The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-12-03

hunting squirrels and wild turkeys.
My thoughts dwelt constantly upon
the mysterious eagle, and Twas always
on the lookout for the great bird.
weeks passed. Excitement was
running higher than ever over the un-
canny bandit of the woods, for holder
and more frequent assaults were con-
stantly reported. Quite number of
settlers had moved away from sheer
terror and apprehension. The state
had taken up the matter and increased
the reward for the villains capture by
another $500. 1t was just after this
had been done that my odd adventure
befell me.
Il had been cut after WILD turkeys
ostenSibly, at any rate-and was COM
ing home with an old gobbler slung
over my back. AS / approached the
road l heard the thud of a horses
hoofs, and, as had been customary with
me, hurried forward to see the rider
pass, with vague hope that the mys-
terious eagle might choose that very
liOlHeLt W oNOoP 'io"h uFoa "'os"NA
victim.
"a familiar proverb says it is the I'M
expected that happens But every
rule has its exceptions and every
proverb as well. This time it was the
expected that happened | had pre-
sentimen: that | was about to behold
something wonderful and strange
and l did. Hardly had l come in sight
of the horseman (and there was still!
thin, concealing veil of foliage be-
tween me and the open road when a
great waving shadow came drifting
along the highway. l glanced up
and with my heart in my mouth,
saw a huge bird descending with
set and motionless wings. But
saw something more, omething that
almost froze the blood in my veins. A
miniature man sat astride of the
eagles neck, his fierce little face set
with vindictive purpose. To this day
l can see the baneful CLEAN of his
small, blazing eyes. In one hand he
carried glittering, naked knife. The
other hand was extended as if tograsp
in anticipation his victims hair.
"When the eagle was almost direct.
ly over the unsuspecting horseman,
the pygmy bandit threw one leg over
the birds neck, sat sdewise and poised
himself ready to drop upon his victims
shoulders. Instinctively and with a
motion as quick as thought my rifle
sprang to my shoulder. Just as the
dwarf let go his hold and dropped there
was a ringing report, and the eagle,
pierced through the heart by my bul.
let, fell simultaneously with his pigmy
master. Both struck the tanks of the
frightened horse, and the animal
sprang forward in a wild snorting
gallop, so sudden and so endangering
TO the rider that he did not even ven
ture to turn his head to see what oc-
casioned it. In minute more horse
and rider were out of sight around
bend in the road.
"The eagle rolled into the dust and
after few spasmodic fiutterings lay
still. The pigmy bandit, springing to
| his feet, glared about him for afmo,
ment with mingled rage and terror in
his weakened and contorted face.
Then, with a cry, whose utter despair
and piercing anger / shall never for
get, he darted into the bushes on the
opposite side of the road and disap.
penred.
Hardy knowing what did, l
bounded after his disappearing form,
but the sly creature was too quick for
me. In the tangled underbrush it was
useless to pursue being who could
dart unobstructed along rabbit path,
and soon gave up the chase vain.
Leaving my wild turkey concealed
in the bushes, / carried the dead eagle
to the village and told my story. AT
first there were none who would be-
lieve me, but when l led the way to
the spot where the tragedy had oc-
Cured, and the Indian-fighter had ex-
amined the small footsteps in the dust,
and in the soft mud of spring-hole in
the woods, where the dwarf had crossed
in his flight, doubt and cavi gave way
to wonder and congratulation, and
became at once the hero of the COM
munity.
although I had not captured the
pygmy bandit, l had solved the mys-
terry that surrounded him and de-
stroyed the unique means by which he
approached and surprised his victims
From that day the terrible little man
disappeared utterly. The last of his
strange crimes had been recorded.
( 81 received one thousand dollars for
my amateur detective work. Half OF
/ it | offered to the man who had puz-
, zled out the necessary clew. But he
: would not touch cent. No, my boy,
he said, you deserve all you have
! earned and more, whether you actual
5 ly captured the pygmy bandit or not
: for you fixed him SO that he is better
: than dead to the world. He has ceased
: from his crimes and retributive JUS
l tice has been spared the unnatural
: job of disposins of such human frek
: You are a born detective, lad, and my
: advice to you is to go into that profes
e sion for all you are worth And
{ have"
I "Good adyice!" cried, as Sandhurst
ceased, "and in some respects the mos
: remarkable introduction to q profes
t sion l ever heard of!"-Detroit Ere,
Press.
V What She Wanted.
+ SIS there anything you want?" asked
e the butcher of the little girl with the