Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-10-20

the fallen Intel of door, rested for n |
moment and rs he did SO there came |
creeping about his feet two pretty |
yellow striped kittens, rubbing
themselves against his boots, and |
purring aloud. But no domes-
ticated pussy cat these, knowing !
nothing of cream, and tireside, but
real children of the jungle with flame
in their veins and eyes. The other
hunters came running ut Nugent's
call. and Mohammed Din begging one
Of the cubs. it was given him to sell
to the English agent Of a menagerie,
while the other was tied and placed
in a basket to be conferred on the
young lady rash enough to covet
him.
1T is well," said Mohammed Din.
looking about him, that we killed
the old tigress first, or we would have
that on our track than which fire Is
no worse. But It may be that we
have found the cubs Of another pair,
so let us haste"
''Oh, the darling!' cried Miss I'm.
ogene, rs Nugent put the cub into
her arms, and stroking the yellow
body which flashed itself about and
seized her hand In its mouth, but the
teeth were yet only white pearls, and
the claws only cunning pretense
Of such, and SO Miss Willard laughed
and Rugged her pet. But you are
wounded" she said, looking u. her
lover with her soft eyes pitiful with
sympathy and her lips quivering rs
she gently touched the impromtu
bandages on his arm. As the Colonel
broke out with the story Nugent
watched her face flush and pale alter
nately with admiration and terror
for him, his soul was lifted up above
the pain that he was suffering and
which made the surgeon, Whitelaw,
send him early to bed, whence he
went to dream OF his sweetheart.
ut shall sleep in my room, where
can feed 1t during the night II 1t Is
hungry" said 1mogene, tucking her
"kitten I" under her arm, and bal
ancing saucer Of milk In the other
hand. Mrs. Price followed her with
her eyes family uneasy. Hadn't
you better leave IL with the servants,
1mogene, for a few nights Mt least,
until It gets accustomed to you ?"
she demonstrated, but tho girl shook
her wilful head. "No, We are going
to be friends from the first, aren' Z
We, Kitty ?" she answered, speaking
to the soft, tawny ball nesting to
her, and proceeding 10 make the
little animal comfortable In a box
lined with cotton, taking ut the same
time precaution to secure II by plac.
ing n top Of Stats across the bed.
How long the girl slept she did not
know, but she opened her eyes just
In time to see large object obscure
the light which the full moon was
pouring In ut her window, which had
been left open to allow what faint air
might be stirring to enter. The next
moment this object advanced to a
long bulk, lighted by pair Of gleam-
ing Orbs that burned like live Goals In
the semi.gloom, and this shape Of
dread leapcd agilely into the room.
Imogenc held her breath, with sick
ening sense OF physical terror on her.
watching with fascinated, diluted
eyes the form pacing the apartment
with long, restless steps. Once II
stopped and snufled ut the box where.
In the cub lay, and the little crea-
ture Weakening, hailed 1t with welcom.
ing cry.
Then began q struggle on the part
Of the mother and the confined cub
for the latter's liberty, but the box, o
stout one, and weighted down by the
cover, ut which the tigress could
only claw frantically. not lift, held
firm, and the watcher from tho bed
shivered as she saw the ligress, grow.
ing moro and more furious as she was
bafiied, swing her long tail from side
to side, and, turning her glowing
eyes upon the captor Of her cub, leap
towards her. Scarcely conscious Of
what she was doing. but obeying that
instinct OF preservation we all know,
she flung herself out OF the bed be-
tween tho piece Of furniture and the
wall, and with inspired strength
pushed tho heavy article far enough
to permit OF her body slipping down
to the floor. The tigress fell on tho
spot which she had just vacated with
q low growl OF fury, and she could
hear the terrible claws as they tore
the clothing OF the bed to shreds, as
the animal, finding her gone, still
scented her recent presence.
The girl tried to scream for help,
but there seemed band OF iron
around her throat, and she could
only whisper out IN appeal for her
friends sleeping only u few yards
from her, but as unconscious OF her
peril as II q thousand miles away.
Fortunately the bed was Of English
manufacture, and reached within o
foot and q half OF the floor, just nd
hitting Of her lying beneath 1t, and
as the tigress, finding that her foe
had not disappeared into the mat
tress, gave 1t up and began to sniff
about the room In search OF the miss.
ing enemy, and approaching the bed
again, and discovering the trembling
girl beneath, attempted to crawl
under, she found that this was not to
be done. Crouching, then, close to
the floor, she ran her long arms UNI
der the bed In the endeavor to draw
the victim out from her hiding place.
Repeatedly the claws would catch
portions Of the girls dress and the
cloth would yield and rend from the
sharp touch, and Imogene would