Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-10-16


somewhere. Possessing no money IN
his own right and without calling.
he found himself in the position of a
non-producer. Cupid, the rascal, had
trapped the young man and 1ured the
lover into an unenviab1e situation.
When the husband blamed himself,
the wife asserted:
Don't reproach yourself, dearest;
never mind what others say or look
ALI will come out right in the end"
After Bryant had engaged his lady
rider he still had one matter in hand
that troubled him-as much as man
OF his temperament could be worried.
During the winter he had purchased d
den of hyenas with the intention of
having them broken for feature of
the street parade. When Bryant
bought the brutes he was confident
that his boss animal man, the lion
king, would train the animals and ap-
pear in public in the sensational group.
For once the manager counted without
his host.
Not on your life!" exclaimed the
lion king, on hearing the proposition.
What, me break them grave rob-
bers? Not on my tintype!"
Neither persuasion nor bullying
would alter the determination of the
employe. nor could the willy manager
cajole any OF the minor keepers into
becoming the Brave Master of the
Grave Robbing Hyenas." Bryant even
tempted canvasmen. grooms and razor
backs in vain. Just as he was on the
point of advertising for trainer a
bright thought entered his dullish
brain. After the birth OF the inspira-
ton he cultivated Milton Folsom with
a purpose. The manager did not
breach the uppermost subject abrupt
ly. Shrewdly he bided his time, and
when he believed that he had suffi-
GENTLY ingratiated himself, he ex-
planned incidentally his dilemma in the
lack Of trainer and an exhibition in
the procession Of the den OF hyenas.
What l want" said Bryant, "is
man of nerve" He looked significant
ly at the young man as he emphasized
"a man OF nerve"
Milton Folsom repeated the words
and added, calmly: 81 have some
nerve"
The manager fairly sprang forward
as he wheedled:
eff you could only do it. I would
make 1t an object"
But she must not know it while ]
am breaking them in" said the young
husband.
The bargain was made in whispers
as If the walls indeed had ears.
When the boss animal man learned
Of the project he was bold enough tc
expostulate with the manager. declaring
in his honest Indignation:
''Mr. Bryant. you will be the death
Of that young chap!"
eff / am" was the brutal return
with leer and wink, 81 am a widoweI
and he will leave pretty widow!"
The lion king controlled himsel
and curbed a rising and rejecting ex.
preston.
Milton Folsom's determination wal
a reckless and dangerous one, but HI
proved himself to be the Brave Mas
ter Of the Grave Robbing Hyenas,'
and it was not until he actually ap
peared in the procession that his dis.
tressed and greatly shocked wife wa,
aware of his thrilling exploit
The boss animal man shook his
head day after day as the pagan.
formed and the hyena den moved into
place, with Milton Folsom surrounded
by the treacherous. snarling, genuine
ly fierce hrutes.
"Only a question of time! Only
question of time!" the lion king fairly
groaned as he expressed his prophetic
belief.
On one occasion the manager over
heard the wall and mendaciously
sneered:
She will look prettier than ever in
mourning"
The employees first impulse was to
throttle the manager. He looked dan
gerous and his eyes flashed fire. AS he.
entered his den of lions he restrained
his hands, but his lips were free:
You prefer to kill by proxy, Mr..
Bryant?"
The manager covered as if his in
most thoughts had been read. With a
suppressed oath he turned on his heel
and from that hour avoided the lion
king as much as possible. The calam-
ity foretold by the boss animal man
came at last. The season was we'll
nigh spent and Milton Folsom had
escaped all harm and not received
even SO much as a scratch, when on
the fatal day the greatest crowds of
the season packed the streets and lined
up SO close to the moving pageant
parade that they fairly endangered
themselves as the multitude In the
rear pressed impatiently and struggled
to catch glimpse of the music her
aided exhibit The local authorities
were inefficient, and the cage and band
wagon drivers threaded their teams