Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 11, Number 37, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 12 March 1881 — Page 6

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

The Novelist.

Wheel of Fortune

—OR,—

THE LOST HEIRESS.

A STORY OF HEARTS AND HOMES.

BY A PRIVATE DETECTIVE.

(This story was began in The Mail, February 5th. Back number* can be bad ot newsagent*. or by sending five cents for each oopv to the office of Tne Saturday Evening Mafl.j

CHAPTER XIX. FOLLOWING A LKAD.

There is an old saw to the effect that: "Think of the Evil One and he will appear." Now this saying often comes true, and it did in the present instance, for the detective had been thinking of Courtney and here was the man.

AH haw been said before, the night was dark, the only light places being under the gas lamps. Dick the instant he recognized Courtney, resolved to follow him, but he was too sharp to turm right on the man's heels.

He had noticed how Courtney had looked at him. This made him sure the latter was on some evil mission, and that he was auspicious of every one he met.

Iiick was shrewd. Being an old an extKirienced hand at this Business, he knew how to do it exactly. Walking across Race, he kept on the pavement 01 Third street for a dozen yards, and then, when out of Courtney's sight, stopped and turned back. Reaching the corner he listened, and tould hear the footsteps of Courtney, who was half way down to Pearl.

Slipping noiselessly around the corner, tne man-tracker followed in the wake of his foe- When they came near a light the detective would slip over to the dark side of the street, and in this wav remained unseen.

Much to the detective's surprise, Courtney kept 011, until at last he stood upon the landing at the foot of Race.

What was the man's object in coming down here? Did he contemplate another murder, and pleased with the seeming success of the tirei, intond to commit the second also on the river?

These questions went through Dick's mind with the rapidity of lightning. How could he answer them?

No way Ijettor than to follow the lead Courtney was making and see for himself what was up.

Dick soon came to this conclusion, and when Courtney again went forward ho took up his position behind him, keeping 11 certain distance in the rear. The ferrv boat had just started off.

Courtnoy went down the river bank and stepped upon a barge just below the ferry-flout. Dick, closo at hand, saw him open the door and disappear inside the house that was 011 tlio boat.

Presently a rattling noise was heard as if ho was hunting for something and could not liiul it in the dark.

A second or two passed and then the little cabin on tho boa^ was suddenly and brilliantly illuminated, as Courtney lit the lamp.

Dick saw him hunting over a pile of oars, and tlieu ho know that the man wa« going out upon the river.

Courtney, since the night he had attempted to murder Frank Milton, bad bought light skiff, and as ho knew the man who owned this bargo, he had permission to koep his oars in the house, and had a key to the door, also one to tho long box that held about half a dozen pair of oars lolonging to the several boats that were mopred to the floating dock.

f|('ourtney

had bought the skiff partly

or ploasuro, yet ho also had a purpose which ho did not intend divulging to anv one. f)iok thought that by following Courtney he might discover something which he could hold menacingly over the villain's head. Had he known how completely this night would place Courtney In his' power ho would not have missed following him up for a great deal.

When he saw Courtney looking over the ours, then he know that his enemy was going out upon tho river, and that if ho wished to follow him ho must get a skiff also.

The forry-Hoat was just about twenty yards above, and he resolved to make another call upon the man whom ho had taken into his service. Making his wav to tho plank, Dick walked up to the house and entered. He found Murphy inside talking to an old man and his wife, who had come down too late to cross on tho last trip of the boat and wore compelled to wait over. "Murphy," said Dick, as he reached and opened tho door.

The man looked up, a littlo startled at hearing Dick's voice. The detective motioned to him, and the Irishman, jumping to his feet hurried out. "Murphy," ho said, in a hurried whisper, "the man I'm after is in that barge yonder. lie's going out on the riverand want to follow him. Have you got a •uitable boat here? "Is it a light wun ye want or one like Mr. Milton, pace to Uis «*hos, an' that thafe av tho wurrald used?" asked the other. "As light a one as I can get. The duce onlv knows where this chase may lead tne "to»tiight. and 1 must lessen the labor of rowing by selecting a small boat. Have you one?" asked Wek. "Shore an* I've got the very wun ye're after, yor 'onor. It belongs to a gentleman op town, an* he usee it for racing. It's painted a dark blue, too," and a* he spoke, Murphy stepped to the edge of the float and pointed down below him.

