Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-04
The Daily Story
The LEoPARp-BY CLARIssA MACKIE.
Copyrighted 1913 by Associated Literary Bureau

Or. Gerrick went back along the pI
aZza to the south sitting room. and
what the moonlight revealed there
caused the Scanty hairs on his head 10
rise
The moonlight shone brightly on the
window and disclosed the head and
shoulders Of large spotted animal.
whose widely snarling mouth was
pressed close against the windowpane.
which was cracked. as II the leopard
had tried 10 dash through the glass 10
freedom. Dr. Gerrick caught a glimpse
Of cavernouS pink mouth and loll-
ing tongue.
He lifted his weapon and fired with
the muzzle pressed against the glass.
The leopard did not stir until the third
shot: then with a twitching. convul-
sive movement it fell over sideways.
Quite satisfied At his prowess, Dr.
GerriCk went back to the Office to re
assure hjs wife and daughter and at
the same time to call q comforting
word UP To Bridget
Bridget must have left some Of the
doors open" Shuddered Mrs. Gerrick.
But l don't see how the beast could
have got into Aunt Fidelia's room
the door was closed and locked on the
outside"
Probably Bridget has been investi-
eating Aunt Fidelia'S belongings" suE-
gested Helen. "Whar are you going To
do now. father"
Il must go up and tell the circus
people so they can take the beast
away" said the doctor as he lighted
his pipe
The doctor strobe quickly down the
street toward the circus grounds. He
was anxious TO notify the circus men
of the discovery of the lost leopard
and have them remove it at once.
The circus tents were down, and the
large corps OF workers went about
their business without any excitement.
The animal cages We're being loaded
on their respective wagons, and the
roar of the impatient captives was
sweet music to DR.. Gerrick's ears.
One OF the circus animals would never
roar again.
He pushed himself through the
crowd of workers until he found q
I've found your leopard" announc-
ed the doctor bluntly. In fact.
: think he's a dead leopard now"
Leopard? What leopard?' asked
the man hrusQuely. i've just checked
off the leopard cage. What's the mat
: ter with you?"
When l left the circus l was told
there was a leopard loose. When l
reached home found the beast in one
of my rooms, and l shot him, either
wounded him or killed him outright.
I came to notify you"
Hank" called the manager CURLY.
take this gentleman TO the leopard
cage and let Lulu howl at him. He
thinks he's seen her and shot her
dead" He turned away, with a little
laugh.
Silently the doctor followed the cir
Gus man to the line Of closed cages
/ and was rewarded with a sight of the
imprisoned Lulu, who not only howled
at him. but beat the bars OF her cage
with her huge padded paws.
Dr. Gerrick mustered all his dignity
and went home. Once there he got a
lantern and carried it 10 the window
of the south sitting room and peered
down at the huddled heap on the floor.
1t was dead leopard.
He returned to the Office. summoned
! Bridget and his wife and daughter and,
followed by the three women, he led
the way 20 the sitting room and opened
the door He placed several lighted
lamps around the room and then point
ed at the dead leopard in the corner
They gazed upon its protruding head
and shoulders. for the remainder OF its
body was tightly wrapped in buriap.
and n loose piece of the same material
lay on the floor.
The doctor laughed. softly at first,
and Their more loudly. When his roars
had died away he wiped the tears from
his eyes and pointed to the leopard.
That's dead leopard. my dears,' he
explained. "In fact. its about the dead
est leopard you ever saw. because it's
been dead for years. I'm no detective.
but my deduction of this mystery IS
that our Aunt Fidelia IL the proud pos
SCISSOR OF a leopard skin rumE She had
1t rolled in this hurlap and transported
here to be placed on the floor. SO far
SO good. Now. enter Bridget. the curl
Gus, who pokes an inquisitive finger
here and there, picks at the loosened
thread OF the burlap covering pulls II
and II slips Off revealing the terrible
head Of the leopard she drops II and it
falls against the window. where II re
mains until one Of my bullets Jars II to
the floor. In the meantime Bridget
whose Imagination has been fired by
her visit 10 the show. sees nothing but
n living beast and fees the room and
gives the alarm from her window. |
suppose that's how the rumor started
Eth. Bridget"
Il screamed fer tin minutes widout
break. SOFT admitted Bridget. rather
proudly. And so would anybody elser'
Just fathers luck on his evening
out" bemoaned Helen. but her father s
nplifted hand siienced her
Il wouldn't have missed II for any
thing. my dears." he chuckled. I've
had the time Of my life tonight killing