The Lamar register., 1903-01-07
Copyright, 1905. by RopKnr Bossra's soxs.
CHAPTER I.

since breakfast"
What breakfast? I haven't seen a
smile on his face in a week"
The scene was the Lotus club, New
York city and l, Richard Wilbertson.
just entering, was the old Gloomy-face
alluded to. The facetious person who
SO alluded to my impassive face was
Dilkins the dude, and youthful mem
ber of our coterie. The second speak
er was Major Simmons, who, besides
being first-rate companion. 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 the alb
sence of smiles. was desperately in
love with Edith Broughton, and Edith
was in love with me. So far so good.
But in an evil hour a rival came upon
the scene, and though he did not sue
ceed in winning Edith's heart. he did
succeed in so far winning the father
and the mother of Edith as to prevail
upon them to espouse his cause; anu
in the effort to compel Edith to ac-
cept him, they had absolutely forbid
den me the entrance to their house,
and had so restricted all the move
ments of Edith that all intercourse be-
tween us was impossible.
The cause of this was plain enough.
While l had a comfortable income,
my rival, Ralph Graviscourt, was
millionaire, lived in magnificent style,
drove splendid horses, spent money
lavishly, and Notwithstanding. his
forty odd years, was the greatest
catch of the season in New York.
The conversation turned on Gravis-
court, and the major became reminis-
cent.
He was called the lucky uncle
said the major whose years gave him
b deep knowledge of the past. He
had an elder brother, Charles Gravis-
court. who was successful stock
operator, and who amassed a fortune
of over a million dollars. Charles had
a wife and one child. His wife died
when the child was only six months
old. One year afterward Charles
died. leaving the child, girl, sole
heiress of his fortune. and Ralph
Graviscourt. next of kin, his executor
and guardian of the child. Six months
after Charles died, his daughter died.
and Graviscourt inherited the fortune.
That is why he was called the lucky
uncle"
When the major had finished. I sat
moodily engaged with my thoughts,
which were unpleasant enough.
"Pshaw!" said he. Don't get blue.
Let's go to the circus tonight. What
do you say?"
After a little chaff about the pro-
gram, we both accepted the majors
invitation, and few hours later we
found ourselves at Madison Square
Garden, elbowing our way with the
rest of the throng in through the en-
trance and into comfortable seats pro-
vided by the major.
AS one circus is like another, so the
gaudily uniformed band was like every
other circus band. and blared out cir
Gus music until the throng was
seated.
Then came the clown, and after him
a herd of trained elephants. We
watched them attentively, and were
rather sorry when the great. clumsy
sagacious brutes moved out of the
ring.
"'St! Here's sight" said Dilkins,
digging me in the ribs.
1t was a sight, indeed!
The next occupant of the ring was
Maubikeck, the Lion-Tamer!
He was not particularly tall-not
more SO than myself, but of such mas
sive muscularity that l gaZed at him
with undisguised admiration. l had,
in my college days, been something
of an athlete myself. and had an
honest admiration for the strength and
iron-like limbs of the man before us.
He was clad only in tights, and
through them the swelling muscles of
his thighs seemed about to burst.
About his waist he wore a bejeweled
girdle, the bangles of which seemed
to be gold and silver coin.
From his waist up he wore nothing.
His skin was white and through it
his iron muscles rolled and swelled
like those of some giant of the past,
whose deeds. as written, now seem
groundless legends, in which there
can be no probability OIL truth.
Upon neck of massive beauty was
raised head over which a sculptor
might rave. 1t was like the head of
a Greek god. SO perfect was it in its
outlines. its matchless poise, its per-
feet skin and its wealth of glossy
black hair.
Tho lions were not the full-maned,
majestic African kings we see in
menageries and in illustrations. They
were a smaller variety, with mottled
brown coat. but with legs and neck
that bespoke tremendous power, and
eyes that flashed ominously and voices
that were from time to time lifted i'll
angry growls.