The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-23

Mr. Barnum." said I. getting into the
carriage. If il comes 10 "A hand-to-nand
hght between Hebe and me don't believe
an extra feet CT two OF hight would help
me any
He laughed outright. and began telling
how the elephant was hurt. She had step
ped on small bit Of iron. and 1t had pen
etrated the tender part OF the foot she
was IN Intense agony. and almost wild
with pain.
which she was We could hear her piteous
trumpeting, and when we entered we found
ner on three legs, swinging the hgrt foot
slowly backward and forward and utter
ing long cries OF anguish Such dumb mis-
cry in her looks-pOor thingi
Even Dick quailed now.
You can never get near her he whis-
pered. She'll kill YOU, sure"
Her keeper OWNED what he said
Don't be afraid. sir" he called out TO
ne "Hebe's got sense
l took my instruments from Mr.. Bar
mum.
Il like your pluck. my boy" he SAID.
heartily. but l own that l felt rather queer
and shaky as / went up to the huge beast.
The men employed about the show came
around us curiously, but at a respectful
ana eminently safe distance, as l bent
down TO examine the foot.
While ! was doing So as gently as !
could, / felt, to my horror, light touch
on my hair. II was as light as woman's s.
but as / turned and saw the great trunk
behind me 1t had an awful suggestive
ness.
She's only curling your hair" sung
out the keeper. Don't mind her.
Il shall have TO cut. and cut deep" said
/, by way of reply.
He said a few words in some lingo, which
were evidently intended for the elephant
understanding only. Then he shouted
with the utmost GOODNESS:
cut away
The mans faith inspired me- There ne
stood. quite unprotected, directly in front
OF the great creature, and quietly 1ab-
bered away to her as IL this were an every
day occurrence.
Well / made one cash with the knife.
felt the grasp on my hair tighten per-
ceptiby. yet not urgently. Cold drops
of perspiration came out all over me.
Shall l cut again. l managed to call
Cut awayr' came again the encourage
ing response
This stroke did the work The abscess
was lanced. We sprayed out the foot.
packed it with oakum. and bound il up.
The relief must have been immediate, for
the grasp on my hair relaxed. the eie-
plant drew long. almost human sigh,
and-well, | don't know what happened
next, for | tainted dead away. Dick must
have finished the business and picked up
me and my tools. l was as limp as a
rag.
II must have been a year and half after
this happened that l was called to West
ern Massachusetts to see some fancy
horses. Barnum's circus happened to be
there. You may be sure that called to
inquire for my distinguished patient.
'Hebes well and hearty, sir" the keep
er answered me. Come in and see her,
she'll be glad to see you"
There she stood. the beauty, as well as
ever. For moment she looked at me
indifferently, then steadily and with inter-
est. She next reached out her trunk ana
laid it caressingly first on my shoulder
and then on my hair-how wildly her
touch brought back TO my mind the cold
shiverS l endured at my Introduction to
her-and then she slowly lifted UP her
foot, now whole and healthy. and showed
it to me. That's the sober truth.