Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-28
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
"A Question of Time."-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted the Associated Literary Press)

and stared at two points Of yellow
light that oscillated near the ground.
They We're ten inches apart. and
they moved in unison. Weiton calcu-
lated that they must be just without
the bamboo stockade which inclosed
the compound.
There WAS Il priclzly feeling along the
spine. and he could feel the hair rails
ing Slightly around his forehead as he
realized that Chuni had neglected to
close the great gate and that there
was perhaps only hundred feet in
tervening between the man eater and
the open window OF the little drawing
room.
He thought rapidly. with his eyes
fixed on the lambent points Of fame In
the velvet gloom of the gateway. If
he made dash for the window and
the safety that lay beyond the beast
would sprin" before he could close the
shutters behind his retreating form. If
be could make Akerslie hear. at least
the women would be safe:
"AkersIie," he called in Il low, clear
whisper.
Yes came the other mans lazy
tones.
'Close these shutters instantly. The
| man eater His words were lost in
| the quick manipulation of the iron rods
| from within. and the shutters fell with
| q clang. blotting ont the glow of light
] and leaving Welton alone to face the
| tiger.
The momentary confusion reused the
! beast into action. Weton could see
the slow approach of the yellow eyes,
could hear the padding of the great
| paws on the sandy path. and now his
| long sinuous form was diInly outlined
! In the starlight.
| Welton remembered that lie had left
| his revolver on his dressing stand. II
| could not be much of q light with all
the odds on the other side. AT any
rate. when the tige: hnG borne him
away to his lair Akerslie. the coward
/ Suddenly there was n terrific roar. 6
sitting odor of fur. Welton's hand in
stiuctiveIy dew TO his pocket. and to
his surprise the revolver was there.
There was Il sharp crack at one of the
yellow spots of light nnti "A rush of air
Cropped to the floor. and with tre-
mendous thud the animal struck the
closed shutters and bounded back with
bloodcurlling scream of baffied rage
and pain.
Welton had leaped over the railing
and slipped behind the protecting trunk
of giant teak. The animal snnfYed
about the veranda. and presently there
was cry of startled fright. and Vel
ton remembered the sleeping punka
{, boy. He saw the tiger stepping down
the path. his jaws gripping dark.
moaning bundle.
He knew that. unmolested. the beast
would now retire to the jungle with
his victim and that the occupants Of
the bungalow as well as himself would
be free from danger. He ground his
teeth and aimed for the other eye. He
put it out.
In the light of the stars he saw the
beast shiver. drop the dark bundle.
which sped affrightedly away. and
then come toward hinrwith bleeding.
blinded eyes and snarling mouth.
1t WAS only Il question of time now.
Around the tree ne lodged. and then
farther away from the house toward
the stockade. lie would lure the beast
from the vicinity of the bungalow and
fight 1t ont with him 10 the open space
before the jungle. which rose dark
and forbidding i'm the background. One
would win out. aud the other
Again be heard the crack Of his re-
volver. and yet aga:a and still the
beast did not fall Still he tracked
the man bliudiy. remorselessiy. There
We're two cartridges left in. the cham
BIER. and then -again Welton fired,
once. twice. With shudder. he felt
something soft on his cheek
by .Joye! Billy seems bit sleepy