Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-01-09
MGIDIkeCk, Ihe UO|f1Q1lGI.
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Asthss Il ..Jsek Robbins - A.esses." ia the
chiss ses." .Tvs 0setissss u
Hawaii ''Os . PAlss
Charge" Etc.
o.,,r,sa,. Inns. ;, nos-.r so..,.'. so...
CHAPTER :.

cseyYish,. Isss, By Roazss Boxxsz's sozs.
CHAPTER I.
"Hello, Dick. old 0loomy.face! I'll
bet a cigarette you haven't laughed
since breakfast"
"What breakfast? I haven't seen a
smile on his face In . week."
Tho scenc was the Lotus club. New
York city. and I. Richard Wilbertson,
Just entering. was tho old Gloomy-face
alluded to. Tho facetious person who
30 alluded to my impasslve face was
Dilkins. tho dude. and youthful mem
ber OF our coterie. The second speak
er was Major Simmons. who. besidcs
being nrst-ratc companion. q man
OF middle age or more. was Park Com
missioner Of New York.
There was. unknown to the major
and Dilkins. a good reason for tho alb
sencc Of smiles. was desperately In
love with Edith Broushton. and Edith
was In love with me. So far no good.
Hut In an evil hour rival camc upon
the scene. and though he did not sue
ceed In winning Edith's heart. he did
succeed In 80 far winning the father
and the mother OF Edith as to prevail
upon them to cspouse his cause: and
In the effort to compel Edith to &C
ccpt him. they had absolutely forbid.
den me tho entrance to their house.
and had so restricted all tho move
mcnts OF Edith that all Intercourse bc-
tween US was impossible.
Tho cause OF this was plain enough.
While ! had q comfortable income.
my rival. Ralph Graviscourt. was u
millionaire. lived In magnificent style.
drove splendid horses. spent money
iavishiy. and notwithstanding. his
forty odd years. was the greatest
catch Of tho season In New York.
The conversation turned on Gravis.
court. and tho major became rcminis'
cent.
''Hc was called the lucky uncle "
said the major. whose ycars gave him
= deep knowledge Of tho past. "Hc
had an elder brother. Charles Gravis.
court. who was successful stock.
operator. and who amasscd fortune
of over a million doiiara. Charles hal
a wife and one child. Ills wifc died
when the child was only ak months
old. onc year aficrward Charles
died. leaving the child. siri. sole
haircas OF hIn fortune. AID Ralph
Craviaeour'. rcst OF lin. his executor
and guardian OF the child. Six months
after Charles died. his daughter died.
and Graviscouft Inherited tho fortune
That Is why he wEs called tho lucky
uncic.''
When the major had finished. I sat
moo.iiiy engaged with my thoughts.
which were unpleasant enough.
"Psha~'- said he. '-Don't &c, blue
Let's 50 to the circus tonight. wha,
do you sayT"
Aftcr little etafr about tho pro.
gram. wc both accepted the MAJOR
tnvitation. and few hours later vc
found ourselves at Madison Square
Garden. cibowing our way with the
rsi OF the throns In through the en-.
trance and Into comfortable scais pro
sidcd by tho major.
AZ one circus IL like another. 20 tho
EAudiIy uniformed hand vas like every
other circus hand. aud biarcd out cir.
eas music until the throus sas
seated.
Then came the clown. and after him
. herd of trained elephants. We
watched them a,,rntieciy. and were
rather sorry when tho great. clumsy.
saxacious brsiics moved out OF the
ring.
ST. Here's sight.- said pilkins.
digging me In the ribs.
Il was a sight. indccd'
The next occupant OF the ring was
Manbikrck. the I.ion.Tamcr.
lie was re. particularly taii-not
more so than myself. but Of such mas.
sivc muscu rrity that saxcd at him
with undiss uiscd admiration. I had.
In my college days. been something
of an athlete myself. and I had an
honest admiration for the strength and
iron.likc limbs 81 the man before us.
lie was clad only In tights, and
through them the swelling muscles Of
his thighs seemed about to burst.
About his waist he wore bcjcwcIcd
Eirdic. the bangles of whica seemed
TO be gold and silver coin.
From his waist up he wore nothing.
His skin Was white and through Il
his iron muscles rolled and swcilci
like those Of some giant OF tho past.
whoee deeds. as written. now secm
grouudless legends. In which there
can be no probability o. truth.
Upon neck Of massive beauty was
raised a head over which a sculptor
might rave. II was like the head OF
Greek god. so perfect was II In its
Outlines. its matchlcss poise. It's per.
feet skin and Its wealth OF glossy
black hair.
Thc lions were not the full.manei.
majestic African kings we see In
mcnageries and in Illustrations. They
were a smaller variety. with notified
brown coat. but with legs and neck
that bespoke tremendous power. and
eyes that flashed ominousiy and voices
tina; were from time to time lifted in
angry srowis.
When the keepers had freed tho
lions from their chains, an act that
seemed to fli the audience with fear.
Maubikeck stepped from his chario,
and went among them. They crouche,i
as he approached. and cringcd at his
touch. 1t seemed to me as II they
recognized and Acknowledged tho