Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-11-10
CHAPTER III.

CHATTER III.
1t was n month later. During the
passing month John Foster had periled
his life half ahundred times, coming out
unscathed.
A tremendous audience was gathered
in the pavilion of Lipman's Oriental
Equescurriculum, drawn there princi-
pally by the fame of Signor Foscarelli's
performance. The jests of the clown,
the vaulting of the acrobat, the contor-
tons of the homeless man, the antics of
the trick horse, all became things of
the past for that occasion. Last of all
was to come the entrance of the lion
tanner into the cage of monsters.
Signor Foscarelli appeared. He bowed
to the audience. smiled. and then en-
tered the place where no other man of
all that throng could haze gone, and
lived to tell of his daring.
This nineteenth century boasts of its
civilization. But some way or other /
am reminded of the gladiatorial days of
Rome as | write of John Foster. The
blood of the sacrifice seems as sweet to
the people now as it was then. o tenn
pOrG! y moreS!
The man went through with his per-
Torrance successfully, the audience
hanging breathlessly upon his actions.
His beasts obeyed him as well as usual.
Signor Foscarelli, as have said, went
through his performance successfully;
he was about ready to retire from the
cage. Slowly he stepped backward.
Suddenly there was n suppressed roar
IN an instant the man saw his peril.
The eyes of his largest animal were
flashing fire, and his great red tongue
had dropped out. There was a spring,
and simultaneously cry of fear from
the audience.
But the liOn-tamer was not slain. He
had kept his presence of mind, and his
motions were quicker than those of the
angry beast. The great iron door of the
cage closed with a crash between him
and the lion, and he was safe Still, he
had left his sleeve inside, and there was
an ugly scratch on his arm-an uplv
scratch, no more.
John Foster bowed and smiled again.
Then in a moment his tall, athletic
figure had disappeared from the sight of
the multitude.
His escape had occurred during the
afternoon performance. That evening.
after he had eaten his supper, he came
out of the dining-room into the office OF
the hotel Standing by the desk of the
clerk was the man with dark eyes,
closely-shaven face, white teeth, and
thin lips. John Foster recognized him
Immediately.
Good-evening, Signor Foscarelli,"
he said.
"Good-evening" said John Foster,
coldly.
81 understand that you have had a
narrow escape" said Mr.. Peter Gwyn.
Nov, if | had been in the pavilion
this afternoon, you would have been
killed. no doubt. am to be in ut the
death, however, so you were spared.
Are you aware that have seen you per-
form several times during the last
month"; You see, l am man OF
means. and it's my within to follow YOU
around in this way"
II don't know anything about your
movements, SIR" said John Foster.
angrily. Neither do 1 care to. You
are too cold blooded to suit me-"
g shall see you perform again to-
night" said Mr.. Peter GwyE, display
ing no heat whatever.
John Foster turned on his heel, and
walked away. His countenance be-
trayed nothing, but he felt his heart
sink. He had expected at any rate tina:
the lions would be harder to manage
than usual. He felt that the presence
OF this man would unnerve him. Be-
fore his vision rose the face of the wom-
an he loved. and she was weeping.
Was his doom staring him in the face [?
The thought suggested itself to him that
he might refuse to appear. But he shut
his teeth hard, and drove it away.
/ am no coward, Mr.. Peter Gwyn, {"
he muttered, as though speaking to the
man who seemed to be his foe. Your
silly twaddle shall not brighten me from
my business."
But that very thought was proof that
John Foster was affected. And he, brave
man as ever lived, was strangely So
However, for some reason, why, John
Foster never knew, PeterGwyn was not
present that night. and the animals were
as docile and obedient as he had ever
known them.