Duk looked, and yet, cloee as he waa, he could barely distinguish the outlined of a regnlar scull. It was wholly covered over, excepting a place in the center for the rower to seat himself, and Dick, he saw it, gave a grunt of satisfaction. "The oars get them quickly, Murphv, and bring no light with you. Be eareful not to make much noiae," said he.

Murphv darted into the cabin, and presently appeared with a splendid pair of oars, which, like the boat, were of so deep a bine ax to look like black in the

aemi-darknesa.

The Iwat had no row­

locks, the oars having each an iron pin on them, tbeee fitting into holes Chat were In the gunwales.

This was another thing in Dick's ft•or, for had there been rowlocks be would most certainly have had to muffle the oars with cloth so as to keep Courtnev from hearing them work, and aa it would take tome time to do all thia, his vame might slip away. Letting himself down Into the boat, he fitted the oars to their plaoea and then let them rest in Hide the Ixjat, he did not want to use them until he was entirely clear of the float,

Murphv, with a key he had, unlocked the fvdlock and handed the chain to

Dick, who. silently deposited it in the boat.

Murphy knew well how Frank coula row, for the young lawyer, liking all athletic sports, had been wont to come down every other evening, just at dusk, and hire the Irishman's skiff. If the detective had taught Frank Milton how to row, then be himself must be well versed in the art, for Frank was a first class hand at it, and, both in point of speed and graceful handling of the oars, could come* up to any amateur in the Queen City.

Dick pulled the boat around the float until he was on the lower side, and here he stopped, holding on to the latter.

By the aid of the lamp, Courtney bad found the pair of oars Belonging to his boat, which had the name "Maude" painted on to the bow, in honor of a lady acquaintance, and locking the box, he extinguished the lamp and passed out into the open air.

The night watchman of the ferry was standing just above Dick, looking at Courtney and talking, half out loud and half to himself, never suspecting that his employer was near him. "Bedad, an' that is the very same fellow az came down wid Mr. Milton. I can till him aven at this distance. Bad luck to yees, for a murtherin' spalpeen it's a foine mess ye're getting into. There's a man after yees like hot cakes az I wouldn't give for tin av yees." "Hist! not so loud, Murphy, or he may bear you," said Dick, in a shrill whisper.

At this sudden interruption to his meditations, the Irishman gave a start, and then said, in the same guarded tone: "Och, an' is yer 'onor there I tought Ve had gone off." "I am going now. Don't forget tomorrow afternoon three o'clock office, No. Fourth street. Be there on time," whispered Dick, hurriedly. "Ye can rist aisy on that, yer 'onor. Pat Murphy niver made a promise yit that he didn't try hard to kape. If ye don't see me there, then ye'll know I'm dead Och, he's gone, an' I'm talking till tho water," said the Irishman, suddenly discovering that Dick was not beneath him.

So silently had the detective gone off that Pat haa not found out his absence until he happened to look down. Murphy hoard the noise of oars working in the rowlocks, and he knew it must be made by Courtney, for Dick's oars would not make the least noise that might betray him, unless he splashed in the water, and this he was not very likely to do, being an experienced oarsman.

Dick, while speaking to his accomplice, had kept his eyes upon the form of Courtney. Seeing the latter jump down, and hearing the sound of a chain being pulled in, just as he finished speaking, he knew that the villain was in his boat, ready to start, and hence that he must not delay.

Giving a push, which sent tho light boat a dozen feet out into tho river, Dick seated himself upon the board, which had been nicely covered over with carpet. The boat began to float down with the current, and to prevent this Dick took hold of the oars and gave two or three strong but noiseless pulls. Then, looking down the river, as the same noise that Pat had heard came to his ears, he saw a white boat heading straight for the Kentucky shore, with the dark figure of a man in it, plying the oars with great dexterity.

Waiting until Courtney had gone some distance below him, Dick began to follow. There is something exciting about a man hunt, and Dick, although he had done the same thing dozens of times before, could not help feeling a trifle worked up. Should any danger threaton him though, the detective would prove as cool as any cucumber that ever grew in the shade of a cornstalk.

