The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-03-11

them, raised his fairy-like child upon
its back, and made it march around
with her. Then he prepared to throw
the two cages into one.
'Let Inez come ont now," whis-
pered the attendant, uneasily. "You
have enough already to keep your
promise, and the audience won't know
the difference"
mo, 1 will go through. Mind
what l told you, and have things ready
in case there should be. trouble, though
l don't fancy any Then he contin.
ued aloud, and SO as to be plainly
heard by everyone: "Hand me the
pail of blood"
A cold shiver appeared to pass
through the frame of all as the vessel,
dripping with crimson drops, was
given to him and when he loosened
the partition, and the fierce lioness
and sleek tiger came bounding in
many heart almost ceased to beat
Down.
The tiger obeyed, and the foot of
the lion tanner was upon his neck.
"Upp
And the leopards we're purring like
great cats upon his shoulders, while
the lioness lay crouched with her
tawny paws thrust through the bars
and growing severely.
His child was sitting on the back of
the lion, and smiling in that den OF
horrors. Her confidence in her
father was sublime-was as perfect as
her love. She never dreamt of fear
On he was near to protect, and
le the lookerson shuddered, she in
,ntly deemed it a pleasant pastime.
Down."
The leopards leaped to either corner
and crouched down.
"Come"
The lioness grumblingly arose,
crawled suddenly to his feet, rose and
laid her great claws upon his shoulder,
making him swerve with her weight,
and raising her terrible head upon
level with his own. Slowly and slow
ly they turned round as if waltzing,
the low mutterings of the beast be-
coasing more plainly audible every
moment, and her yellow, feline eyes
swapping with hidden fires.
With an amazing exhibition OF
strength he wrested with tripped and
threw her from him, and the canvas
Vtent rang again. But instantly she was
tsoon her feet, lashing her sides with
her prehensile tail, drawing back her
lips so as to show teeth, and uttering
the deepest and fiercest growls.
"For the love OF mercy, hand out
your child, Joe," said his attendant.
"Wait moment. shall be done
quickly"
The crowning feat was yet to come.
1t was one upon which he had be-
slowed much time and upon which he
had prided himself-a tableau of wild
beasts, with manhood and childish
beauty for the central attraction.
He stepped to the corner, led the
monster lion forth into the center of
the cage, made him lie down, placed
the little girl upon him, and stood
astride. Then shrill whistle brought
the cheetah leopards bounding upon
his shoulders and standing up with
paws crossed above his head and the
black tiger erect upon his left, and
throttled with his hand. But the
lioness failed to do his bidding and
take her place upon his right. She
lay in the act of springing, and at but
little distance.
"Come."
There was no movement, and the
whip was raised and fell heavily upon
her head. That was all that was
needed to awaken her latent ire, and
with roar like that given in her
native forest, she sprang with almost
resistless force toward him. A sharp,
stinging blow on the bridge of the
nose for moment cowed her, and she
might have been conquered, had she
not partially fell upon and upset the
pail and deluged the floor of the cage
in blood!
Then all became the widest COM
motion. Every beast sprung down,
Tapped the blood. and then turned
upon him. Even the veteran lion ap-
peared to forget the long years of