The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-25

"All right, Anne Then. let's see.
oh. YES. that boy was there rs real
rs any boy ! ever saw at night by
the light of either moon or torch. The
adept bowing and grinning like a
pleased chimpanzee now dropped the
cloak again. went hysterically to work
with his lean hands. turning from his
task only twice to look at the boy who
stood silent beside him gazing about
at the white faces Of the fascinated
audience. When the cloak began to
assume the form and size that seemed
to satisfy the adept he whipped 1t
away again, and there. as plain as
himself or the boy. yawning as II just
awakened. its mean. furtive, yellow
eyes darting lurid glances upon us.
lay a full.grown leopard. the hair on
its tawny back rising angrily as All
kicked him into standing posture.
his foetid breath coming to our nos
trils as he snarled with rage. his tail
whipping the sand into our faces as
he lashed IL about. Oh. 1t was q real
leopard, l think. At all events. ] re-
member some Of US who happened to
have them slipped out our pistols. and
/ can still see old Dinwiddie biting
his gray moustache as he reached for
his sabre.
But it was the climax. of the weird
spectacle which followed. BY series
Of vlndictive kicks ard cuffs the adept
was working the sinister beast into q
fury. The great cat was snarling and
swapping. leering and striking at him,
when he suddenly furled the cloak
round the boy, who. all calmness and
silence. was standing near Then
thrusting the drab mass Of boy and
cloak at the creature. Ali stepped aside
and stood motionless while the brute
fell tooth and claw upon the covered
boy. There was a roar. fountain OF
sand. the men jumped up. some scared.
some furious, some ran to the house
for weapons. and 1t would have gone
hard with Ali Beg and his diabolical
beast If Pitcairn he'd not jumped up
cool rs q veteran on dress parade, to
restore order. But We were all stand
ing, excited and panic-stricken over
the boys fate, when the bowling Orlen-
tai suddenly laid his hand on the
leopard. withdrew the cloak and
Devoured! Vanished?
II don't know. gentlemen" said
Major Montford: Il can't tell what be-
came Of the little black fellow. All
Beg had NO sooner made his low
showed US that the boy was gone.
obeisance they call 1t 'salaam) to
Colonel DinwIddie and the circle than
he waved the empty cloak few times,
spread 1t above the leopard's head and
covered that chop-licking demon. AS
we looked the cloak dropped down.
down, till it lay fat and spreading on
the sand. The leopard was gone!
picked up the ill-smelling cloak myself.
and IL the earth had opened and swal-
lowed the beast, 1t could not have dis
appeared more thoroughly. Well.
that's nearly all Of the supernatural
part Of the story. We repeated 1t till
every man in the station was half
daffy about mysticism and bankrupt
with paying admission fees. We'd
have all become Buddists. guess, II
one fine day Colonel Dinwiddie's niece
hadn't come along. touring India with
a party Of English folks aud camera.
She was the prettiest, daintiest-'
Now stop. Harry" cried Mrs. Mont
ford. Ill finish the story. Well, as
the major was saying. came along
and found the whole station crazy
about the mysterious performances Of
Ali Beg. or course. had camera.
and / made up my mind to see the
show and make as many pictures Of
it rs I could. OF course, that meant
a matinee In the middle Of the day.
when the sun is at the proper angle
for photographs. And we had it. 1t
all happened just as Harry told 1t. and
l was swapping away all right till
well, I didn't exactly"
"Out with II. Anne! You tainted
when you saw the leopard" laughed
Montford.
But you. you picked up the kodak
and went ahead swapping 1t and turn
ing the films. didn't you!"
"Yes, and was quite methodical
about II. too"
Now. what do you Think" con-
cluded the majors wife. pouting her
disappointment. when We developed
and printed those pictures there wasn't
a sign in any Of them Of All Beg. the
boy. the leopard or even the cloak"
WAS there picture Of anything?"
asked Mr.. Hemmersly. the spirituallst.
That's the funny part Of it." ex-
planned the major. 1.-The pictures Of the
group of staring officers and soldiers
were perfect. Get them down, Anne.
never knew how perfectly !diotic
poor Pitcairn could look till ! saw
those photographs. s."-Chlcago Ec"o:a..
Herald.