Dick kept so far behind his game that he could barely see the white skiff. He had no fear of losing his man, for he could plainly hear the regular noise of the oars as they came against the pins in the gunwales of the boat, which served as rowlocks.

There was no daugor of Courtney eluding his pursuer while he made this noiso, for Dictc could hear it plainly.

Upon reaching the middle of the river, Courtney turned the bow of the skiff down stream and began along with lightning speed.

.Sick lost sight of him, and also hearing, for a minute, but he made his light craft skim along the water so fast that he soon heard tho noiso made by his foe,, and turning his head, caught sight of the skiff. Whore was Courtneyrs destination? was now the question that came involuntarily to the mind of the detective, as with strong but noiseless strokes I10 pursued the otner. What dark plot had he hatched? Thedetective determined to follow him, even if he went twenty miles, and if nothing happened he would find out why Courtney was making this cold trip upon tho river.

His muscles could stand more than Courtney's, for, although Dick was not an over-stout man, yet in his frame there was a terrible amount of strength, as many a man had found out to his cost.

Minute after minute passed away, and still the two went down the wide Ohio, the ono following his man with commendable pertinacity, the other thinking and plotting, totally unconscious of be-

"^icTbeiid in the river at the foot of John street was passed by both. Courtney kept as near the middle of the river as lie could, and this he was enabled to do bv the numerous lights which could lie seen down tho Cincinnati shore, on the coal barges that were lying in fleets along the bank.

The current aided both of the midnight voyagers, and they went down the river with almost lightning speed.

Soon the Fifth street wharf-boat and Ludlow ferry-float were passed by, and when Courtney became aware of this he began edging In toward the Ohio shore.

Where he intended to go was a mystery just then to Dick, the solving of which would only be gained by time, but he knew that where Courtney went he could follow.

Nearer and nearer to the shore both went, until, as they passed a dark barge moored to the bank, they were not more than twenty feet away from It. At length the "mouth of Mill Creek was rrarhed. Just below this were a couple of coal barges, and below them a large raft of logs, connected with the saw-mill on the shore.

There were lights on these, and they lit .up the river enough for the men to see that they had reached the mouth of Mill Creek.

Greatly to the surprise of the detective, Courtnev suddenly turned his skiff ana shot into the blackness that hung like a pall over the creek. Not to be outdone, Dick went after him quite as rapidly, and waa soon rowing up the stream.

It was so very dark that be could no longer see the boat In which Courtney was seated but then, to Dick, this mattered little, for he had aharp ears, and the noise made by the other's oars came plainly to them, like specters the boats glided along the water^rounding bend after bend.

MM

7

m,

"Can yer 'onor row?" asked Morphy, in low tones. "I taught Frank Milton," waa the significant reply.

^TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MATT,

Mill Creek winds its sinuous way in among the hills like a serpent, and as the river was now pretty high, the backwater filled half of the bottoms, and for two-thirds of a mile the water they were gliding over resembled a huge lake. It was not hard rowing, and Dick went on noiselessly, guided by the sounds which could be plainly heard above him, over the water. Not the least noise did he make to proclaim his whereabout to his foe. The blades of his oars feathered the water, but not a single splash did they make. the detective not been a first class rower, he could never have followed Courtney in this manner, but, knowing all the tricks of boatmen, his oars made only the least gurgling noise as they went through the water and impelled the craft on. This sound might easily have been mistaken for the water striking against the shore, or some log in the stream.

Had Courtney but suspected that he was being followed they might have appeared to him in a different light from what they did.

On, on they went, up Mill creek telle after mile. Dick, who had been very

iey mi

himself, as though he, too, had discovered that it was all work and no play. Dick had been along the Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton Railroad dozens of times, and he knew nearly every bend in Mill.creek. When, at length, after rowing nearly two hours, he saw Courtney turn his boat into the right hand shore, as if about to land, he knew that they weie between Cumminsville and Clifton. He ran his craft into the shore, too, and when Courtney landed he was not more than twenty yards below him.

