Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-03-06

guine hopes of success. Yours faithfully.
JOHN LEvINa.
Such was the answer to his TWEEN
tieth application for post in that de-
partment of the Indian Civil Service.
And he had nothing but his lieuten-
ants pay to depend on, nor any pros
poets worth mentioning; and he was
head over ears-not in debt-but in
love with Lucy Campbell, the only
child Of the Collector of Bungareeo'
pootur, the place where his regiment
was then stationed. And albeit she
smiled on him. and kept other suitors
including rich old Colonel Grey.
beard-at arms length for his sake,
her parents did not give him any en-.
couragement, though they liked and
esteemed him. On the whole, then,
he had some reason for being in the
dumps, as he sat in his bungalow,
"chewing the cud of sweet and bite,
fancy"
His meditations were suddenly cut
short by the CHEEKY voice of his bosom
friend, Captain Finch. s'Why, Char.
lie, what the dickens ails yous that
you've cut mess these last three days?'
ssOh, I'm a trife out of sorts
nothing much," replied his friend.
"Any news?"
sOnly that the msn-eater has been
making meal of another post-run-
ner-"
"Why, that's the sixth within the
last nine months" broke in Charlie
Wallace.
81 believe you, my boy" replied
his friend: "and Collector Campbell
has offered reward of 5000 rupees for
said man. eaters skin. And high time,
too! Else we shall find no one to
carry our letters.
aWhere did it happen?" inquired
Wallace.
"Why, about ten miles nor'east OF
this place-just where the road dives
into tho Scrawat jungle after crossing
the gully. They found the poor fell
lows letter-bag and his bells lying in
the bed of the gully"
'sIt seems asif those bells, instead OF
soaring the brute as intended, acted
as signal to him to make ready to
pounce on his prey"
"True to you, friend Charlie.
81 should dearly like to have shot
at the brute
'sNo go, my boy! Hes too leery.
Grant and Squirting have both been on
his track; but tthey couldn'teyen catch
sight of the tip OF his tail.
After few minutes more chat
about things in general, the Captain
left the bugalow; and Charlie Wallace
forthwith shouted to the boy in the
verandah outside:
"Where's Murreem ALP"
This was his factotum-a native of
the lowest caste, but faithful as q
mastiff.
"Gone to bazaar, saheeb, answered
the lad.
"Then go you and buy me q half q
dozen small bells such as the post-run-
ners carry on their. STICKS" said his
master, finging him a couple of
rupees. "And be quick about il"
Away sped the boy to do his errand.
Meanwhile the lo7elorn Lieutenant
carefully loaded Lis rifle and double
barrelled gun, and then strolled out
on to the verandah to await Murreem
Ali's return.
Ali soon made his appearance, with
the boy at his heels. When he was
within earshot, his master called to
him, "That brute of tiger has killed
another mail-carrier; and now I'm
minded to put bullet through his
hide"
"Pardon, saheeb. He no tiger, he
devil!" said Ali; ''saheeb no shoot
him. He eat saheeb!'
eve shall see about that, replied
the Lieutenant. care you man
enough to come along with me and
chance it?'
eff saheeb go, Ali go with him, and
devil-tiger eat both," replied the
native, calmly.
swell, then, just get me red coat
such as the mail-carriers wear, and
we'll be off at once"
The native took the purse which
his master held out to him and re-
traced his steps toward the bazaar,
thinking his master stark mad. But
then in the East madmen are deemed
inspired,
When he returned with the red
coat he found the Lieutenant trans
formed into o fair imlta alton of q
native By the aid of burnt cork. The
Lieutenant donned the coat, loaded
his pistols, thrust them into his belt,
and handed the gun to his servant.
The rifle he shouldered himself The
two then stole out of the bungalow by
the back door and gained the high
road by IN unfrequented path to
avoid attracting attention needlessly-
always wise precaution when one
goes out for wool at the risk of coming
home shorn.
For some four or five miles their
road lay through open fields sown with
maize and cotton. Then they diyed
into the jungle. Here the Lieutenant
bade Ali fall behind and trotted Oh
ahead by himself, lest the tiger should
smell rat" So on he logged alone,
hoping--though not without qualm
or two-that the beast wonId 1oistake