The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-20
CHAPTER ".

You are not going 10 Hght duel, Bede ?'' said
Colonel Brandreth, the next morning, ''or else
WHY have you baye you carried of the case OF
pistols from the smOklngro0m? l warn you
they have not been used for years, not since we
used to practice in the shooting gallery at Men
tone III the beginning of the world"
81 am very FOND of firearms" said the surgeon,
briefly, land have not dropped my piston pTac-
tice as you seem TO have done-t amuses me-"
LAS you Will. provided you do not call me out
by way OF practice" said the Colonel laughing
by the way shall you go and see the circus per-
Torrance again tonight Bede?"
III not announcement TO you and Mrs. Brand
reh," said tile surgeon, 81 should like TO 90 so
much"
''1ah l cannot see the charm of ito me it is
ghastly spectacle. Did you see the sort of
bound The lion gave Just the fellow came out {?
II was sckening aud brutalizing TO the masses?''
There l agree with you,' said Sir Maxwell
But. nevertheless, TO the scientific eye it is a
STUDY of what ?" said Mrs Brandrelh mot
OF anatomy. Those wretched lions have scarcely
room to move then cramped limbs. Ii you
ii on grand scale, where every movement of the
grand beasts could be seen as you can see Them
in the new urns at the Zoo, then l could under
stand the pleasure OF The study"
g was not thinking of the lions," he said
Ion! of the man hmself?"
Yes, il is a fine study OF the triumph of spirit
over matter. Tie man is the most splendid fell
low l ever saw"
Lucy looked up at him earnestly. sit must re-
qulre great courage" she said.
"Magnfcent courage" he answered. "The
ana, moved by the strength of his own words, Sir
Maxwell Bede walked TO the window.
Arthur" said Mrs. Brandreth, after mo-
menrS pause, "Will you take Inc TO see 1t again
Tonight
Better not" muttefed the surgeon from the
window.
But Lucy was accustomed to having her own
way. 81 want TO 60" she SAID. Arthur, viii
you please take me?"
Colonel Brandreth thought it all rather bore
He liked his quiet, lazy evenings reading the
paper over comfortable lire, listening 10 lis
wife's charming music, comfortably smoking in
the sm0klng-room later on, as he laZiiy talked
over old lines with his dearly loved friend.
But Lucy's Will was law and lie did as she he.
quested.
The circus was crowded that night All day
huge playbills appearing on every available spot
announced that IL was to be the posi- lively last
appearance of the celebrated lion tanner before
his temporary retirement from public life. The
excitement has been Increased greatly by old
Dlon's plunge on the previous night. 1t had risen
to such height that the audience was unruly
and difficult 10 manage; they whistled and
stamped and applauded recklessly.
The manager was uneasy; he kept coming into
the arena during all the usual routine, looking
anXiOusly about him, watching the temper OF his
audience. He was humane man, and as he
went Oul for the sixth or seventh time lie touched
the clown on the shoulder and whispered; If
they can't behave themselves shall not send
Condor on"
Elsie rode beautifully; she sprang, she leaped
through half a dozen hoops, she exceeded her
self that the Amazon Jenny, watching in a
safe position, nodded and said TO herself: Poor
evil monleut. Poor Elsie il will be better for her
when it is over. wonder how she will like Bed
lamp"
They encOred Elsie.
Colonel Brandreth was not the only one who
looked at his watch impatiently.
IL was over at last. The clown began his
usual byplay 10 ill UP tie time. The riders
trooped IN and cleared the space for the lion s.
cage.
The manager appeared. sleek and good looking
in his smart evening clothes, but singulary
pale He made his speech more earnestly than
usual, but the excitement OF the people was I'M
comfortable
Outside Condor stood ready, Elsie by his side
The clown rolled out, turning head oyer-heels as
he went, and joined them.
A heavy rolling and clanking of bars and
chains, dull Snarng and lramping seemad 10
I'LL the air, the wild beasts being rolled IN.
Do 1t quickly to-day, Condor" said Albert,
earnestly. Aud If there is any difficulty, don't
lie down"
What would the audience say to tbat?" said
VIII, graSping his hand. " Nonsense! 1t is not
worse tonight than any other night, Now e.
sie!"
She was looking up at him, burden of in
describable anguish In her eyes. She gave him a
quick short kiss, then, regardless OF her circus
dress, followed 10 the gate and stood watching
VIII Condor came forward, aud at tie sight of