The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-10-11
"eENNY" FRIGHTENED HIM.

How IN Advance Agent Was DISTURBED
While Reading tho Morning Paper.
It was an impromptu gathering Of theat-
rical men-one Of those groups that congrs-
gate every once in q while and . sort OF
love feast is held. Well, the conversation
turned to story telling, and some reminis-
cent fellow spoke of Daniel In the lonss
den.
"1,n tell you what it ID" said one, whose
name, by the way, is Daniel. you've all
undoubtedly heard tho story Of Daniel tn
the lions den, but I don't think you evsr
heard of the lion in Daniels den, did your
Nobody had, and 80 Daniel proceeded.
"Some years ago." said he, before I b.
came an ordinary manager, I was . wealthy
and popular advance agent, leading my
show and my people to fame and fortuna.
I CHANGED to drop into Boston ono day, and
stopped at a theatrical boarding house kept
by an old professional, known ~ Mother
Lincoln. Well, it was night and I had besn
out-I was very tired, so went directly to
bed. It must have been about ESQ In the
morning when I awoke, and sent the porter
for the Sunday papers. When he went ont
Of my room he left tho door ajar. and I was
too lazy to get up and shut 1t.
II read the paper for awhile, n soon
became engrossed in . story about Sara
Bernhardt, when an irresistible impulse TO
look up came over me-. I looked up.
Great Scott!" said Daniel, wiping his
p~erspiring brow, "the thought of my feel
ings then makes me sweat to this day"
well, what did you sect" came In .
chorus from the audience
Nothing more nor less than q we'll do
veloped specimen of the Numidian Lion
gazing at me close to my bedside. I'd
heard about peoples hair standing on end
from fright. I realized then what that
meant. My blood CONCEALED in my veins.
and that lion seemed to grow to the size of
an elephant.
Gust imagine the feelings Of . man
lying quietly in bed reading q Sunday
paper, and then looking up to see that
terrific beast almost looking into his eyes.
1t was awful, gentlemenl It was awful
II realized, however, that I must do
something, so, never taking my eyes from
the brute, who regarded me with sarcastic
smile, l grasped the bedelothes with ono
hand, a pillow in the other-to stun in tho
lions mouth II he jumped 1t me-and
with a yell which would have made . Wild
West Indian groan with envy I sprang to
the back side Of the bed.
with a wild roar of amazement the lion
rcCTedCcu W Guo uOOEs Au0 UuV0 4O8 low
seconds the beast and I regarded each
other. when presently I heard q voice call
ing:
"'Benny, Benny, where are your Come
right down here, sirp
"To my unutterable amazement the lion
wagged his tail. gave me a parting look
and backed out through the door.
"Ye godsl but wasn't I relieved and I
fell fiat on the bed, too weak to stir. After
a bit 1 got up, dressed and found Mother
Lincoln. Madame said !, I wasn't aware
you were keeping q menagerie. I thought
this was a simple. ordinary boarding house,
What do you meani' said she. And then
I told her what had happened.
"She laughed, said Look here, and took
me t o a rear door which looked out In the
court yard, where, trotttng up and down
the yard, was Benny and . lioness. You
see,' she explained, q Twas out with q circus
and menagerie a few months ago that went
to pieces. Nobody could get salaries, 90 l
got these cubs, and they have grown . lit
tie since. I'm sorry Benny frightened
you.'"-Chicago Times.