Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-05-04
WITH A TIGER DEVIL.

Just dealt him one OF those ugly
blows she spares none Of us-not even
the iuckiest. An official letter lay open
before him. And thus 1t ran;
"Sir:-I have the honor to inform you
that have placed your name on the
list Of applicants for the vacant post
in the Waste Paper Office. As you
are one Of 21S candidates, feel It
right to warn you against harboring
any very sanguine hopes OF success.
Yours faithfully John Loving"
Such was his answer to his twentieth
application for post in that depart
ment Of the Indian Civil Service. And
he had nothing but his heutenant's
pay TO depend on, nor any prospects
worth mentioning; and ne was head
over ears-not In debt-but in love
with Lucy Campbell. the only child of
the Collector Of BLrgareeOpOotur. the
place where the regiment was station
ed. And albeit she smiled ON him. and
kept other Suitors- rich old
Colonel Greybeard-at arms length for
AAAn cdhts A4CA ABuitDNS uld uUL give nllll
any encouragement though they liked
and esteemed him. On the whole
then. he had some reasons for being
In the dumps as he sat in his bungalow
chewing the cud of sweet and bitter
fancy"
His meditations were suddenly cut
short by the CHEEKY voice OF his bosom
friend Captain Finch. why. Charlie.
what the dickens ails you, that you've
cut mess these last three days."
~Oh, I'm tribe out of sorts-noth-
ing much" replied his friend. Amy
aewsT
only that the man-eater has been
making meal Of another post-run-
mer-"
"why, that's the sixth within the
lzst nine months" broke in Charlie
Wallace.
Il believe you, my boy" replied his
friend; land Collector Campbell has
sGsred a reward of 1900 rupees for
sad pan-eater's skin. And high time,
eooi Else we shall find no one to carry
sur letters"
where did 1t happenw inquired
Wallace.
why, about ten miles nor'east Of
SBls place-juSt where the road dives
EzEo the Serawat jungle after cross
ing the gully. They found the poor
fellows letter-bag and his bells lying
in the bed Of the gully.
'Tt seems as IL these bells, instead
OF soaring the brute, as intended, act
Cd as q signal to him to make ready
30 pounce on his prey"
True to you, friend Charlie"
Ell should dearly like to have a Ehot
nc the brute"
mo go, my boy! He's too leery.
Grant and Squirting have both been on
his track; but they couldn't even .
catch sight Of his tail"
After a few minutes more chat
Ebout things in general the captain
left the bungalow; and Charley Wal {
lace forthwith shouted to the boy In
the verandah outside:
where's Murreem AhT'
This was his factotum a native of
lhe lowest caste. but faithful as a mas
diff.
"Gone to basar, saheeb," answered
the lad
Then go you and buy me a half a
aozen small bells such az the post-run-
hers carry on their sticks" said his
master, finging him a couple OF rupees.
NAnd be quick about It."
Away sped the boy to do his errand.
Meanwhile the lovelorn lieutenant care
FULLY loaded his rife and double bar
-eled gun. and then strolled out on
'he verandah to await Murreeem Ais
,eturn.
Ali soon made his appearance with
ne boy at his heels. When he was
within earshot his master called TO
him. That brsute Of tiger has killed
mother mailcarrier, and now I'm
minded to put bullet through his
hide"
pardon saheeb. He no tiger, he dew
IT. said Ali; "saheeb no shoot him.
5e eat saheeb"
eve shall see about that" replied
he lieutenant. Are you man enough
o come along with me and chance itY'
"If saheeb go Ali 90 with him, and
Ievil-tiger eat BOTH" replied the native
almly.
well, then, just get me a red coat
UGH as the mail carriers wear, and
ve1l be Off at once"
The native took the purse which his
master held out to him and retraced
lie steps toward the bazaar. thinking
Us master stark mad. But then In the
asst mad men are deemed inspire1.
.
% found the lieutenant transformed
nto fair imitation Of a native by the
Id Of burnt cork The Iieutt nant dom
ed the coat, loaded his pistols. thrust
hem into his belt and banded the !
un to to his servant. The rifle he
houldered himself. The two then stole !
ut OF the bungalow by the back door ,
nd gained the high road by an unfre-
uented path to avoid attracting atten-
lon needlessly-always a wise precau- I
lon when one goes out for wool at !
30 risk of coming home shorn. /
For some four or FIVE miles their road !
~ through open fieldB sown with !,
iaize and cotton. Then they diyed I
ito the Jungle. Here the Lieutenant J
ade All fall behind and trotted on /
head by himself, lest the tiger Should :
smell rat" So on he logged alone,
not without a qualm l
+ fwo-that the beast would mistak- :
a hing for a post runner and show q
inAssaR To tEA4 end he lied the bells I