Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-05
CHAPTER ",

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CHAPTER ".
you are not going to fight duel, Bede?"
said Colonel Brandreth the next morning,
cor else why have you carried off the case
of pistols from the smoking room? warn
you they have not been used for years, not
since we used to practice in the shooting
gallery at Mentone in the beginning Of the
world"
81 am verv fond of firearms" said the
surgeon briefly, "and have not dropped my
pistol practice as you seem to have done-it
amuses me-"
LAS you will, provided you do not call
me out by the way of practice" said the
Colonel laughing. "By the way, shall you
60 and see the circus performance again to-
night, Bede?"
"If not incouvenient to you and Mrs
Brandreth," said the surgeon, u should
like to go so much"
bah cannot see the charm of ito
me it is a ghastly spectacle. Did you see
the sort of bound the lion gave just as the
fellow came out? 1t was sickening and
brutalizing to the masses"
"There l agree with you," said Sir Max
we'll. but, nevertheless, to the scientific
eye it is a fine study"
"Study of what ?' said Mrs. Brandreth.
mot of anatomy. Those wretched lions
have scarcely room to move their crampled
limbs. If you saw it on grand scale where
every movement of the grand beasts could
be seen as you can see them in the new dens
at the Zoo-then I could understand the
pleasure of the study"
81 was not thinking of the lions," he said
quietly.
"Ohl of the man himself"
'Yes, it is a fine study of the triumph of
spirit over matter, the man is the most splen-
did fellow ever saw"
Lucy looked up at him earnestly. at
must require great courage" she said.
Magnificent courage" he answered; ''the
finest courage of all-conquest of his own
terror" and, moved by the strength of his
own words, Sir Maxwell Bede walked to the
window.
Arthur" said Mrs Bandreth, alter a
moments pause, "will you take me to see it
again tonight"
"Better not" muttered the surgeon from
the window.
But Lucy was accustomed to having her
own way. 81 want to CO." she said. Gar
thur, will you take places again?"
Colonel Brandreth thought it all rather q
bore. He liked his quiet, lazy evenings
reading the paper over comfortable fire,
listening to his wife's charming music, COM
fortably smoking in the smoking room later
on, as he lazily talked over old times with
his dearly-beloved friend. But Lucy's will
was law and he did as she requested.
The circus was crowded that night All
day huge playbills. appearing on every
available spot, announced that it was TO be
hor laSf Of he
brated lion tameri before his temporary re-
tirement from public life. The excitement
had been increased greatly b. old Dion's
plunge on the previous night. 1t had risen
to such a height that the audience was un-
ruly and difficult to manage. They whis-
tied and stamped and applauded recklessly.
The manager was uneasy. He kept
coming into the arena during all the usual
routine, looking anxiously about him, watch
ing the temper of his audience. He was a
humane man, and as he went out for the
sixth or seventh time he touched the clown
on the shoulder and whispered: "If they
can't behave themselves I shall not send
Condor on"
Elsie rode beautifully. She sprang, she
leaped through half a dozen hoops, she ex-
ceeded herself SO that the Amazon, Jenny,
watching in a safe position, nodded and
for an encore to put off the evil moment.
Poor Elsie, it will be better for her when it
is over. / wonder how she will like
Bedlam."
They encored Elsie.
Colonel BranGreth was not the only one
who looked at his watch impatiently.
1t was over at last. The clown began his
usual byulay to fill up the time. The riders
trooped in and cleared the space for the
lions cage.
The manager appeared, sleek and good
looking in his smart evening clothes, but
singularly pale. He made his speech more
earnestly lhan usual, but the excitement of
the people was uncomfortable.
Outside Condor stood ready, Elsie by his
side. The clown rolled out, turning head
over heels as he went, and Joined them.
A heavy rolling and clanking of bars and
chains, dull snarling and tramping seemed
to fill the air, the wild beasts were being
rolled in.
DO it quickly to-day, Condor" said AL
bert.searnestly. "And if there is any diff
Guilty, don't lie down."
"What would the audience say to that?"
said Will grasping his hand. Nonsense!
1t is not worse tonight than any other night
Now Elsiei"
She was looking up at him burden Of
indescribable anguish in her eyes. She gave
HIM a quick short kiss. then regardless of
her circus dress, followed to the gate and
stood watching.
Will Condor came forward, and at the
sight of him burst of applause broke out.
The lions in their cage moved festlessly,
reared themselves up, and burst into roar,
even old Dion rose slowly, walked to the
bars with snarling sound and flung him.
sell down again.
The sound of hushl hush! went round,
and the people were silent
For a moment he stood before them, hand
some Will Condor, upright, symmetrical,
so perfect in proportion that the eve rested
on him in keen admiration, then lightly,
swiftly he walked on, opened the gate and
went in.
|. He walked familiarly about among the
lions, touching one and patting another,
pushing one on one side, always keeping his
eve on old Dion, who had withdrawn to the
farther end of the cage and lay there slowly
stirring his huge tail.
Not sound; the people were wrapped in
breathless silence. What was it? Why did
not the usual routine proceed: Will was,
standing quite still with his hand on his
chest, not moving from place to place, as he
generally did What allied him? His ewes