Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-23

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.
81 had been out after wild turkeys
-ostensibly, at any rate-and was
coming home with an old gobbler slung
over my back. AS I approached the
road l heard the thud of horses
hoofs, and, as hal become customary
with me, hurried forward to see the
rider pass, with vague hope that the
mysterious eagle might choose that
very moment to swoop down upon an
other victim.
ga familiar proverb says it is the
unexpected that happens But every
rule has its exceptions and every PROV
erb as well. This time it was the ex-
pected that happened. 1 had a pre-
sentiment that [ was about to behold
something wonderful and strange
and 1 did. Hardly had 1 come in sight
OF the horseman land there was still
thin, conceaing veil of foliage be-
tween me and the open road when
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
motlonless wings. But saw some-
thing more, something that almost
froze the blood IN my veins. A minia
ture man sat astride of the eagles
neck, his fierce little face set with vim
dictive purpose. To this day L can
see the baleful CLEAN in 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 unsuspecting 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 as quick as thought my
rifle sprang to my shoulder. Just as
the dwarf let go bis hold and dropped
there was a ringing report, and the
eagle, pierced through the heart by
my bullet, fell simultaneously with his
pygmy master. Both struck the hanks
| OF the frightened horse, and the ami
NAL sprang forward in a wild, snort
ing gallop, SO sudden and so endan-
gering to the rider that he did not
even venture to turn his head to see
what had occasioned 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 futterings lay
still. The pygmy bandit, springing
to his feet, glared about him fer mo-
ment with mingled rage and terror in
his weakened and contorted face.
Then, with cry, whose utter despair
and piercing anger shall never for
get, lie darted into the bushes on the
opposite side of the road and disap-
peared.
"Hardly knowing what [ did,
bounded after his disappearing form,
but the sly creature was too quick for
me. In tire tangled underbush it was
useless to pursue being who could
dart unobstructed along a rabbit path,
and l soon gave up the chase as vain.
Leaving my wild turkey concealed
in the bushes, | carried the dead eagle
to the village and told my story. At
first there where none who would be-
lieve me, but when ] led the way to
the spot where the tragedy had oc-
CURED, and the old Indian fighter had
examined the small footsteps in the
dust, and in the soft mud of spring
hole in the woods, which the dwarf
had crossed in his flight, doubt and
cavil gave way to wonder and con-
graduation, and became at once the
hero of the community.
although L had not captured the
pygmy bandit, had solved the mys-
terry that surrounded him and de-
stroyed the unique means by which
he approached and surprised his VIC
Tins. From that day the terrible
little man disappeared utterly. The
last of his strange crimes had been re-
corded.
'I received one thousand dollars for
my amateur detective work. Half of
it offered to the man who had puzzled
out the necessary clue But he would
not touch cent. NO, my boy he
said, you deserve all you have earned
and more, whether you actually cap
tured 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 justice
has been spared the unnatural job Of
disposing of such a human freak. You
are born detective, lad, and my adj
vice to you is to go into that profess
sion for all you are worth And
have.
Good advicew 1 cried, as Sand.
hurst ceased, ''and in some respects
the most remarkable Introduction to q
profession 1 ever heard ofl''-Detroit
Free Press.
Degeneracy of Great Names.
According to the London directory
a singular degeneracy seems to be
born of great names in A. D. 1898