The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-29
ONLY AN ACROBAT.

The first night of the season at the
Hippodrome ct Menagerie des Nations,
in that laughter-loving and light-heart-
ed city of cities-Paris.
Well might the proprietor, the genlai
Artelio Milandri, hum tune as ne
contentedly counted the .'takings, Tor
there was not seat to spare. one cln-
mering, sweltering mass of gay Parls-
ians, patiently waiting the idol OF every
European capital, the one and the only,
the inimitable Paolo.
Paolo, better known to his friends
and associates as Bob Sinclair, was a
young Englishman-a well set-up,
fresh-colored, curly-haired Yorkshire
lad. Appended as a tiny boy to the
proprietor of a travelling circus. he
had, willy-nilly, gone through the mill,
now horseman, now acrobat, now
clown, now ringmaster anything and
everything A day came at length
when, taking advantage of the strong
man" craze, Bobs muscles, thews and
sinews suddenly launched him into
fame, and as "Paolo, the English Her
cules,'' he blossomed into the sought
after star" whom the crowded houses
see.
When Paolo stepped into the ring the
public enthusiasm knew no bounds. 1t
would be only taking up space to de-
scribe the strong man" performance,
which is now familiar to everybody.
Though Paolo worked that night as
cleverly as usual and without any ap-
parent effort to the eyes of the on
lockers, yet within himself he felt
weighted down by q strange foreboding
that something unusual was about to
happen, and he felt really relieved when
at last his performance was finished,
and he was at liberty to return once
more to his dressing room.
Scarce had the heavy velvet hang
ings separating the ring from the back
of the house fallen behind him when
his dresser" rushed breathlessly up to
him, his knees almost shifting together,
and terror comforting every feature of
his countenance
Heaven help us, M'sieur Paolot" he
gasped What shall we do? Scipo
has got loose from his cage, and is
alone can save u.s."
a cub by Milandri for exhibition to the
patrons of his menagerie. Owing to
some carelessness in the fastening of
his cage door. the beast had managed
to escape, and, attracted by the smell
of the horses, was now making his way
to the arena, on the opposite side of
which the stables were situated What
could Paolo do?
Beads of perSpiration stood upon his
forehead as he thought of the effects
of sudden stampede amongst that
vast concourse. How in their wild
alarm hundreds of women and children
-ay. and strong men, too--would be
crushed and trampled to death
Where are Francis, Jean, Pierre and
the rest?" he asked.
''All flown, m sieuri All escaped"
Now listen" he said to the attend
ant, you are the only one who has
shown any pluck, and 1 won't forget
you. Get through my dressing room
window, run as fast as your legs can
carry you to the barracks at the end
of the road, tell the officer on duty
what has happened and ask for help.
In the meanwhile grimly-'I will do
my best for Mr.. Scipio."
As the last sound of the mans hurry
ing feet down the passage proclaimed
him Wen on his way for help Paolo
hastily snatched up a small stiletto
which had been used in Juggling trick
during the evening, and, concealing it
in his vest, stepped once more to the
establishment and delight of the audi
ence, into the arena.
Whispering a few hasty directions in
to the ear of a clown who was filling