The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-01


wandering i'm out of the way places or
the world, / determined to seek him
out.
While still meditating on the subject,
a hall boy brought a message to my
room. which. to my great surprise,
proved to be- from Jack himself. He
had heard | was about town and learn
ing also Of my stopping place, had
made haste to invite me to his apart
ments at No. Fifth avenue, and
would expect me at i'm the evening.
Evening found me at Jacks door,
which in response to my rap, was op-
ened by Jack himself, who beamed at
me from his six feet of altitude with
one of his old time jolly smiles. lie had
improved since ! saw him last and the
ruddy bronze of his intellectual face
was well in keeping with the stalwart
manliness of his athletic frame.
The first greeting over we proceeded
20 sample a bottle of the merry red
wine of gay old France and talk over
old times. Then at my request Jack
showed mo his mammoth collection of
Curios, gathered from all parts of the
earth. Jack had a room set apart es-
pecially for this collection, which he
called his den A stranger on entering
was confronted with a Kaleidoscope
vision of plants and animals from the
poles to the equator. 1t was most in
Eeniously arranged. When. after
spending some time there | turned to
go, ! discovered a recess in the hall.
which, owing to the branches and other
debris piled i'm front. | had not seen
before. Examining il more closely
I found it to be a miniature cave in
side of which was a stuffed tigers cub
peering savagely out at me.
That is a memento of my most in
teresting and most terrible adventure. ."
said Jack, noticing my look of interest.
I'm have to spin you the yarn"
You must have an inexhaustible
supply of them" I answered, "Tm
crazy to hear some"
Accordingly we proceeded to the
smoking room and lighted our cigars
Now" said l, for the tale"
So, settling himself comfortably by
the open fire, Jack communicated the
following tale. which | attempt to tell
in his own words:
Well" he began, "the whole thing
came about as a consequence of my
making the acquaintance one day, on
my way from Paris to Havre, of a
young Frenchman named Pierre Du
Maure. He was travelling apparently
alone, and as result of my wander
ing about SO much ! had fallen into
the habit of picking up with any and
every stranger | met. 1t passed away
time. While COnversing on different
subjects | learned that he was on his
way to HaVre, to look up a position.
II was myself intending to go first
to Marseilles and then take passage
TO India, where | had reason to be-
lieve | could add to my bank account
The young fellow became much inter.
ested in my India scheme, and finally
volunteered the suggestion that | al
low him to accompany me. As | wa!
rather favorably impressed with tn,
fellow, | decided to accept him as {
Comrade.
We'll, a week later found us OF
board ship bound for India, our minds
laden with golden dreams. For mt
the voyage was uneventful, as the nov
city of an ocean voyage had long agt
worn off.
at last the voyage came to an end
and l lost no time in reaching shore
Being an entire stranger, l first mad
myself acquainted with the American
consul Through him l heard of
pretty villa which he thought | Nigh
purchase cheap, as the present owne
was very desirous of getting it off hi
hands on account of it's proximity t
the jungles, which was told were un
commonly full of all sorts Of large an,
small game, including the terribl
nf
bloodthirsty. man-eating tiger.
The villa | found to be in the mos
picturesque and wildly beautiful spo
had ever seen. SO after due con
sideration We purchased it.
Both Pierre and myself wer
charmed by it and l think we wer
10Th lured also by the sense of DANCE
as we shifted the jungle breeze.
But "A new difficulty arose. 1t wa
impossible to hire native help to as
sist us. They all believed the plac
to be haunted, and it was so remot
from other habitations that they woul
not stay nights. So we determined
stick it out by ourselves.
II soon found investments for m
money, and Pierre decided to tur
hunter, there being a good market fC
pelts, particularly those of tigers, fC
which a bounty was paid by the GOV
ernment. These beasts are the plagu
of the country, yearly destroying hun
dreds of people
pierre did well at his work an
made money rapidly. Ile soon mad
for himself the reputation of being ii
boldest hunters in the district. In tn
way things went smoothly on, an
DAYS passed into weeks and weeks II
TO months.
I'VE had been there a year and
half and we've re both beginning
think of an early return to more civi
lied parts of the world,
Every night Pierre would take h
little pile of gold and count it owe
As he saw it growing steadily large
he grew more and more anxious TO e
bacl; to his native France.
He was an eccentric fellow, al
one of his oddities was his inganiol
hiding place for his money lie hf
followed out one Of his bSdpCsts. al
having considerable ingenuity, had a
ranged II so that by twisting a su
posed bolt, the top was loosene1 al
pressed off by a spring inside disclo
ing a good sized cavity nearly fill
with glistening coin. This was Pierre
bank
"On coming home one afternoon
found Pierre sitting on the Neran
with a very ugly scowl on his us2aI
placid countenance.
Hello, Pierre said l, WHAT'S u
old fellow?'
"A minute passed before he answer
sullenly, ooh, nothing; some one l.
stolen my money, that's all
What" exclaimed, Gone! Stole
Why. Pierre, there must be sOme nj