The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-09-21

"Weel," responded Elton, gravely-l
he had known of the young mans feel
ings this long time back--sdidna she
COON once afore, during overtime, to
walk whoam WI theep"
'.No," returned Rogers, "that wer
on account of her brother being sick
an lonesome, an fancying my COM
pany."
AYE" said the elder man, smiling
and shaking his head in the profundity
Of his wisdom, ''thee can have it so an
thou wilt" Fitton was looking up
through the manhole as he spake,
"theer," he exclaimed, 'lantern's gone
out"
As Jenny was by no means delicate
city-bred woman with a consciousness
of nerves and all that they involve. but
just simple, healthy girl full Of vital
ity and good spirits, when she had re-
covered the two men told her of the
presence OF the animal over their heads.
She shuddered and said, ''but it could
not get in herer"
ut shall not" said Dick. and the
two men fell discussing a means of
escape. 1t was imperative, at least it
seemed to them to be so, that one of
them should leave their place OF safety;
and at last their plan was made.
At four o'clock they found what they
had waited for, the gorged beast was
asleep.
"Pve neither wife nor childer," said
Rogers, turning his head away as Fitton
offered to try, IAN I'll do it.
A short silence, and then involun-
tarily the two men looked at the girl.
''Aye. Dick. II it nun be, it nun be-"
and then. woman-like, burst into tears
and kissed him.
Divesting himself of his jacket and
shoes. Rogers silently climbed out, crept
swiftly over the felt-covered boiler to
the opposite end from where the lion
lay, and hastily descended the small
iron ladder affixed to the side of the
boiler brickwork. In a second he was
behind the boiler-house and out of
sight; few more seconds he had
crossed the wet yard. passed through
the archway leading to the entrance,
and quickly clambered over the iron
gates. Many people would have gone
for q policeman if they could have found
one, but with the best foresight he ran
down Hill street, through Lord street,
and reached the menagerie, where he
at once broke the windows in OF the
sleeping wagon and aroused the in
mates. Giving precise direction. he
left them and went straight back to
Mrs. Fitton's house in Hanging-road-
lane. where he assured the frightened
woman that her husband was safe.
With the early habits of factory work.
ers he had foreseen that Mrs. Fitton
would be soon up and might attempt
to enter the mill; he next sent Fitton's
little boy to the fire station. where he
knew the men would be alert and ready
for any emergency-he distrusted the
police-besides he had a cousin among
the firemen and in an underlined way
he felt the family credit was at stake.
After this Rogers returned to the
top of Hill street. where he encountered
some Of the menagerie men dragging a
handcart containing appliances for
capture, with Secomo, the lion tanner at
their head. Secomo was dressed in his
professional costume, with a couple of
revolvers in his belt and his whip in
his hand. 1t was a curious, motley
group they presented. struggling
through the deserted streets in the
gray morning light; but Dick was not
in condition of mind to draw compar-
ison, even If he had felt inclined to do
so.
As they entered narrow lane fire
engine dashed up, the men armed with
crowbars and hatchets. In a moment
the gates were pried open; they all
passed in and fastened the gates be-
hind him. ''Stopw exclaimed the show
proprietor. in tone of entreaty-
Rogers without any ceremony, had
snatched revolver from SECONDS
belt. The man looked too dangerous
at that moment to argue with.
| "You will not" exclaimed the show
man; ''kill the lion if you can help;
he's valuable beast, and Secomo and
myself have no doubt we can take him
alive"
There was no need to tell the crowd
in which direction to go, for confused
sound of growing and roaring led them
at once to the spot. To their astonish-
ment Fitton descended from the boiler
house and advanced to meet them.
1.-THE ould lads all rect" he said, at
once OBTAINING Rogers. and then adj
dressing the assembled group. They
pressed forward and beheld the lion
enveloped in n rome with n nOosa ahout