This shore was sandy and slightly sloping, while the left one, looking up the stream, was a small bluff, in some places fifteen feet high. When the boat of the detective came against the shore it gave a little bump, and the chain in the bow made a slight clicking noise.

Courtney heard it, and as a guilty conscience is always fearing danger, he, after pulling his own boat well up on the sand, went down on the shore a little piece to ascertain what had made the noise.

He went as far as twenty yfcrds, and then, seeing nothing, concluded that he had been mistaken. Dick, thinking his enemy might come down to see what had made the noise, had floated a little distance down the stream and then landed. When Courtney was standing on the sandy shore, the detective was close beside him, watching every movement.

CHAPTER XX. WOOING THE GODDKSS.

After standing on the sandy shore for a minute, Courtney turned on his heel and began walking rapidly away.

Dick, with his keen eyes fastened upon the man he called bis "prey," followed after him, the foot-steps of neither making any noise, as the ground was sandy.

Courtney walked directly toward a high hill that stood nearly in front of him. It was a long ride, and 011 the top of it was the Miami canal. After going part oi the way up this ridge he stopypea. From his pocket he drew out a lantern (the same one he had used during his conversation with Frank Milton on tho warf boat) and proceeded to light it. The detective was close behind him, and when he saw the other strike a match he hid himself behind the trunk of a tree,, and just in time, too, for a second affile would have been in the rays o*"" lantern. Courtney's face was turn© ward him, and had the detective rem ed in the open place, he would have been

ney had been here before, he knew the spot very well too. It was a tunnel passing under the canal, and through it ran a stream, which, though small at this time, could il on the occasion of a heavy rain, swell to an enormous size.

This tunnel is, no doubt, familiar to most of the inhabitants of Clifton, as it lies just behind that place, and is used by some as an easy way of crossing the canal, there being no bridge within half a mile of the spot.

Dick knew that Courtney intended using it for that purpose the instant he saw nim standing at the mouth of the tunnel. After a minute's careful scrutiny, Courtney disappeared in thegloom, and Dick was left alone again.

No sooner had Courtney vanished than Dick had formed his plan of action and with quick steps he mounted the ridge. He had resolved to swim across the canal. This was a terrible thing to do on this cold February night, and yet, sooner than attempt to follow Courtney through the tunnel at the risk of being heard splashing and discovered, he would tako a swim on this night in the icy water of the canal. This resolution showed the pluck of tho detective. As to giving the chase up, he had not the slightest idea of doing so. for when Dick Sharpley started on a trail he invariably followed it to the end.

The ridge was somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty yards high after reaching the mouth of the tunnel. The detective knew that Courtney would be six or seven minutes in getting through the tunnel, which is rather along one, and to make the most of this time he hurried up the ridge as rapidly as he possibly could.

The wind was blowing fiercely from the northwest, and for the last ten minutes a few scattered snowflakes had been fallen, but Dick had shrewdly guessed that the storm which he saw wasin prospect would not come on for an hour or so. This slight fall of snow was but a herald of what was yet to come.

The air felt colder than ever when Dick reached the top of the ridge, and he saw with a shiver that although the canal was frozen over, the ice was not strong enough to bear his weight.

He was about to begin work Dy throw ing off his clothes when his eye caught sight of an object which just then was a most-welcome spectacle. He was standing on the towpath, an I there, just above him against tne basik, was a mediumsized skiff. So plea^ng was the sight to Dick that he could h.»mly keep l*»ck an exclamation of joy. quickly replacing his coat, which he had already taken on, he walked over to where the boat lay, and stepped into it.

There were no oars, but a stick some four feet long lay in the bottom. To the surprise of the detective he found that it was not secured to the shore at all, but had doubtless been floating down the canal until it was caught in the rapidly-forming ice.

He saw that the stick would serve him well in lien of a paddle, and breaking A• 1 WA Waa#

the opposite shone.

of

savi

ice, so ma Arriving

(or rather, as the stream ran into it at this end, the source), he stopped above and waited.

His quick ear caught the sound of splashing water, which he knew was made by Courtney, and a few seconds later he could see a faint glimmer directly beneath him. This was made by the lantern Courtney carried, and it was growing brighter all the time as he drew nearer the opening.

