Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-06-02

breath ceased, and even my heart
stood stu as / covered the head OF
the great brute with tho little ivory
FORESIGHT, and my finger pressed stead
lily upon the trigger
A pun OF white smoke, an outshoot-
ing tongue of flame. u sharp report
that echoed and re-echOed from the
walls OF the little canyon. and as l
swung my rifle muzzle TO one side 1
saw the lion leap Wildly into the air
IN his last agonizing struggle. and fell
dead within three PAGES or his iutond-
ed prey. At the same Instant the Sleep
Ing man sprang to his feet. and as !
hhstened from my hiding place to-
wards him he looked once ut the body
OF the lifeings monster. and then turned
TO greet me with salaams and geS-
lures OF the utmost alteration.
His dress was the strangcst ever
seen along the valley OF the Pecos.
Upon his feet were sandals. worn with
travel; his body was wrapped In a
loose white gown, which, covering
flowing trousers and vest OF crimson,
was girt about the waist with sash
of the same rich color. while his head
was encircled with turban OF spot
less white, In strong contrast with the
hronged visaEe beneath u.
Taking a ring from his finger he 40
pressed my acceptance OF II that was
forced TO permit him 70 place It upon
mine. Having done so. he would have
knelt to kiss .he ground nj my feet had
l not prevented him, and at that mo-
ment discovering Jack stumbling down
the opposite wall OF the canyon,
pointed In his direction. The stranger
turned to look, while l stepped Il few
PAGES towards my friend.
Jack was hurrying forward, and as
he came he shouted:
II heard your shot, but could not see
the lion untll he sprang into the air,
IL was mngnifcentw
Yes" l replied, "and lucky stroke
too, else our Eastern friend here would
shortly have ended his travels" aud
half turned to bring the Oriental within
the range OF my vision.
But | saw only tho yellow.hrown
body OF my victim, stretched where he
fell, staining the vivid green OF the
grass with his dark blood. only the
sparkling water of the spring rcnectlnR
the clear blue OF the heavens above
the level plain was void OF all else
The man had gonel
| uttered "a cry. stepped backwards q
pace, and looked again. The sunlight
lay warm and silent over all. and
through the crystal purity Of that
high altitude / could SEQ In every al,
the little park was empty except for
Jack and myself IN the turn OF an eye
the draught OF breath, the other had
disappeared
a moment l stood ms n stunned O
vague horror chilled me, then the voice
OF my companion fell upon my ear, and
turned 10 him and cried 'Wher'
did he BoT'
"who. the puma2 why, there he lie,
before you" and In amRzemcnt Jncl
pointed to the dead lion almost at my
feet.
No; the other-the East Indian
who was here but a moment ago
You saw him. and now he hus dlsup'
peAredi It's the stranEest thing
ever know-what was he, and wher'
has he gomez"
Jentry gnzed at me In opcn-eyct
astonishment Are you mad. sun
touched, or what3 An East Indian
and | saw hin2 In heavens nam,
what do you mean? ! have seen nC
one but you since we left the camp thii
morning"
Again a strange terror camo over me
my eyes grew dim. my ears rang al
with the sound OF many bells and th'
beating of my heart was oppressive
What phantaAmagorla had beguilet
me. what appArition had here con
fronted me at noon tuday2 Was /. al
Jack feared, going mod2
My face must have been CHASTITY, fol
arm. and with soothing words sough
to lead me TO the side OF the spring.
Francois, my friend, let me give yoi
cup OF winter. with n dash from m!
hask. you have sat too-lung In the sun
and then YOU must lie down IN tn
shadow over yonder, while ] take tn
Jacket from the puma Come"
followed, unresistlng, TO the spring
watched Jentry dip the cool water II
his cup and add n little whiskey, thel
accepted Il from his hand, pull da2cd
stlll unable to think clearly, when. a
1 raised the drauEht to my lips M
eyes fell upon tho ring on my finger
with cry I dropped the cup, extend
| ing my hand.
''seel / was right lie was here---ai
East indian. for he left this as I
tokenw
Jentry bent above the stone. examin
ing IL with all the care OF cunnois
sour. then raising his face he gnse'
long and steadily into my eyes. a
last he said, simply. Tell me OF tbi
And told him Of the igurc lying be
side the spring. with the 1.-THE hens
creeping towards Il; OF the suddei
shot, and the Weakened man bowling a
my feet: of the ring, Of the stranger
dress, and. lastly, Of his disappear
anee.
deyourlng me with his eyes. When
had finished he drew n long breath
took on his hat, rumplcd his wav'
hair. as he had trick OF doing, am
| looked on every side: then, lastly
whlstled long and low. and said
''Well2"
Without further words we Stripe,
! the lions skin. and bound It In
| bundle, ready to be lashed at my sad
| ale. we drank from the spring, am
| ate the bit OF hrend and meat We hal
/ brought for lunch. We watched AM
| listened, and waited silently tor Al
| hour or more. but the only remainlnl
trace Of our strange VISITOR was IN
mark OF one shnGaled foot close upol
| The margin OF the water. and the gen
Jentry had been smoking for q loni
| time, evidently deeply wrapped u
| thought, when at last, with start. b
| rose. and. Indian fashion. began 4
| search for trails about the spring ,
| followed him, and together IN clrcl
! after circle, each greater than the last
/ We closely examined every rod OF tn
/ little park. But all TO no purpose
| There were the trails, each pointinl
/ towards the water; Jentrys, mine an
| the puma'E-none other; and as W
| arm reminded ua OF the twelve-mil
GALLON stlil 20 be taken, and uns9tisiie
and bewiidered. we reluctantly turne'
away to seek our saddles and the oamr
Five wears later, at Nice, I was seek
| tng in the Riviera 10 regain the healt
! lnst by a TOO earnest attention 70 buSi
ness in Paris Jcntry, my old hunte
! friend 1 had not seen since the morn
I Ing On the deck at San Francisco. whel
he bade me goodbye on his way TO III