Smyrna times., 1902-02-05


third time he half turned away.
''All right, boy" said the trainer
gently. "Ill give you a rest. Come out,
Prptor! Jump! So. Now. Consul! Up!
Good bOyl Up. CGsOr! Come, Senator,
overt Holav'
Around the confines OF the cage, now
running, now leaping over the set OBJ
structions, glided the tawny, sinuous |
bodies of the lion troupe. whiic their |
mistress. in the center, waved them on |
with her wand. But all the time she |
was watching. not Brindle, but Ar
chon, and Brindle was watching too.
Soon it was the big lions turn. In
answer to the command he came for
ward, but there was something
strange in his motion. His eyes were
set, and he moved jerkily. and the
great tufted tail that had been curry
ing around his hanks grew straight
and rigid as an iron club.
I Come, Archon," said the girl. up!
Get up, sir! Archonr' Then. without
raising her voice, for the discipline of
the circus thinks first of its audience
the audience that must not be unpleas-
the poles and keep him back. can't
get to the door. He's going bad"
Slowly the great lion moved on
stiffly, like q cat stalking a sparrow.
The others crouched at the sides. silent
and trembling Only Brindle growled
slightly. Then there was q rattle and
clank of the iron door. and a man.
bearing heavy club in his hand.
lcaped into the cage.
"Phil!' cried the girl. with thrill
in her voice that told him more than
he had ever known before. Go back.
They don't know you! You'll be kill
ed! can handle"-
Her voice was drowned in the
Shrek of thousands of voices as the
great lion hurled himself straight at
her throat, shifting at her with those
terrible paws. At the same time Il sec
ond tawny body darted through the
air, and the two met. Like Il flash
the girl had slipped away from the
mad lions onslaught, but a glancing
. impact had sent her to the floor. Half
: stunned as she was, she caught at the
bars to raise herself, for once train
: er is down authority is gone, and any
: lion is likely to attack. \ strong arm
lifted her and drew her toward the
door, but the way was blocked. Lock
e ed in a furious embrace, the mad lion
4 and the two-year-old were tearing
: and clawing each other, while the rest
J. SUNK, terrified, at the sides. Even in
!. her peril the girl thought of the faith
o full beast.
S "ArchOn will kill him.! she cried
), clutching the elephant mans arm
= "See, he is working in at his throat
! Oh, can't they get firebrands:"
n What Berthels did then was partly
# from gratitude and partly from th'
II natural fighting courage of the maj
1t who trains wild beasts. He swung hi
e heavy club up and as Brindle in Il lna
e effort for life tore half loose from hi
1t foe brought the weapon down with
4 smashing blow across the mad lion
le NAV. \ lions nose is his senstiv
le point Half stunned. the giant relaXe
1T his grip, and Brindle tore away. Arch
d, on gathered himself to leap. Again tn
is club fell, but this time too late. Th
re nan was down.
d. AT him, Brindle" cried the CIR
to catching at Archon with her slende
hands. and the faithful lion responde
en with another attack.
ell But now the fighting madness was 6
al it's height in ArchOn's brain. One pa
it broke Berthes' arm. the roaming jaw
Sc were at his throat, when there can
er the crackle of pistols. and the fierC
Ia face rose. despatched with blood, tur1
ar- ed hither and thither and closed i
eyes. They dragged Berthels out of Il
ais cage then and there. but not so Il
rn- girl Over her Brindle, torn and ma
ter gled. mounted guard until she came
from her faint and drew herself to h
,ut feet with her hands buried in l.
T." name.
.le- Berthels insisted that he and t
feline empress ought to be married
ich the day they buried Archon, but |
ing broken arm wouldn't allow it. Howe
ks. er. they had a professional wedding
md the lion cage. and Brindle. standi
Ugh proudly on his hind legs. with cross
lw- American flags in his mouth, was b'
man.