The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-11-12
The Leopard
of Hafia
a Story of Man and
Beast
8s CLARISSA MACKIE

1x~ African desert was bathed i'm
1Srx>sa, show. Mile on mile of fat yell
2xs sSN$ took on a palpitating Grim
zw,.. Azs& with the dropping sun came
Earssy ASeeze that rustled the fronds
a6 fi@ Mslna trees and made the oasis
gses&axA inviting.
-s1fpsnsss the palms was white tent.
l1Sxl- estfsehed on bit of oriental car.
ms assoRe 1t were two men. Ameri-
arsnA he younger one refilled his pipe
.EEaA Gaaksd up into his companions
SS1Ss: Gned face.
'-sSe ysu know. Rowland" he said
Hf1ss asSish enthusiasm, II wouldn't
ssssw MISSED this trip with you for a
prxts~ ieome! It's greatr'
-siGzn yo1 like it," mumbled How
sssE
Nsxnsas went on, speaking rapidly:
Iwurs mighty glad that you invited
sss' ~ rome along and make the pho
ses-rSaksss sor your book. It's taking me
.s0sca sa tffe amateur class into profess
Jassaasn photography.
-1&aa that's not all. Rowland. If
VICE. xrsSn't invited me along l would
m sTGhbi&g away in Wall street to
ssisa instead Of seeing the fire Of the
sz0ssssss sn the sand, the breeze in the
sS4ns, And Ali there smoking his wa.
c&r Nfser
N@Ssnd laughed oddly.
- tSspe the remainder of the trip
ZssSsc Uan as WELL" he said carelessly.
N,-lHach the edge of the jungle to-
-xxr1ww at sunset"
''-Ssssrly'
Esss-dseert was dark now, and above
Ssr 5Sr horizon the rim of a blood red
lssszp Rgted slowly.
Ess2sy brooded over the place. The
':srlRsassS. mere brown Jumps Of shadow,
skswZ All and his fellow servants had
zMsSfkxwn to a distance, where they
sssrnnsas IN the sand. silent. meditat-
EsE
ESsSpa shook the ashes out Of his
gsEy' rMI yawned.
IS 3saSeTe I'll turn in for awhile" he
AESsw1&etl You'll want to start by
2as&xgat. suppose"
--Sxss:: syoI night" said Rowland
z4srg7f9.
ssGsoss vanished within the tent. and
;xssxnaa sat alone, motionless. His
cASt4gsy were fixed on the rising moon.
EvxIsT Inc, thin smile edged his lips.
x ,lMsser of overripe dates thudded
fsssszTssound. and he started violently.
nc wiB soon be over" he muttered.
1r< SJsss eOok-can go hang"
x&cn 1eS too. disappeared within the
aaf.g. seVget few hours sleep. If posi-
|&k~ Eut an uneasy conscience made
1skTssxuiber very broken and filed with
sS~sE SSsqpseting dreams. The sound
ssgfss@cysrg sslumbering quietly near by
4Sas l&im with intense rage. and he
5xaxE leSt the tent to sit outside and
SDsrxIs ais pipe.
War aext day ut sunset found How.
.lHzssas ,acry encamped at the edge Of
sae~ Eamgie. Here the desert had
gxs1rs1 into low hills clothed in coarse
7rssxragSon and scattered rocks In the
background loomed the jungle. dark.
srxssAnSSus and forbidding.
zztss looks like lion country" re-
rzsnxfs@ Pearson as he slipped Ais
JsdSSsxs coffee.
-5 70 lion country" agreed How
Axkssa See how uneasy the camels
srn zEhl the bearers are badly fright
sRsG~
-gJsGpp0se you will be sending the
!sssaasss back to Podok." said Pearson.
dzkrSfxnd nodded. 1.-The blacks can
-ses$- Sse supplies, and when I come
ksGfrsttrsD the jungle trip l can send
sssEnrgs after Ali and his camels."
&Sssre midnight ALI and his camel
GzfsS gksf vanished in the desert, and
KIN 1sesr going Bob Pearson felt a
f,ssrE4zE sense Of depression.
S8r sEfed TO shake off the feeling, but
"a rts2sg: 10 him and kept sleep away
nssslszn weary eyes.
I'M Ire 9ool Of early dawn Rowland
Vs<s~s, sFm roughly.
~akase out here" he said in a tense
tsxr- 4 want to show you some
lSxyx
.S&se-c> Pearson seized his shotgun and
daaIs@e3 Rowland outside the tent
ssz ne east the horizon was pearl
Gszny Overhead the stars cleaned in
.5SR aaxp blue sky.
9-Ekl4 b the matterT whispered
7sxaxqx
NssE- Howland's arm swept In
szsnss~zg tfiat overleaped the circle of
srazsE1s ares with their sleepy at
gr6Azsa
Fnx.go looked and saw on a nearby
SzSts& TIE black silhouette of q stalk
nHySEm
'c:fses-- he muttered. Am I to have
s'snsY ~ ntm?''
---SE Fm saving you for the leopard
'sxfAxsx@ returned Rowland quickly.
NaFgsn laughed.
ss1sny me for the leopard, eh?" he
a-crzsG Sounds bit cold blooded.
sxexsSyd'-
8Szhog the leopard for you. them"
xs<S HSwfand I'm an odd tone. This
asugrrS ef Hafia has a record. they
wuf~
~-4ru-
rhrrr hundred natives or more has
ssrs5rIPd of. He's easily the king of
ssgnssi p