Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-02-12


and with one twist OF his arm he laid it
on its back with its four hoofs kicking
helplessly in the air.
OF his superhuman strength there had
been other proofs, but these vii serve
10 show not only Mati'ous muscular v,
but also his courage and devotion, for he
never hesitnted to risA his life when he
could help his fellows. So that he was
ms good rs he was strong. But that he
should lose none OF his strength it WIS
necessary, as Pescads had said, that h.
should eat, and his companion obliged
him to eat, stinting himself VIII n there
was only enough for one. This night
however, supper-eyen for one-had not
yet appeared above the horizon.
I'VE are III fog said Point Pescade.
And TO dissipate il he returned to his
jokes and grimaces.
He strobe along the platform, he ges-
ticulated, he did few dsocations, he
walked on his hands when he did net
walk on his feet having observed that
you do not feel SO hungry with your
head downwards. He began again in
his half Proyencal half Sclave lingo,
that perpetual patter of the show booth
which the clown fires off Mt the crowd.
Come in gentlemeni" shouted Point
Pescaie.
There is nothing TO pay till you go
out-and then its only kreutzer.
But to go ont it was necessary TO 60
in, and although five or six people
stopped no one attempted to enter the
arena.
Then Point Pescade with q long
switch pointed out the ferocious animals
depicted on the canvas Not thathe had
"a menagerie to show the public But,
these terrible creatures existed in some
parts Of Africa and India, and if ever
Cape Matifou met them on the road,
why they would only make a mouthful
for Capc Nation
And thus he chartered on, interrupted
every now and then by the giant with
bang ON the big drum that echoed like
cannon shot
The hyena, gentlemen, the hy@na
comes from the Cape of Good Hope.
Active and sanguinary you see him
clearing the walls of the graveyard On
which he preys.
Then turning to the other side of the
stand he pointed at Il daub of yellow IN
clump of blue trees.
Here you are The young and
interesting rhinoceros only fifteen
months old He came from Sumatra
and nearly wrecked the ship he was
brought over in by sticking his horn
through the hull.
Then 10 the other end he turned again
TO show the lion amidst greenish mass
of the bones Of his victims.
Behold, gentlemenl The terrible
lion of the Atlas He lives in the
depths Of the Sahara, in the burning
sands of the desert! When the heat
gets too much for him he hides in the
caves! II lac finds any water dropping
he opens his mouth and drinks it as it
drops And that's why he's called an
humIdiau,'
But all the attractions seemed to Sail.
Point PcScaje shouted III vain. In vain
Cape Nation banged the big drum.
Things Were growing desperate.
However, few Dalmatians-powey-
ful-lookmg mountaineers came at last,
and stopped before the athletic Matifou
and cooily examined him with the air Of
connoiSseurs.
Point Pescade imme lately challenged
them.
Walk up, gentlemen Come inl
Nows your time Grand contest! Man
TO man. 4 clear field Cape Matifou
will throw ANY amateur that honors him
with his confidence A pair of cotton
tights rs the prize for The conqueror
Are you game, gentlemen = added Point
Pescade, addressing these big fellows
who stared ut him with astonishment.
But the blg fellows did not see the fun
of accepting the challenge, and Point
Pescade had to announce that as no
amateurs were forthcoming the contest
would take place between Cape Mstifou
and himself Yes Skill shall be
pitted AGA nst strength.
Walk MP! Walk up Don't all
came at ouce!' vociferated poor Pes
cade. "You viii see now what you
never saw j. fore Point Pescade and
Cape National 1t hammerand tongues
The TWINS of Provence! Yes-twins--
but not OF the same age, nor of the same
mother! Eli: Aren't we like each
other NE particularly"
A youns man stopped in front OF the
platform. He listened grayely to these
threadbare pleasantr.es.
The young man was about twenty two
or little older and was above the mid
die height. His handsome features.
with certain severity about them,
denoted pensive nature disciplined
probably in the school of suffering. His
large black eyes, his beard which he
Kept short, his mouth rarely accustomed
to smile. bat clearly cut beneath his
silky mou-t1chc. proclaimed unmis-
takaby his luu..ui II origin and tho
prcpopdcrmc- of Magyar blood lie
was drcs,e, qui tly IN n MODERN suit,
without amy pr,tcnse Of being in the
fashion His hearing could not he mis-.
taken the young man was already =
man.
He listened, we have said, TO Tho use
less pattcr Of Point Pescadc. With some
sympathy me looked at him showing off
on the platform. Having suffered him
self he probably could not remain indif-
ferent 10 the -uil,iiugs Of others.
1.-Two Tlcu. linen !" he said 10 him
self. Poor fellows They have not
done much today"
And then the idea occurred to him TO
constitute himself an audieuce-an audi
ence ihat paid. 1t was only a bit Of
/ cl,a~,y ,,,pln,e hat ~ was n hit NJ