At length the detective saw his man emerge from the tunnel, holding the lighted lantern in his hand, and after crawling up the right bank blow it out.

His feet were incased in heavy boots, and none of the water through which Dick had been wading reached his feet.

Both Mill Creek ana this stream being rapid, did not freeze as easily as the sluggish canal.

When Courtney started forward, the man-tracker followed after, making no more noise than an old Indian trailer would have done.

Had Courtney but suspicioned that there was a sleuth-hound of justice after him, he would not have passed so confidently over the open meadow, aiming for the nearest of the range of hills.

Dick felt sure that it must be some powerful object that could bring Courtney this long distance and on such a cold night.

It was not this that surprised Dick most. It was the roundabout way taken that made him feel sure something was wrong.

He had thought, while coming up Mill Creek, that his man was heading for Courtney Manor, which was not a mile distant from the tunnel, and situated in Clifton. Now he knew Courtney was heading for it, but what was his reason for coming on this cold, wintry night, and why did he go up Mill creek? There must be a secret of his iu the Manor.

Whatever Courtney had intended to do, Dick had resolved to follow him, and he would do so, even if it took him until daylight.

At 'length Courtney arrived at the foot of the hill, which was thickly covered with trees. Climbing over the fence at the bottom of it, he began descending, with the detective close at his heels. Up they went until they were three-fourths of the way to the top. Here there is a sort of natural arbor formed of several tress, which are nearly cove red over with wild grape-vines. In the summer-time the arbor is as cool a place as can readily be found, and even in the dead of winter it i9 greatly sheltered, so thick are the vines which form the roof and sides.

Greatly to the surprise of Dick, Courtney stopped just beside this, and after a cursory glance around, in which he failed to discover the detective, as the latter had sunk to tho ground, entered the arbor.

Dick, of course, did not dare to follow him, but crawling up, peered through the vines. He could see nothing, as it was pitch dark, but a second after he heard a low, muttered curse from Courtney, as though the latter was trying to find something and could not. Then he heard the cracking of a match. The arbor was lighted up for a few seconds, and during that brief time he^saw Courtnoy kneeling on the ground and feeling around as if in search of something. Whatever it was, he soon found it, and blowing out the match, arose to his feet and came out of the arbor.

He now turned to the right, and instead of going up the hill, went along it, keeping about a fourth of the way from the top.

Again Dick followed in his track, being very careful not to make any noise. Like a couple of shadowy specters the two went on.

So silent were their movements that

.• had a person seen them, ho would have The Ught from the tantern showed to "°me

both men the mouth of a tunnel about six feet in diamater, with a small stream orwaier Doming out of it. TckuSerstood where he was now, and as Court- 1."

dark

mJrat,irr

afloat. Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed

keeDinff wfth

fts surround-

ings. Standing here, Dick by the dim light saw his man draw out a piece of black cloth and fasten It on his face.

After securing this on, Courtney stepped up to the door of the cabin, gave three quick, sharp raps, and then after several seconds' silence, two more of the same sort. The cabin appeared to be a crazy, tumble down shanty, which none but a fool would willingly occupy, and Dick did not think there was any one in it. He was surprised at Courtney's knocking, and his astonishment was considerably heightened when a shrill woman's voice called out: 1, "Who's there?" -I "A man of the right color," answered Courtney. "How goes the night?" asked the voice, in lower tones. "Good for hawks to be abroad," was Courtney's reply.

The person inside of the hut made a movement thero was a rattling of chains, then a door opened and an old hag appeared.

As soon as Courtney had entered, the door was closed again. The unseen detective knew that he was close beside the entrance to some den, but what manner of one he. could not guess.

Now what shfuld he do? His game had entered the hut and he would do likewise. He had taken note of the curious raps given by Courtney, and also to the answers to questions. The only thing to do now was to make a mask.

Tearing a piece of lining from his coat, he with his pen-knife cut holes for the eyes in it, and fastened it across the upper half of his face.

Taking out his revolvers, he looked at them to see whether they were in good shooting order, for Dick had been in tight places before, and he knew that if discovered the scoundrels would show him no mercy, and he would no doubt have to rely on his weapons therefore it was beet for him to see that they were ready to do their daty when called upon.

