TINK’S CROSSWORD PUZZLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

TINK’S CROSSWORD PUZZLE.

Soiution to last week’s puzzle.— ACROSS. 1, . . . . frog—a jumping game (Leap). 4, You play cricket with •this ffeacji, 6, You play this at No. 3 down (Game). 7, Nobleman' (Peer). 9, Serpent (AaipjL. 11, Jam .... for tea! (Tart). 13, There are 365 in a year (Days)*, life Animal (Ass). 16, Rushed (Tore). 19, Sharp (Keen). 20, Affirmative word (Yes). 22, The remainder (Rest). DOWN. 1, Part of the face (Lip). 2, Grow old (Age). 3, Festive gathering (Partyi, 4, Teddy . . . (Bear). 5, Toy that spins (Top). 8, Concludes (Ends). 10, You do this to puddings when mixing (Stir). 12, A flower (Aster). 14, Invites (Asks), 15, Giri’s name (Amy). 17, Number (One). 18, You do this at a party when these are good things on the table (Eat). Clues for this week:— ACROSS. 2, on earth, goodwill toward men. 7, How some Scottish folk jay “two.” 8, Evergreen used for decoration. 10, At that time. 12, List of good things to eat. 14, Point at with weapon. 16, Part of verb “to be.” 17, . Girl’s name, 19 and 21, Steed of 1 and 6 down. 23, Perceive. 24, DOWN. 1 and 6, Another name for Father Christmas. 3, English boys* school. 4, Shoemaker’s tool. 5, Peaceful. 8, Folded edge. 9, Another evergreen. 11, Where beer live. 13, Called. 15, Roman numeral for 4. 17. Compass point. 18, Girl’s nameh 20, Meaning “that is.” 22, Prefix.

THE SPOTTED TERROR. As Mrs. Rattray, newly come to India, was walking in the jungle near the village one day, she caught sight in the; far distance of a glimpse of a crimson sari, a gleam of golden and black-spot-ted fur, and a piercing scream rent the air. A native woman was carried away by a wild beast. Pursuit was in vain. “That is the man-eating panther which haunts this place,” said John Rattray. “I believe Captain Turnbull is on a visit near this neighbourhood. I' shall write to him, and ask him to come down and kill it, whether the villagers let him or not.” “But, surely, John, the poor things would wish it to be destroyed,” said his trembling wife. “They are . very superstitious,” he answered. “The panther has plagued them so long and is so cunning and bold that the natives call it a Sadhu (holy one), and hold it sacred. They will jiot allow it to be attacked, and even refuse to admit how many of their folk it has destroyed. A man-eating panther, is . a more dangerous enemy than a man-eat-ing tiger. It is more silent, more wily, more agile. But Turnbull’ will bring it to book.” i “Who is Captain Turnbull?” “A famous big game shot who keeps his gun for man-eating tigers and panthers,” Rattray replied. “They tell me the last three animals he accounted for, two tigers and a panther, had killed an incredible number , of natives. The cunning brutes always attack natives rather than the white man. They realise they are more helpless, lighter too, and easier to carry off.” The big game hunter, came in answer to the call. As Rattray said, none of the villagers wanted to answer any'questions about the panther. At last he found out from an old shikari, a native hunter, that the panther had taken between two and three hundred people from the village, and had grown so insolently bold that it ' would make its way through the hole in the thatch of the huts, pass by five sleeping coolies, and seize the sixth; Still the shikari refused to track the panther with Captain Turnbull. But the hunter was

determined to stay on and begin th* duel himself. First he poisoned a goat which it had killed; but when the panther returned to feast on its prey it ate all the unpoisoned flesh and left the poisoned alone.. ■ • Tunibull then set traps. The panther -stood with his forepay* spread wide apart, hooked the meat from the trap, and let it close without hurting him. Turnbull heard that the panther was accustomed to pass once a day over the suspension bridge, slung from height to height across a deep river., ; The captain laid himself along one of the girders beneath the bridge and waited for the enemy to pass over.. . Time went on; something made him turn over, and look in the river. He saw a dripping yellow body just disappearing among the reeds on the other side. The panther had known who was waiting for him and had swum the river instead. One afternoon Captain Turnbull knew the brute must be near, and he hid in a tree opposite a cluster of cottages with ' ■a long verandah. . ,' / ‘ • Suddenly from his post he .saw a wedding party coming across the field, adorned with jasmine wreaths, and with musicians playing...: , ‘ ’ The procession was brought Up by a little boy, walking last of all and carrying a big brass pot on his head. As the happy party reached the huts there was a clatter and the brass .pot fell off the child’s head. The panther flashed out of the verandah, where it had been lurking, and carried the boy away. . ’ , ’ ... ' From that hour the big game hunter stalked the panther day and night. In the early morning he knew it was stalking him. Suddenly, round a heap of huge boulders, the panther came face to face with its enemy. The gun roared once; the long stalk was over. In the dust the spotted terror lay dead. .

“That’s a splendid suit. you have on, Smiggs. Would yop mind giving me your tailor’s address?” ' , / < “Certainly not. • Here, it is.' There’s one stipulation, -though. that I must make. I’ve given you his address, but you must promise that you won’t give him mine.”