The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-07-26

heavily against the bars While che
shock dislodged the tiny pistol always
"a her belt, and flung It far beyond her
reach. Then the lions turned upon
her, their eyes wild with fury.
"Cerberus, Diabolo." she shouted, as
she struck at them with her whip,
trying IN vain to TX them with her
eyes. But II was useless. Three times
they chased her round the cage While
the audience held their breath.
The g%uardsi" gasped the people,
"Ohi God, the guards" their absence
being % noticed for the fret time.
Ali but the audience had forgotten
Jimi Snatching the iong-handled
fork (kept for emergency, he dashed
At the cage, iabbing and prodding the
ions with It's singing prongs. Nothing
but the knowledge that he must be
outside the cage-door TO open it for
Marie, kept him from dashing IN
among the lions, whom he seemed to
fear no more than ants.
Then, as for one instant driven 70
the end Of the cage, they turned again
upon Marie, Jim flung the door wide
open-she dashed out-and the heavy
iron swung to again, but not before
Diabolo's claws had fastened upon Jim,
ripping his arm open from shoulder
to wrist, and almost tearing It from
Its socket. As he sank upon the
ground a bleeding, unconscious mass,
Mr.. McGrath and the delinquent
guards hurried to the spot.
The audience rose to a man, and
for a momen panic seemed inevitable.
But the thought In every mind that II
wal probably all over for Jim, did
more to quiet them than the efforts OF
the manager, and as several doctors
hurried from the crowd, and Jim on q
hastily %improvised litter, was borne
from the tent, followed by Marie, her.
self bleeding from several wounds, the
tinsel and gauze almost torn OF her
back, many women and even men
sobbed aloud.
When the lacerated arm had been
dressed and the fractured shoulder set,
the doctors turned their attention to
Marie, telling her that It might have
been so much worse, for though Jim's
left arm would be useless for many
months (they feared, though they
never limited it, forever). his iron con-
stitution and sober habits would has
ten and insure his recovery.
Marie's injuries were mere flesh
wounds, painful, but in no wise Ian
gereous, and though the doctors mo-
mentarily expected a total coll
lapse, she pulled herself together in q
way marvellous to behold, seeming to
have eyes, ears and thoughts for no
one but Jim.
The next day, as Jim lay faint and
weak but conscious upon his bed. with
Marie sitting beside him and Jlmmy's
cradle close by, Marie said, bravely:
1T is Eat you are now to worry about
Messing, my Jim, me, / will work for
bose while you and re bebe get WE'LL
Jim smiled family, as she leaned
over him lovingly, but his well hand
closed with astonishing strength over
hers, as she said firmly: That's as
it may be, Marie, but you'll have to
work at something else, for though
I've lost one arm, maybe, I've still got
the other, and you and me has quit
the circus business for good. No" as
she seemed about to interrupt him.
1--WE said my say, and though / don't
put my foot down often, it's down this
time for keeps"
And it was just at this juncture that
their good landlady handed Marie n
letter addressed to Jim In a queer. nm
formed hand, and while Marie held n
for him, Jim, with difficulty, read as
follows:
I'm a plain Teller and no saint. but I
do admire a brave mn when I meet him
and / never see a u44ter job than We
lone yesterday. I hear the gals yer
wife, and II We ever leave her do the
lion act again / say We don't deserve to
keep her. As ye may be a bit short TIN
ye git goin' again, / enclose a tribe
which I shan't never miss from a pile I
mad on the trak last week. And ye
needn't never try to thank me, fer / shall
be miles away when ye git this letter
from A FRIEND.
The letter held five clean bills OF
one hundred dollars each, and little
Jimmy crowed with delight as the
pretty green things huttered down
upon the counter-pane.