The reader may wonder at the readiness with which Dick proceeded to go in among men when, if he waa found out, grim death awaited him, but if daring was all that was needed to carry him through, then Dick was well supplied. He had followed Courtney so far. and be was bound to go through with the job now that be had started. He felt Jure that the place must be a rest of bad characters, and be might have made his way to the dtv and brought the police to the spot, but this be did not wish to da

What if it should, after all, prove a secret society? It might be, though Dick would have staked a hundred dollars to one that it was not. There was a chance of it though, and as the ground belonged to Courtney (the manor being not far distant) there would be nothing going on unlawful, and derision would fall apon the officers and the detective. Dick made un his mind to be sure of the job

He hadeetat

Then^hejumped out, and after fasten- dirtinrtkacx^andtte^a^r Toting ing the boat which had been the means a few seconds, followed with the other ins him from a cold bath, in the two. that it could not float away, he "Who's there? "A man of the right color," answered

hemade his way down the at the mouth of the tonne!

•Jft

"How goes the night?" questioned the voice. "Good for hawks to be abroad," replied Dick, and after a rattling of chains the door opened.

Dick had heard Courtney descend a ladder, and when he entered he took no notice of the hag, but felt around until he touched a ladder protruding from the trap and began descending. Had the woman suspicioned anything, it would have been her last moment in this world for Dick was ready to leap upon her, and knowing that she must lie a she-fiend, he would doubtless have had to kill her but she did not seem to think anything was wrong. Why should she, when all the members of the band came in masked and spoke in atone entirely different from that which was their natural one?

After descending for about twenty rounds, Dick's feet touched soJid ground. He was now in a tunnel, and about twenty feet from him a lantern, hanging from the wall, cast a sickly glare around. By the aid of the light the detective

Raw

that the tunnel was a very

old one, having doubtless been made many years before. He had heard that under Courtney Manor were several old passages, and this was mo&t probably one of them, though the entrance at the hut was more than likely a modern invention.

Courtney Manor was only used in the summer as a country residence, and was now closed up. DicK knew that there was something unlawful going on under the old manor house, and as the men could not get to the cellar through the house without exciting suspicion, this not back entrance had .undouotedly been made.

Thinking in this manner, thedetective walked on for thirty or forty yards, and then halted, for two men were coming toward him.

Obeying a sudden impulse, Dick darted into a side passage and hid in a crevice.

A minute of silence passed away, and then the two men reached the mouth of the passage in which the detective had taken refuge. Both were masked, but one he recognized as Courtney, and the form of the other looked very familiar to the detective. Turning into the passage the two men came toward him. A suspicion that they had seen him now entered Dick's mind, and taking out a revolver, he waited for the struggle to commence.

.• CHAPTER XXI. "FIGHTING THE TIQKB." Frank Milton," for a couple of seconds, could move neither hand nor foot, so reat was his horror. It was enough to reeae the blood in the veins of any man, this being face to faceqprith an enormous tiger. Even the burglars did not want to see tho horrible seeno must now ensuo, for they quickly shut down tho trap door.

The huge tiger that Frank had seen through the hole in the door was crouching in the corner, where it had been gnawing the bone which had been thrown to it by Dufly.

It seemed greatly astonished at seeing a man within its reach, and for a time lay upon the ground, its large, glaring eyes fixed upon'the intruder.

The lantern hung by a cord, and swayed to and fro with A pendulum movement, caused by the blow Frank had given it when he descended into the cellar.

It was a terrible situation for a man to be in. When in such a desperate strait, a dozen different thoughts will rush through the brain in the space of a few seconds, and in the case of young Mil

and no

A

before letting the police into the secret. the enviable reputatbe keenest detective in

and could not afford to

to the door, be gave three

Dick. f-e igk* s£» I

fa

r)

,-,\4

feeling thus. To be killed by a tiger in a fight with weapons in his hands would have been bad enough, but to be powerless to resist was more than even Frank's iron nerves could stand the very thought of it was terrible.

His fate would remain a mystery, and Dick Sharpley would never know what had become of him.

There was one thing, however, that oomforted Frank, ana that was this Dick could get his trunks from the boarding house, and with the papers that were in one of them, dispossess Courtney of his wealth.

