazily enjoying
the remnan flavor left on some bare
bone. Once more Bob hesitated. Vet
would not matters grow worse II he
longer delayed an attempt? He had al
ready lost a chance while the creature
slept lie might soon see it emerge
from its hiding place. Yes he must
run the risk at oncc-he could not en-
durc the suspense ..ngcr.
II was now broad daylight tie cool
morning breeze was sweeping refresh
inrly into tho room. As it came across
his fcye-ed brow he felt refreshed. His
| courage rose. and. although be had new
or stirred from his crouching posture.
he now prepared for a spring. lie made
one bound into the middle 81 the room.
a second brought him 70 the door. his
hand was on the lock. il WAS opened in
q moment and. as in sliding out he
turned 10 close IL after him. he caught
one glimpse OF . huge tiger emerging
from beneath the bed.
10 fy down the steps and cross the
lawn 10 the stables. and 70 arouse the
grooms. were the acts. you may be sure,
Of a very few minutes One OF the men
soon appeared at a window. and almost
before lie had time TO huddlc On some
clothes. after hearing from LOB OF the
emergency. there was a knocking. ham
mcring and hallooing AZ the outer gate
Of the stable yard. which opened on to
the high road. When \, was thrown
back. Bob and the groom encountered
| three sturdy. ~short-nccked. broad-shoul-
dered. thick-set men. and a little be-
hind them stood 4 small. one-horscd
| closed sort Of van. with its driver in
front. Their presence was soon &C.
counted for.
Sorry to disturb yc. mister" said
! their spokesman. '.bat we reckon we've
chased some OF our property onto your
grounds Our Royal Bengal tiger man.
aged to slip out Of his den last night.
after the performance. and got away
and at last we reckon we've come upon
him. lie managed to make a good meal
Of one your lambs In the field
over a'gin them glass houses tother
side Of your summer house We
come upon the hide and part Of the car
ks. which gave rs a clew. and we was
able 70 follow up his loriship's foot
STRIPS through your hedge on the lawn
There was a lot o the wool and some Of
the witals hanging 70 the thorns, show
ing as he was minded x finish his meal
in luxury. don't you see? lie carried
of q tit-bit along with him. no doubt
SO as just to enjoy a finish like"
Yes" cried bob. i~ntcrrupting this
long h~aranguc. ''and ne selected my
bedroom as the incest place for his sup
per he could find. left him up there
not ten minutes ago.
The mischief you did, exclaimed
the man. in astonishment This 'ere's
lnck. and no mistake. He's there now,