The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-06-06
VOL. XXXVIU.--NO. 33.

as a bar of iron his tongue swiftly mois
tened his fevered, bloodthirsty lips
Margaret seeing all this, and reading
its dread significance, was paralyzed with
fear, as sometimes the bravest are Tue
very blood in her veins turned to ice, and
she lay like one in nightmare, helpless
ly awaiting her doom Hark There
hoated into her ebbing consciousness the
soft, sweet, distant strains of what she
fancied must be angelic music. Then she
knew better 1t was the band, and it
was playing, at a signal from her husband,
to save her life-to divert Afric from his
fell purpose. The thought aroused her,
and, struggling fercely with the incubus
which weighed her down, she cried in a
low, piteous tone Crank Frank !
Save me -
The words which came instantly back
seemed, even in her benumbed state,
marvel of intensity, and she knew they
were meant to shake her out of her fatal
lethargy.
''Get up, Margaret. and dodge him
when he springs will do the rest =
Her fear fled. She quickly arose to
sitting posture, threateningly lifted her
stick as far as her tied arms would permit,
and with a short, imperative ''Down,
Afric struggled to her feet.
But Afric knew no master now. Just
as Margaret reached an upright position,
the cage jerked violently. 1t was the
push of Afric's spring, and the next in-
stant his nine hundred pounds of incar-
nate fury were launched at the fragile girl
with catapultc force, his jaws wide dis
tended, his claws bristling in the air He
had aimed at her throat, but the give of
the cage had weakened his spring, and he
struck little below his mark His gap
ping jaws closed over Margaret side, and
his long, yellow fangs sank out of sight,
like an assassin knife. in her snowy
breast.
Yet only in appearance. At that in
slant Stockton, who had bounded into the
cage without stopping to close the door
behind him, caught his falling wife, and
discharged his heavy revolver in the mad
dened lion : ear The big ball crashed
through its brain, aud the great shaggy
head sank slowly to the floor in an instan-
taneous and painless death
For two or three seconds, which seemed
| like minutes, there was not u sound or
motion in that vast amphitheater. Stock
ton, with his precious burden pressed to
his breast, held at bay the other lions,
which Afric example had stirred to re
volt With dilated noStrils and cleaning
eyes, they fercely shifted the air. Then
one Of them, sinking doubtfully forward,
eagerly tapped up few red drops from
the floor. Stockton. avoiding all signs
Of fear, backed slowly out of the cage,
ed something He set her upon her feet.
She steadied herself-for her blue bodice
was stained with erimsOn-advanced,
bowed and smiled Then, as broadside
of frenzied applause split the air, she ran
lightly down the race course to the dress
ing-t entrance, skipped through the
curtains. and-Sank in a swoon upon a
heap of canvas. Stockton, close behind,
lifted her once more. and carried her
swiftly to their dressing room.
How badly are you hurt, Margaret p
he asked, in an agony OF suspense as he
loosened her corsage.
Not bad I've been bitten worse
before But, oh, Frank, she burst out,
with food of tears, II have lost my
nerve can never enter that cage
again
You shouldn't enter it again, said
he, feryently, ''ifycu had the nerve of the
world
Yet he himself had to enter the cage,
that night and for many days and nights
thereafter, aud play with those four foot
ed murderers as if they were kittens.
Such is the life of an animal trainer.
Aud Margaret would wait for him, con
fident that no harm could come to one so
fearless, vet shrinking, womanhke, when
an infuriated roar would reach her ear,
and mnrmnring PRAYER.