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

,eyor, separated from the rest of his
party, felt suddenly a death-like grip
abou' his neck that frightened relent'
lessly until he lost consciousness.
When he recovered he found his in
.trument. his watch and his little store
of cash all gone. 1t was getting to be
as much as a mans life was worth to
venture alone into the woods.
an every case it was noted that the
mysterious assailant attacked only
solitary victims, and that he always
pounced upon them silently from
above and behind. 1t was enough TO
make mans blood cold to reflect that
at any moment this mysterious crea-
ture, man, beast or devil, might light
ON his neck and choke, shoot or stab
the life out Of him. AS yet there was
no record of murder against the crea-
ture, but who could tell what he might
Go if resisted or unduly provoked?
"After three different mail carriers
had been robbed the post Office officials
sent detective to st. Regis to look
into the matter. This man, remem-
Der, was an object of the greatest
wonder and admiration on the part of
cur entire community, none of us ever
having seen a real live detective be-
fore. He lodged with father during
his stay in ST. Regis, and thus l was
brought into intimate association with
aim. The result of that intimacy, |
think may say, was what determined
my choice of profession in life. But
| am digressing-or anticipating.
"The detective secured the woods
FOR days at time. He lay in conceal
ment at various points of the post
road between St. Regis and the sta
ton On the river where the mail was
delivered to the carrier. He even
risked carrying the mail himself few
times; but, as he told me, laughingly.
The strain of that constant twist of
the neck was too much for him.
$50 long as the detective remained
in the vicinity there were nc more rob-
berries nor assaults. The clever man
discovered nothing positive, but he
puzzled out a clew, which he gave to
father for what it was worth when he
was obliged to leave on other business.
The clew was this:
"Near the spot where the surveyor
had been overpowered the detective
found an eagles feather. Most men
would not have given this slight cir
cumstance second thought But a
detective is man to whom everything
possesses significance. My friend put
the feather iii his pocket and pondered
! ever it. He reflected that the APP.
proacb of the bandit was always, ap.
parertly, through the air; that he
dropped silently down upon his victim
from behind and above, as a bird OF
Frey might do. Was it not possible
then-putting two and two together
that the creature, whatever it was
might be something in bird form?
II saw that my father was inclined
to smile at the suggestion when it wa.
made to him, but I treasured it in my
mind. for ] could not help feeling
somehow that 1t came startlingly near
the truth.
mo sooner was the detective gon,
than fell to working out his clew. T;
be sure, I was only boy, but wa
active and inquisitiye and very desir
GUS Of doing something to prove my
self worthy of the detectives friend
ship. Besides. the post Office authori
ties had offered reward of 5000 tina
would lead to the discovery of the mys
FERROUS highwayman, or $500 for hi
actual capture. Such an incentive a
this was enough to sharpen a boy
wits AS well as a mans.
'The thing for me to do, concluded
was to keep sharp outlook for eagle
at all hours of the day. With this pur
, pose in mind spent large share O
my leisure time on top of cliff abou
three miles from st. Regis, command
ing wide view of the valley in whicl
the WALLACE lay.
"The detective had been gone abou
week when, one afternoon, as la
upon the cliff, | saw shadow sail owe
the woods below me. Looking up fror
my place of concealment, beheld, a.
most directly over my head, the forI
, Of a great eagle outlined against tn
sky. 1t was sailing over me at cor
siderable height, but could see
plainly enough, and there was some
thing so odd about its appearance tina
| was struck with amazement. o
i, either side of itsneck there hung dow
what looked like a black streamel
The effect was as if the bird wer
wearing q long muller, the ends c
which trailed below its breast.
THE eagle was drifting away frol
me over the valley, and its body for
time was between me and anythin
that migmt be clinging to its necl
But finally it made turn, and coul
dimly see, although the distance wa
now too great for accurate observ;
: ton with the naked eye, sort of c,
: crescence on the birds back, directi
S over the trailing streamers. How
: longed for a good field glass or tell
e scope! l was almost wild with cur
e osity. yet could do nothing but col
lecture over the strange appearance
: of the bird, OF one thing was aimo:
positive, however, and that was thu
: the object which was now fading ava
s in the distance had been directly col
t nected with every of the of the recer
t robberies.
o THE very next day word reached ,
f at ST. Regis of murder and robber
i that had taken place in the next tow
S ship. A trapper, returning from II