The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-01-30
started homeward, and without tho
least hesitation Ahmed walked beside.

started homeward, and without tho
least hesitation Ahmed walked beside
me. as gentle and harmless in appear
ance as pet dog.
| What Consideration there was when
appeared at the house with tho ele.
plant! Ahmed stood in the yard
beside me whilo I told my story, and
caressed me with his trunk and even
rihed my pockets of the pieces OF
cake 7 had taken for him that morning
and had forgotten.
"Well, what are we going to do
now?" said Mr.. Franklin obviously.
":lt is very hard to find good keeper,
especially at thia season OF tho year,
and that bridge must be built at
once"
| I volunteered to 60 to town and
find keeper, and / was sure there
would be no trouble about it. But I
soon found that elephant keepers were
rare, and that the fame of Ahmed had
gone forth, and none Of them would
undertake the cars Of an elephant that
had rebellel and como so near killing
his last keeper.
"There's only one way to manage
it, I naid that night when Invent
home. II will take Ahmed down to-
morrow and make him build tho
bridge"
There WIS general shout OF horror,
and everybody had never heard OF
such q thing, and did not know what
vas undertaking, and I would be
sure 20 be killed. I waited till the
storm had subsidized, and then I told
them that would try it, anyway, and
if did not succeed, why thon some
other plan must DO devised.
1t must be confessed that I looked
at Ahmed tho next morning with
good deal Of trepidation. He certainly
was very large. I had my pockets full
OF biscuits which I meant to use as
sops for Cerberus I'll through the
morning, but he found them without
delay and CITE them all at mouthful,
and then VIC took our way down to the
bridge, several members of Che family
following at C. distance, for they were
very doubtful as to the result OF the
experiment.
But We went down to the timbers
Which were to 60 into tho bridge, and
L showed Aimed which enc 7 wanted
out, wondering il lo would under
stand ne. Ee did. Without the least
delay ne lifted tho log, and then We
iourneyea down to the stream, and I
showed him where the log was to so.
We got on sancusly. and I heard q
faint cheer from tee bank, where the
donbters were in hiding. Ahmed and |
| were building TIE bridge as pleas
antly as though we had done nothing
all our lives hut build bridges.
Surely, it was 8 great change-an
American BOY, in nineteenth century
costume, turning elephant trainer and |
builder OF bridges in tho island Of
Ceylon, bnt that is what had hap
pened. wondered if any of my old |
friends could over believe this. And |
yet it had all coma about in the most
natural Way, Tor had merely shown
tie animal little kindness, and so
had won his love.
A few days later, greatly to my joy,
man appeared whom Ahmed condo
scended to accept y: his trainer, and
turned my pet over to him, noting
with Joy that he was likely to be
treated kindly.
Our work in Ccyion was finished.
1t had been rainy weather and the
roads were unfit for The horsos, 80 it
was arranged that wo should 80 to
town on the elephant. Ahmed greeted
me with eIl'lsion when I went ont to
mount, and WIS evidently oyerjoyed
to see NE again, tor ! had carefully
kept out OF his aisht since the coming
Of his new kesper. And so We went
away in true oriental style, mounted
on Ahmed. At the town carriage
was awaiting Us to take us to tae ses-
port.
There was moments delay while
some packages were stored inside, sud
We were attending to these when sud.
denly something reached past nv
brother and touchea nv face. Il was
trunk. Eta had followed me.
My brother started, tho driver, who
busily arranging the bundles, dropped
them with a shrek and fed for his
life, and l. laughed md pettod Ahmed
little {os the last tine. The carriage
started apd' I looked back and saw
Ahmed and his dusky keeper standing
notionless. ike two statues carved in
The land Of the oyieut.-Chlcagc
Record.
--.'''''n'" "
Why Y..HlJcr Rolls.
The prolonged roll Of thunder is