The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-01-09
A BABY OR A TIGER.

The steamship Colon. OF the Pacific
Mail line. was only twenty -four hours
out from the Isthmus, but already four
congenial spirits had formed friend
chip and were seated in the smoking
room talking OF the business and
pleasure that marked their years OF
life In different countries OF South
America, for all had come from points
below the equator.
TWAS IL o'clock. The night was
lovely, hardly ripple could be seen
on the moon-frosted water. and the
Colon forged ahead as though crossing
q pond, throwing aside phosphores-
cent spray and kicking up swirl OF
fire with her propeller as she knocked
of fourteen knots an hour.
John Devine a civil engineer who
had been working along the line OF
tho Oroya railroad In Peru had been
telling about the marvellous construc-
ton of this roadway. and incidentally
had remarked that during all The time
he spent in South America he had not
seen wild animal except one small
tiger. and that far in tho interior. As
he mentioned this one OF the party
was noticed to draw back and shudder
as II cold
What L. It. Captainp Let's have
the story" said an American consul.
who was going home on leave ''I'll
warrant there's something rather in
teresting II you would tell it"
Yes. let's hear Ill" chimed In the
other two.
Capt Paul lighted second long.
black cheroot and replied: We'll
it's curious yarn. and ! sometimes
wonder whether / really passed
through II all or not but when il
seems only dream to me all / have
TO do is to look into my trunk. There
is something there that Is vivid re-
minder OF the night that will tell
you about and that something l will
show you in the morning.
.'Of course. gentlemen. you know
that Mrs. Paul accompanies me, but
don't suppose you have noticed my g.
year-old son who Is cared for by a
PERUVIAN nurse.
Il have" remarked the consul I"
sand sturdy looking little fellow he
is"
when tho lad was l0-months-
baby" continued the captain. Il was
ordered to NGuayaquil Ecuador As
you probably know. I have been re-
presenting marine underwriters in
South America, having been sent there
to prevent agents for damaged ships
making too extensive repairs at our
expense. have been sent by my en-
ployers to superintend work on q
steamer which had sunk in the Quay
aquil river at that point
1T meant four months stay in that
hot little town sixty miles from the
sea coast and 90 at once rented a
little furnished house two miles from
the town and installed my wife. baby
and servant there. I bought good
horse and rode back and forth every
morning and evening.
Ono day / had been detained in
town. and 1t was nearly midnight
when / mounted 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 10 hear
the report The night was perfect
one. much like this ! had moonlight
to cheer ruy way until near home but
the last rays came over the hill as
rode past the house, and they just
showed me that the front door was
half open. 81 must have those doors
closed at night" thought L rs l rode
into the stable, and taking off Toms
saddle I threw him some hay and
walked back to the cottage.
you are all aware how carefully
man walks when he enters house
where year old baby Is. Indeed. it
Is self-preservation in many cases
And in this instance / 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 1t on tiptoe and stole along
side the bed. There was a peculiar
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 as 1 slowly undrossed ar
gued that her placing the baby in my
bed proved that she had had a pretty
bad evening so / decided to crawl in
beside ths youngster and not disturb
the mother. undressed noiselessly.
AMI DOMINIC 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 loud breathing,
but it didn't disturb me- though as I
fell asleep remember thinking that
be seemed more snuf1ly than usual
..Ugh!" A weight had fallen across
my chest i didn't maze this cxcla-
mellon aloud l had been in training
.. patcr familia, too long for that
Hall awake. realized that Buster had
fhrvwn himself across my body. I
slowly pulled one arm ont then took
hold o: him gently 70 lift h m of with
Sut awakening him Strange how