The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1892-09-09
PHANTOM sTRANGLERs.

PHANTOM STRANGLERS.
In the immediate vicinity OF ourbar-
rack was the palace Of u rajah whose
private menagerie was the most COM
plete outside OF Mana Sahib's. But
long before our coming into the prov.
lnce OF Delhi the old rajah obliged
the world by getting out Of it and his
tigers two OF which were always at
heels were set free and vanished In
their native jungles.
There was story that the ra;ah
himself belonged to the strangers OF
India; that he was in fact at the
head OF a lot OF thugs and had sworn
10 take the lives OF SO many English
soldiers But death. as ] have said,
interviewed and put u stop to his depre-
datlons though not until twenty men
had felt the cord.
We lost Corporal Sanders witty
young lrishman. tho week after we
came back to Agra lie was found
dead ut the foot OF tho rajahs wall
and ut spot where the wall was
solid and no signs OF door were visI-
bic. Then We heard u story that
created sensation. A native said
that man had been killed by the
phantom strauglers; that tho ghosts OF
the old raiah and his followers stole
forth from the gardens every night
and pursued tho same murderous call
Ing they pursued when in flesh and
blood.
One night three weeks after San
dcrs's DEATH found myself near tho
wall OF the raiahs garden. The
moon was hanging in the sky like u
great silver shield. and everything
was still but the night bird that
crooned in the heart OF n tall tama.
rind as ghoslly as dead man.
] had lately emerged from the hos
pital. having had u siege OF fever
which nearly sent me TO the dead
house and l was u privileged char
acter not having reported for duty.
In approaching the wall against
which the moon shono l came face to
face with one OF our regiment, who
stood guard within few yards of
where poor Sanders had been found.
i leaned forward SO rs not to disturb
the sentry, for knowing tho feelings
OF the boys over the surgeons sup.
pressed report l feared bullet from
his musket and l resolved to watch
the fellow awhile to SEQ IL he dreaded
his beat
While / looked 1t seemed to me
that door opened in the wall. and
though the soldier on duty was look
ing IN the same direction. n figure
camo out But this was not all. At
the mans heels stalkcd u large tiger.
saw both man and beast with n dis.
tlnctncss that added much to the
sight and when ! observed them
they drew up and the native leaned
against tho wall until ho discovered
the sentry.
Tho tiger crouched at his feet and
| could SEQ that he was one OF the
largest OF the species had seen
tigers before. but never one Just like
this There was something ghosily
about tho best for seemed to see
through his body; and. Us for the
man, who was quito naked was sure
could SEQ tho ivy that grew directly
behind him.
wondered why the soldier did no,
sec tho man and tiger and ! was on
the owe OF giving tho alarm for muir.
der seemed a-foot when he fell back
and nearly dropped the gun.
Tho sentry had seen the foo for no
Immediately Strengthened along the
wall and for full minute stood rigid
thore
Shoot tho scoundreln' was on my
lips when the guard raised his muskei
and his cheeks dropped to tho g!inting
barrel; but he did not ire
1 stood In the shadow OF n tamarind.
speeches. and spelibound Every
thing had over heard about ghosts
came back. and some OF the weird
talos OF my nurso returned with added
force Why didn't tho sentry shoot
aud kill tho man. whose long arm,
dangled suspiciously at his sidcsP
Why dldn't ho fra and then prepare
to bnyone. tho tiger?
All OF u sudden the soldier fell back
against tho wall and TO my horror l
saw tho gun drop IRON his huyers-
Instead OF falling he stood there as
s,liT ms n post with his eyes starting
from his head and his hands tearing
their way into the palms II wa, II
picture OF deadly fright
/ az. tn. two phanioms leap TO.
ward tho man at tho wall; the hands
OF tho native now out and tho next
moment both no md tho tiger were
upon tho guard.
II | had had power at my command
! would have sprung to my comrades
rescue but was rs helpless ns n
child. Tho terrible scene going on In
my presence terrified mo into utter
clplessness and watched II through.
The moon passing behind n cloud
for moment dissipstcd tho tragedy.
but when II rcappoarcd saw the ma.
tive and tho tiger vanish In tho wall.
Everything was Us u had boon with
tho exception Of tho aspect OF tho
guard. Ho stili Rugged tho wall but
with tho most horriilci count,nnnca
ever saw. approached and looked
once Into his fnca saw tho staring
eyes and then dark mark like that
made by fingers ON tho white throat
Tho man was dradl
For some iimo stood there with
terror sealing my lips Tho soldier
had been killed BY tho demon hand
and | realized tho full Import OF tho
surgeons report TO tho colonel Tho
demon ralah and his equally ghostiy
tiger had made short work OF another
English soldier md l was tho sole
wiincsa
When I f,nggcrcd down tho dend
mans beat with my limbs ms terror.
stricken Ne my heart wondered how
1 would DO received nj headquarters