It was to Courtney he owed all of his troubles, and should he disappear, Dick would let his vengeance fall on the man of wealth.

The burglars up stairs would never mention a word about him t» anyone. They relied on the tiger to removeevery trace of Frank, and as the young man looked upon the muscular form and fierce aspect of the boast of prey, he thought the Yellow Prince fully capable of performing the job.

The tiger would have very little trouble in disposing of him, now that he was unarmed but had he only had his trusty revolver with him for a couple of minutes, the case would have lx«n entirely different. He would have demolished the tiger then,instead of the tiger demolis in

Had be nothing at all with which he could defend himself? Hiakni/e!

It had escaped the hasty search of the bunrlars. and was even then In bis bootKr. When this fact became clear to Frank, he could hardly keep back an exclamation of Joy. He would die like a brave man, with a weapon irt his band There was somethin thought, and when

oomfortini tie realized ti

•^1

Hi!

SISt

In this ,t his

rmoa was not quite so desperate as he had at first thought, he felt his spirits rise

*°Butbowwaa he to get at his knife? This was now the question that involun­

tarily

presented Itself. The huge tigor lay not ten feet from him, its bloodshot eyes glaring horribly, and seemingly only waiting for him to make a movein order to leap. like a stone Frank stood, with bis eyes fixed upon the tiger, and thinking, •ftie burglars refrained from looking through the trap-door, for they were not of that class who glory in blood. They wanted to keep the lajjce sum of money they had found upon Frank, and as they could not retain it and let the owner live they had agreed that be must die. Not wanting to strike him down in cold blood themselves, they bad doomed him to afar more terrible, and yet, to them, death. The tiger would save them the trouble of killing him and of disposing of his body. Aa the tiger would re-

lieve them from all this trouble, to the fighi tiger they bad given their prisoner. It

was a dastardly deed, only fit for men

There was not one chanoe In ten that

Frank

would escape, however, even if be

V-r

9

V^iC'

I i' -V

The tiger was watching him closely all the time^ and if he made a movement he knew that the beast would quickly be upon him.

Frank had made atrip out West several years before, and while there had witnessed a fight between an old ranger and a panther.

With only his knife as a woapon, the ranger had Killed the beast, and was but slightly scratched.

For "Frank to see was to remember, and now, as the scene rose before him, he resolved to copy after his friend, the ranger.

The latter had, before the fight, wound his long Mexican "serape" around his left arm, and had held this in front of him. When the panther sprang upon him he thrust his left arm out, and the animal seized it between his teeth.

The tiger would, without doubt, bohave in the same manner asapanthor, but the only trouble with Frank was that he could not get his knife in his hand without provoking an assault, and that'he had no "serape" to wrap around his left arm. His coat might do for the latter article, could he only get it oft but this, and also the getting out of his knife, .was easier thougnt of than done.

His first act must bo to get his only weapon in his hand. Slowly, and with the greatest care, he put his hand down, inch by inch, but a low, threatening growl came from the beast, whsse sharp eyes detected the movement, as if warning Frank that it would not do for hint to go much further.

It seemed an hour to Frank before his baud came in contact with the handle of his dagger, while in reality it was only a minute.

Everything must have an ond, and this suspense had a final termination. His fingers closed upon the handle of his knife, and he began to alowlj' draw the weapon out from its hiding place, keeping his eyes fixed all the while upon his enemy.

He saw tho tiger crouching lower and lower, its body sinking down until, at length, when Frank stood upright with the knife in his hand, tho beast was lying fiat upon the ground, its square head resting upon its paws, its eyes fixed full upon his own, and its tail moving from side to side in spasmodic jerks. Frank knew that tho tiger was ready for a in a and that few seconds it spring, would coino.

As no movemont of his could quicken this, he proceeded at once to divest himself of his coat. He had got his knife arm and also the weapon through, when the yellow tiger gave a loud, terrible scream, and launched itself forward. It expected to strike Frank down, but in this it was mistaken, for tho latter, seoing the tiger's limbs move, knew that

and by a quick jump bounded through the empty air, and after describing a parabola, landed 011 the opposite sidoof tho cell.

