Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1913-11-25

with blanched lips. Il hope 1t won
come any nearer Us. Can't you 80 on
and shoot 1t. Jackf''
"l'n try" said Henderson grimly
sAnjar better strengthen the stockad,
tomorrow and see that the gates ar,
locked after sundown. suppose THU
is an end TO your rambles for the pres
| ent, Maud"
1T ISL returned Mrs. Henderson de
cidedly. I'VE can work on the book
There's enough to do at home until yor
exterminate that beast"
"And you, Jack-you will continue b
60 to the jungle every dayT asked
Sylvia.
"of course How about you, orth.
| mani"
Certainly" said Bobby gravely, but
he knew that his face was like death
and that his hands shook.
Sylvia thought him coward. and be
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 bis nurse by q
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 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 deodar
tree near the closed gate. Bobby was
conscious of being watched. BE
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 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 line on him IL you
can. I'll 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
gun the beast would soon lose his curl
osity about the faring matches and
bring his prey to the ground. II Bob
by 0rthman 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 slanming shutters.
The tiger uttered an earth shaking
growl and leaped forward. Bobby
Orthman lodged aside, but be heard
the heavy thud as 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. III 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
have 1t over with now. There would
be no one to care and his honor would
be vindicated 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 a 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 writhing mass that present
ly resolved into two quiet forms.
After that pandemonium reigned In
the compound. Henderson and a white
Tipped Sylvia, with other assistance.
found Bebby'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 remorsefuiiy.
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 be too kind to me, Sylvia, If
you don't mean it" be whispered. "pm
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-"
Il must be kind, Bobby, DEAR" whts-
pered Sylvia. making amends for her
doubt of him; Il must be kind to you
because love you sog'