The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-29
TIGER. TIGER.

Just one more pleads O'Neill,
leaning persuasiveIy over McArdells
/ bar.
mo, sir" said McArdell. emphatic
ally you've had one too many al
/ ready"
This was well within the truth. Since
/ leaving the winter quarters of the
Grand Panjandrum menagerie early
rs ging flame of thirst that burned with
] in him by many an Onpouring of oil,
/ the fusel oil that comes in cheap
whisky Now his exhiIarant soul had
risen above that brand. 1t yearned for
/ the kind that comes at sixpence a
/ time. The trouble was that he didn' t
have the sixpence.
Put it on the slate, Mac he begged.
Its turrible thirsty work, tiger
chasin.'
Chasing the cam amended Near
] dell, grimly.
the other.
What tiger?" ,
There was a contemptuous tone to
the query, and it was with soT4a heat
as well as triumph shat SQUAD retort-
'salamander-that's wot tiger
Yes; that's likely" sneered the sa-
loon man. In truth, nothing seemed
less likely than that the understood,
stumbling, irresponsible doer of odd
jobs about the Writer quarters should
be engaged in any chase to which Sala-
mander was the other party, for SaIa-
mander, once the prize performer of
the Grand Panjandrum had gone bad
a few weeks before and had gathered
to himself (and their fathers) a trainer
and his assistant. Il guess it's one of
your pipes. Squab,' continued Near
dell
You'd never win no spellin' bees by
guessin'," returned SQUAD. I'm on the
job am. The boss gives it to me spe-
ciaI."
only man I'd trust to git him. he says.
Say nothin to nobody, he says, but
git him an bring him back quiet says
he to me, an your pay check'n be
twins at the end of the week he
ssOh! cut it out" said McArden, good
naturally. "Salamander'S at home in
his cage, where he belongs. You'd bet
ter get home to yours.
That's where your brains softenin',"
remarked O'Neill. But he will be be-
fore night. I'm after him, am
He marched proudly to the door. op
ened it, and held it open to fling back
a parting word.
when I come back with me tiger
under me arm, maybe you'll set up
that drink"
Two men who crouched up close to
the outer wall looked after him as he
disappeared in the gathering darkness.
''Wot's that he said about a loose
tiger?" growled one of them, under his
zone of the shows beasts escaped.
prob'ly," answered his companion.
"Good thing we got our pops ready" he
added feeling for the handle Of a re-
volver in his pocket.
Lot of good that d be again IL
ger" said the first, peering. fearfully
over his shoulder. We'll, he hadn't
oughter bother US. We're on the hunt
ourselves"
For some minutes they examined the
brightly lighted interior of the saloon
from the windows. Then they walked
in and ordered drinks. Before Near
dell and his assistant could fill the or
der they were looking down the bar
rels of two revolvers.
''AII the cash in the register an
drawer an a quart of the besti'' said
the spokesman
well, I'm hangedi' mourned the
discounted McArdell. This is worse
than wandering tigers"
HShut I'D an hustlei" snarled the
robber casting an uneasy glance at
the swinging doors.
A few rods outside was a spectacle
which would have deeply interested
him could he have but seen down the
now dark street-Squab O'NeiIl and a
crony, whom he had picked up in a
saloon, theoretically escorting Sala-
mander homeWard. There seemed to
be some unwillingness on the part of
the great. striped beast. for the two
men breathed hard as they pushed
and hauled. But where was the
ferocity that had made his name a
terror to the whole shove
Never a snarl. never a growl, never
the. unsheating of a claw. as the two
half drunken guardians led their
charge almost to the door of the sa-
loon. There they halted. and O'Neili
'You hold him. A1eck. While take
a look"
Tfptoeing to the nearest window
SQUAD peered in. then clasped hasty
n in
shout of amazement. He had sur
prised the holdup in full swing the
two robbers covering McArdell ana
his assistant while they heaped up the
~ fro L.. <xtro 4f1+,,1,c