Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-21


ger OF attacking the powerful brute un-
armed-he dashed forward. Eut the
gorilla was too quick; IL bounded OF.
and closely followed by StaVarta, rushed
round the gallery, down the stairs. and
leaPt into its cage, when Stavarta
slammed the door and shot the bolt"
"Stavarta told you that?"
"Stavarta"
"Stsvarta liesl" I cried. springing 10
my feet.
Someone jostled through the ring of
men around me. and n hand fell heav-
lily across my facc-Stavarts's hand.
II lied, did /. you fellow?'' he shout
ed. you always were jealous of the
love she bore me-jealous, you dog,
And now behind my back. you dare 10
say hed."
You lied" I answered, without re-
turning the blow, but fixing him with
my eyes. And why you lied we soon
shall know. Jealous of you! You know
she loved not one of us, and least of all
loved you! Now watch his face, and
listen while speak.
1.-The very moment when I saw
Zenobe FAM ] continued, psssionately,
Il turned and few towards the stair
case, thinking of nothing but venge-
ance on the gorilla-vengeance my
hands should work. Running by here.
1 stopped and gazed in widest wonder
at Goble safe and quiet in his cage"
You lie, you ie!" cried Stavsrta,
making a dash at me. But the men held
him back rough-hsndedly.
10. l.~14o<1 I
'Bolted?" exclaimed some of the
men.
AYE, bolted, and Stavarta was not
herei-"
take off your hands," shouted
Stavarta, trying to free himself of those
whe held him. "Of course, 1 was not
here, but running round to tell you
men had the great brute safe" -
you lie againt" 1 cried, "for hear4
someone bounding down the stairs !
hid myself, and saw you bounding dowu
you, Stavartai You. sprang upon the
cage and cursed the brute, and looked
around as il expecting someone would
run up at that moment and perceive
you" ~
"You lie, you do" he cried, ightinN
with all his strength to get at me- -
'Why all these lies on either side3'
demanded the ringmaster, angrily. =
Because he hates me-" cried Stavar-
ia, growing black in the face with
struggling and with passion. Because
he would not let me have the credit Of
my courage, if he could help"
And why do you say he lies?'
because he knows too we'll" / an
swered. angrily, what he was doing in
| the gallery, and how it was we saw a
gorilla in the gallery, when the beast
must certainly have been securely in
his cage"
MY souli" Stavarta Kissed, between
his teeth, flashing at me his eyes. which
CLEANED like living coal out of his gray
face. Let me but get my hands upor
your throat, and by my soul I'll strange
you'll"
silence, Stavarta, silencel" cried the
ringmaster. Then turning TO me, he
asked: You, like us, saw the gorilla or
the roof. What of that?"
Come, follow me-" said. II think ]
know"
1 mounted the staircase, followed by
| the rest, who compelled Stavarta to &C
company us by force of numbers
| Flight after fight of the winding stairs
we mounted, and at each angular land
ing Stavarta's face grew graver, and his
voice of protestation more hollow.
| At last we reached the gallery floor
and, turning sharply TO the left, leo
| the way to where 1 knew a row of SIX
small offices were ranged. pushed tho
first door and it gave. The room wa.
| empty. 1 tried the next door, which
also gave. That room also was empty
| The third door-it was locked.
Where is the key?" demanded.
But no one knew.
Here is key thatu open 80 doors
like that" said one of the men. And be
shivered the lock with a mighty kick.
"A trap, a trap!" cried Stavarta
writhihg to free himself, as we STOOD
and gazed upon heap of long brown
hair skins and the mask of a large man
monkey. The skins were torn, the masl
was broken; broken and torn in tn,
frenzied haste of throwing them off
The gloye-like hands and feet of hail
were smeared with blue paint. The
| paint upon the girder-work was new
And in one finger of the left-hanS glove
was a ring. The ring was Stavsrta'si
| Zenobe lived 10 walk about or
crutches and marry me.
Stavarta died to show he was too poor
/ a soul TO live in punishment.-IIt-R BITS