The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-11-11
From tina. day never went into


the mysterious eagle, and was Away
on the lookou, for IN, great bird.
Weeks passed. Excitement was
running higher than ever over the I'M
canny bandit Of the woods. for bolder
and more frequent assaults were con
sfartly reported. Quite a number OF
settlers had moved away from sheer
terror and apprehension. The state
had tahrn up the mat'erand increased
the reward for the villains capture by
another $500. II was just after this
had beea done that my odd adventure
befell me-
II had been cut after Wild turltys--
ostensibly. al any rats-and was com
ing hone with an old gobblcr slung
over my back. As approached the
road / heard the thud Of horses
hoofs, aio. as had been customary with
me. hurried forward TO see the rider
pass, with vague hope that the mys
ferrous eagle might choose that very
moment to swoop down upon another
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 il was the
expected that happened. had pre-
sentiment. that | was about TO behold
something wonderful and strange
and | did. Hardly had come in sight
Of the horseman land there was still!
a thin. concealing veil Of foliage be-
tween me and the open road when a
great waving shadow came drifting
along the highway. | glanced up
and with my heart in my mouth,
saw a huge bird descending with
set and motiOnless wings. But |
saw something more. something that
almost froze the blood in my veins. \
miniature man sat astride Of the
eagles neck. his fierce little face set
with vindictive purpose. To this day
| 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 to grasp
in anticipation his victims hair.
when the eagle was almost direct
ly over the unsuspect citing horseman.
the pygmy bandit threw one leg over
the birds neck. sat sidewise and poised
himself ready TO drop upon his victims
shoulders. Instinctively and with a
motion az quick as thought my rifle
spr1ng TO my shoulder. just as the
! dwarf lei 20 his hold and dropped there
was ringing report, and the eagle.
pierced through the heart by my bull
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
10 The rider that he did no, even ven-
fure to turn his head 20 see what oc-
casioned IL. In a minute more horse
and rider were out of sight around a
bend in the road.
"The eagle rolled into the dust and
after a few spasmodic futterings Ia,
still. The pigmy bandit. springing 4
his feet. glared about him for a mo
ment with mingled rage and terror II
his weazenel and contorted face
Then. with a cry. whose utter despair
and piercing anger I shall never for
get. he dariod into the bushes on the
opposite side Of the road and disap
pcared.
Hardy knowing what I did.
bounded after his disappearing form
but the SIS creature was too quick for
me. III the tangled underbrush Ii was
useless 10 pursue a being who could
dart unobstrucied along rabbit path
and soon gave up the chase swain.
Leaving my Wild turkey concealed
in The bushes. carried the dead eagl,
TO the village and told my story. A.
first there were none who would be
lieve me. but when | led the way Il
the spot where the tragedy had oc
CURED. and the Indian-iighter had ex
amined the small footsteps in the dust
and in the soft mud OF spring-hole II
the woods. whore the dwarf had crosse,
in his flight. doubt and cavil gave wa,
to wonder ard congraiulation, and
became at once the hero of the com
munity
although | had not captured tn,
pygmy bandit. | had solved the mys
terry that surrounded him and de
stroyed the unique means by which he
n fl'i NAtAtN tlth SUI ~ tF'N as ~ I'm =
From that day the terrible little mar
disappeared utterly. The last of hi!
strange crimes had beer recorded.
I II received one thousand dollars foi
my amateur detective work. Half Of
il | offered to the man who had puz-
lied out the necessary clcw. But he
would not touch a cent. No. my boy.
he said. YOU deserve all sou have
. carnad and more. whether you actual
, ~ captured the pygmy bandit or not
for YOU fixed him so that he is better
than dead 10 the world. He has cease
from his crimes and retributive jus
iice has been spared the nnnatura
I job Of disposing Of such human frek
7 You are a born detective. lad. and m,
advice to you j. to go into that profes
, sion for all you are worth And
I have"
I "Gnnd advice" cried. rs Sandhurs'
! ceased. land in some respects the mos
: remarkable introduction to profes
{ sion / ever heard off, Detroit Free
Press.