Frank did not intend taking his coat off. He only wished to get his knife arm loose, and now it was free, the coat hanging on his left hand. By several quick whirls ho managed to wrap it completely around his arm, and as It was a heavy ono, made for cold wcathor, it formed as

fcan

rood a guard, if not better, than a Mex"serape" would have dono. When the tigor turnod around to i..ako another leap, Frank was ready for him, though he had no desire to moot tho attach.

Should he stand and let the tigor leap upon him ho would most assuredly bo knocked to the ground, and then It would be all over with him.

Tho tiger crouched once more, and a second later again launched forward, but as before, missing the object he had

seconds, ana in me case 01 jfuuiijj mu- aimed at, and landing over In tbecorner ton there was no exception to the general

wiiere

At first he thought of his revolver, This time Frank had eluded him by and he was about to put his band to his pocket, when he remembered that he had hurled it at the bead of one of the burglars. After the tiger haa passea over mm uo

As this fact became apparent, a thrill jumped to his feet and rushed after It. of downright terror ran through his ue intended giving the beast no opporframe, and no one can blame him for tnnitv to lean uDon him. If he was not

he had been lying when Frank a

first saw him. This time Frank had dropping down on 0110 knoe, a common trick among hunters, and a most effective one, too.

After the tiger had passed over him bo

tnnity to leap upon him. bearaitig the lion iu his ing a thing about equal to^ it—attacking

If he was not

his den ho was do-

a monstrous tiger In his lair. The tiger turned, ready to niako another leap, but Frank was just^ lx*»ide him, ana there was no froom for tlio movement.

The young lawyer as he reached tho beast held out bis left arm, and tho tiger seizing hold of it commenced biting and growling.

It sounded for all the world liko a huge cat, worrying some unfortunate

The dagger, which Frank ran pod In his right hand, was held steady for a few seconds and then dashod into tho body of tho brute up to tho very hilt.

There was a share of Frank's left arm, and this was all the attention the tiger seemed to give to the wound I10 had received.

Frank had often heard that tigers are very hard to kill, and now I10 found this fact to lie true from his own oxperionce.

Again and again did the dagger sink into the body of tbe brute, propelled by the vigorous arm of the young lawyer, and yet it appeared to make littlo or no

very much, given him

were deep, any one of which would have been sufficient to let out the life of a man.

Five, six, seven times did Frank plunge his sharp weapon into the side of his foe, on each occasion the haft striking with a dull thud, but excepting a growl and a harder bite, the tiger seemed not to notice his wounds.

It appeared as though the animal was endowed with a dozen lives, and Frank as he plied the steel began to wonder what would be the final. Would he in the end kill the tiger, or would the animal demolish him? Perhaps both would go under. This last is not an uncommon thing out West. Many a time have a man and an animal, either a grizzly or a panther, been found dead side by side, each having killed tbe

0tIf

he Intended slaying tbe tiger at all now waa the beat opportunity, for should the beast change its tactics, as it was liable to do at any time, and seize his right arm when be was dealing a blow, tbe game would then be up with him, for fbeing powerless,, the brute would have him at his mercy.

One, two. three more strokes followed each other an rapid succession and they now began to tell upon the monster with whom the young man was battling, for his growl* generally ended with low whines as if the many terrible wounds he had received were too much for him, and his fortitude had given way. *_ii jj0

—. HIIU nuunu-g

ieed, only fit for men gtriking quick and heavy blows,

and

who had no hearts, and should Frank gjowly tbe tiger sank until it Ka

10 bad no nearw, anaioouw Slowly tne uger ape, be would surely be justified in crouching, but still it held on to

esca kil retribution. to

knowing this Frank kept at work

lfl 111 It VlAIn ATI t/

ling the remaining three burglars in feftarm of the young man aa If resolved to drag him down with it. Another

a

rag

was

the

mu* *YW

Wow

fibbed the huge brute.

Wjth

did have a knife, and in the minds of jn prank's bearing given three burglars, who thought he was t* ».iwi nnmi th« ctoi miees, there was no show for him at

lttrT

any It

a howl that surpassed

utterance

to, it rolled over upon tbe stone floor, Omtinued on Seventh Page.

SKIS