The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-03-24
STRANGER THAN FICTION

You have heard that statement before
1t is most. frequently made by mino
poes, who use it as the refrain to a Sc
IF verses in which they meIodiousl.
MOURN their inam5iity 10 catch up viii
their most exquisite fancies. which, lill
80 many nymphs with flowing robes anC
ioatng hair, dance down the long vista
II their dreams. Just ahead CT outstretch
ng hands. But that is only the minol
-oets way of saying that he has earn-
" his poetic feet.
The best stories are never told because
hey are so true that nobody would be-
ieve them. That is the reason there has
never yet been a true reaIist. because
Is everybody knows. nine-tenths OF ev-
'rything which hapens violate al the
oroba bilities. The other tenth is abso-
utely impossible.
Take. for instance. the case of Thomas
larson. known TO his intimates as kit
Carson"
Mr.. Carson's hobby is fishing and hunt
ng in the big WOODS. He get back the
)ther day from a two weeks trip into
he wonderful lake country just south OF
AXE Superior. The day before his re
Urn he srent wandering through a tam
track swamp trying to get a snapshot
At a deer He failed TO find a deer-but
he deer flies found him.
Unless YOU have been bitten by deer
IL it viii be impossible 10 describe the
operation to you. Imagine a gigantic
.mosquiti armed with q red-hot gimlet
ma possessed of the activity of torpedo
5oat. and You viii have just begun on
he proper conception. \ deer fly could
asily bite through the armor On a battle
ship. in the hot weather the toughest
Id bucks and even the armor clad por-
:upines stay out in deep water to avoid
hem. And deer flies are as thick in the
zig woods as snowflakes in a blizzard.
The bite Of q deer fly is Immediately
marked by a red angry swelling. Ac-
ordiEglv when 1Ir. Carson got back to
lis hunters shack all the exposed por-
ions Of his body We're thickly covered
with such miniature monuments Of mis-
~ AIr. Carson had not shaved for more
han a week, intending TO perform that
peraton just before taking the train
or Chicago. Now such was the rawness
I his tortured face that shaving was
uite impossible
So when he rang his own door bell the
lcruiug after. his face was an impress
ionisJia study in red and black-au awe
ONE sight
1t rosembled greatly a relief map Of the
cat Of war in Korea. with all the noun
AIN peaks picked out in scarlet, the val
ays between thicldy wooded with black
Tistles OF ten days growth.
His wife opened the door
"Oh. Tom" she cried. fear and horror
q her eyes What is the matter?2
Deer flies said MI Carson. laconic-
lly. She let him in. doubtfully. but en-
ireiy refused to allow the children to
5elcome their father with a kiss.
do You think anybody saw you?' she
Szed anxiously.
ION. yes answered her husband. with
touch of enthusiasm. 7 met most OF
ar friends on the way from the station"
"Flaa-e shave" pleaded his wife.
'.Sh1ve.' repeated Mr. Carson. scorn-
uIly. THANK heaven, The days Of the
lquisition are past"
Air Carson .anointed himself with cold
,ream and camphor ice and spent the
>ay in seclusion.
You sleep down here on the second
oor." said Mrs. Carson after dinner that
vening. III go upstairs. I'm afraid
might wake up in the night and see
ou"
So ny. Carson went to bed early and
umcdiateiy fell into a sound sleep. He
-aS awakened by hearing the clock on
M hail mantle strike O'Clock He haIf
pcac5 his eyes and saw by the dim light
low-turned night lamp two men
:anding in his bed room. one Of them
as going through T4e contents of a big
hest of drawers. The other was stun-
~ some bundles into a sack
burglars" thought Mr.. Carson. Then.
g. promptly closed his eyes and lay per-
city stin Into his mind suddenly came
5iea. J'he idea pleased him. The ghost
smile appeared on his dreadful face
l. stirred uncasily in his bed The move
lent was just enough 10 attract the at
atton of the Two burglars. His lips
loved feebly
"N0rse,' he whispered. in n thin. quer-
lous voice. Through his half-opeaed
yes ho could see the burglars both start
they looked at him.
'-Nursa.'' h. called again. trile more
nnsteutiy. and lifted himself a little in
is bed Fut the effort was too much. He
IT back aeain. exhausted. Then. for tho
rst time, apparently. he saw the two men
D tae room
$ y." ha whispered To- them with the
alf-IsIiriOrlS reavi-hr.vsS of = sick man