A Tiger's Skin The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 8.

"A Tiger's Skin" by W. W. Jacobs is a comical short story set in a countryside village, that's reminiscent of old-timey England. The story kicks off when rumors spread like wildfire about a tiger escaping from a circus, leading the townsfolk to descend into utter chaos with people doing insane things. The narrative is sprinkled with both laughs and suspense, focusing on how people react to the scary unknown. Initially, the story unfolds through the musings of an old man and a sign-painter, who recall a similar tiger-related incident. As stories spread, the villagers are overtaken by fear, which results in overblown reactions, like forming search groups and locking themselves in their homes. In the end, the truth behind the supposed tiger comes to light: the "tiger" was actually a cover for one character's mischievous and dishonest actions. As the story ends, laughter ensues, and the villagers come to the realization that they feared the wrong thing.