The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-05
A BABY OR A TIGER?

~ OARO 0Ae "A AAOA4Ss
The steamship Colon, Of the Pacific Mail
line, was only twenty-four hours out from
the isthmus, but already four convivial
spirits had formed a friendship and were
seated in the smoking room talking of the
business and pleasure that marked their
| wears of life in different countries of South
| America, for all had come from points be-
low the equator
1t was II o'clock A quiet little poker
game had passed the time for awhile but
| the cards had laid untouched on the table
for an hour The night was lovely, hardly
ripple could be seen on the moon frosted
water, and the Colon forged ahead as if
crossing a pond, throwing aside phos-
| phorescent spray and kicking up swirl of
! fire with her propeller as she knocked off
! fourteen knots an hour.
| 1t was the perfect night that had induced
the four occupants of the smoker to leave
| their cards and sit beside the large door,
! where they could look over the vessels rail
and at the same time converse together.
John Devine, a civil engineer who had
been working along the line of the Oroya
railroad ia Peru, had been telling about
the marvellous construction of this road
way, and incidentally had remarked that
during all the time he spent in South
America he had not seen wild animal ex-
cept one small tiger, and that far in the
interior. AS he mentioned this, one of the
party was noticed to draw back and shud-
der as if cold.
"What is it, captain? Let's have the
story" said an American consul, who was
going home on leave. "I'll warrant there's
something rather interesting if you would
tell it,"
eyes, let's hear itl'' chimed in the other
two.
Captain Paul lighted second long, black
cheroot and replied: "Wen, it's a curious
yarn, and l sometimes wonder whether I
really passed through it all or not; but
when it seems only dream to me all l
have to do is to look into my trunk. There
is something there that is vivid reminder
of the night / will tell you about, and that
something will show you in the morning
"Of course, gentlemen, you know that
Mrs. Paul accompanies me, but / don't
suppose you have noticed my three-year-
old son, who is cared for by Peruvian
nurse"
81 have" remarked the consul, sand a
sturdy looking little fellow he is"
when the lad was a ten-months-old
baby" continued the captain, ~ vas or
dered to Guayaquil, Ecuador. AS you
probably know, have been representing
marine underwriters in South America,
having been sent there to prevent agents
for damaged ships making too expensive
repairs at our expense. / had Seen sent by
my employers TO superintend work on
steamer which had sunk in the Guayaquil
river at that point.
at meant four months stay at that
hot little town sixty miles from the sea-
coast, and so | at once rented little fur
nished house two miles from the city and
installed my wife, baby and servants there
bought good horse and rode back and
forth every morning and evening. 1t was
hot and the mosquitoes were plenty, to
say nothing about feas, but our little place
was so light and open that it caught any
breeze that might be going, and life was
not half bad there. The house had only
six rooms, and all were on the ground
floor, but they were sufficient frequent
ly told Mrs. Paul that it was dangerous to
leave any of the doors ajar at night, for al
though burglars are not to be feared in
Ecuador, yet animals once in awhile came
out of the jungle, and they had been seen
near the city. But as time passed and the
nights became warmer we both grew care
less.
iona day / had been detained in town,
and it was nearly midnight when l mount
ed my horse to return, for there had been
survey held that day on the steamer, which |
by this time had been raised, and I waited
to hear the report. The night was per-
feet one, much like this / had moonlight |
to cheer my way until near home, but the |
last rays came over the hill as rode slowly |
past the house, and they just showed me |
that the front door was half open. I must |
have those doors closed at night thought |
|, as | rode into the stable, and taking off |
Toms saddle l threw him some hay and |
walked back to the cottage.
You all are aware how carefully man |
walks when he enters house where |
year old baby is. Indeed, it is self preser- |
walton in many cases. And in this in |
stance / did what many a father has done |
before me. | took of my shoes on the |
doorstep. My room was the first one off |
the hall and entered it on tiptoe and stole
alongside of the bed. There WAS pecul- |
lar little wheeling noise coming from
one side of the bed. 1t was pitch dark in |
the room, but knew that baby was there.
At first | thought l would go into my
wife's room in the front of the house, but i
Rs | slowly Undressed / argued that her
placing the baby in my bed proved that
she had had pretty bad evening, so l de-
cided to crawl in beside the youngster and
not disturb the mother. l undressed
and donning my nightgown,
lay down on the opposite side of the bed
from the baby. As the night was warm
did not pull even a sheet over me. Buster
still kept up a loud breathing, but it didn't
disturb me, though as / fell asleep l re-
member thinking that he seemed more
snuffly than usual
"'UghP A weight had fallen across my
chest. l didn't make this exclamation
aloud. had been in training as pater
familias too long for that. Half awake,
realized that Buster had thrown himself
across my body. slowly pulled one arm
1ut, then took hold of him gently to lift
him of without awakening him. Strange
how long and hairy Busters head is
thought L
did you ever read Alice in Wonder
andt'
We'll, had much the same sensations
Is are described in that book, for, as
slowly passed my hand along my baby's
head it seemed as if it was drawn out for
"a rts Ar last I reached the end What |