Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-03

man:"
Certainly" said Bobby sravely. but
he knew that his face was like death
and that his hands shook
Sylvia thought him coward. and he
was too proud to explain to her that
his childhood had been spent in India
and that when but tiny lad he had
been carried away from his nurse by a
tiger. Only his fathers bravery had
saved his life. but his arms and breast
still bore the scars of savage teeth.
After dinner he sat alone on the We
randa, for the others were gathered
around the lamp in the living room
reading papers from home.
There was a soft murmur of voices
from the servants quarters. and then
silence broke now and then by the
bark Of dog or the cry of some
sleepy bird.
Bobby thought he was alone out
there, but he had companion near by.
A queer thrill down his spine followed
movement in the shade of a deodar
tree near the closed gate. Bobby was
conscious Of being watched. He
glanced around at the wire screened
window; neither Sylvia nor her broth
er-in-law had looked his way He was
! alone on the veranda, but not alone in
the compound.
Straight ahead. under the deep
black shadow of the deodar tree, there
shone two round yellow lights. They
were, perhaps, fourteen inches apart
| and they moved slowly toward him in
dreadful unison.
He struck a match sharply. and the
| eyes receded before the sudden fare of
| light. While he held the match to his
empty pipe, he spoke hoarsely to the
! man within the room:
Henderson! Close your wooden
shutters. Get q line on him If you
| can. IN draw him off,
| Thus calmly, Bobby Orthman. the
coward, proceeded to throw himself in
! the way of man eating tiger in order
| TO save the girl he loved and the ones
| that she loved.
He went quietly down the steps,
scratching matches as he did so; the
eyes remained stationary under the
! deodar. Unless Henderson got his
! shutters closed in time and brought the
/ EuL Iue DetSl "Oull SOOn lOSe Ills Cul1-
oSity about the fiaring matches and
bring his prey to the ground. If Bob
! by Orthman lodged into the bungalow
the tiger would rush the nearest open
window or ravage the fragile quarters
of the servants in the rear.
Henderson was slamming shutters.
The tiger uttered an earth shaking
growl and leaped forward. Bobby
Orthman lodged aside. but he heard
the heavy thud ms the beasts padded
paws struck the ground beside him.
Bobby darted toward the deodar tree.
knowing that the tiger must follow
/ him across the streak of light from the
hall window If Henderson could get
in his shot while the tiger crossed the
lighted streak Bobby might escape.
In two bounds the tiger had regain
ed the tree and Bobby was fleeing
across the streak of light.
Suddenly he turned and waited. Hen
derson was too late. He might as well
have ii over with now. There would
be no one to care and his honor would
be indicated. They could never call
him a coward again. He smiled at the
yellow lights creeping stealthily toward
him. No one would ever know how he
had accepted Henderson's offer to go
into the jungle I'm order to face the
jungle beasts and try TO subdue that
fear in his heart Well. God knew. and
he knew himself.
The tiger came in flying leap that
showed his huge body against the star
spangled sky.
AS he crossed the streak OF light
there came two shots in quick success
sion, and then there remained In the
shadow a writing mass that present
~ resolved into two quiet forms
After that pandemonium reigned In
the compound. Henderson and white
Tipped Sylvia. with other assistance.
found Bobby's unconscious form be-
meath the dead bulk Of the tiger.
Did You notice? His arms were
folded" sobbed Sylvia in Henderson's
| ear.
He nodded. His face was toward
the enemy. too" he said remorsefully.
HE had the stuff in him, Sylvia, only
.. we didn't understand him. God knows
am sorry"
, Sylvia was caressing Bobby's blood
/ stained face. and she was surprised
when he opened his eyes and smiled at
her with wonderful sweetness.
Don't he too kind to me. Sylvia. ff
you don't mean it," he whispered. I'm
not going to die yet. I'm only scratch
ed and bruised little where the beast
fell on me. Don't be kind unless you
, love me-"
II must be kind. Bobby. dear" whis-
pered Sylvia. making amends for her
doubt Of him; II must be kind to you
because / love you SOP
IF you love me-" grinned Bobby,
"you may kiss a coward"
"a hero" amended Sylvia. proceed
ing to take advantage Of Bobby's per-
mission.
And the striped skin of the yellow
eyed monster became part Of the fur.
|, nishing Of their home.
Sept. 3 in American
: