The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-06-06

began to prance nervously, and from the
distant menagerie tent came in sympathetic
answer the harsh scream of cockatoos and
the shrlll trumpeting of elephants
The vibrant chords in Afric's deep
throat awoke yet another answer shud-
der in hundreds of human breasts. One
of these breasts was, ominously enough,
that of the trainer himself An hour be-
fore he had been tempted to substitute
safer lion for Afric. But Afric was the
largest and finest of the lot and to remove
him seemed like skimming the cream from
the act There was something else to be
considered, too-the effect of such step
on the lions, on the show proprietors, on
himself, and above all ON Margaret To
make her afraid before she entered the
cage would be as good as to kill her Yet
a. he now faced the enraged brute, un-
mindful of the other FIVE behind him, who
might even then be plotting his death,
paug of regret shot through stockton 5
breast Ought he not even now make the
change?
Another of those heart wrenching roars
from Atric would have answered the queS-
tion in the affirmative The roar did not
come, and trusting to Chance, the tickle
goddess in whom members of his profession
must 80 often rest their faith, Stockton
backed out Of the cage. even as people
back out of the presence of two-footed
kings He had scarcely closed the door
before the six lions threw themselves in
one furious rush against the bars with the
shock Of an earthquake; and i'll savage re-
gret Of their eowardiee and their victim
easy escape they bit and clawed the iron in
a way to Sc, one teeth ON edge.
Il Is small wonder that more than one
man. a. he looked at the slight figure in
blue. bound hand and foot, waiting to dare
the fury OF these brutes, should have
twisted nneasily in his seat, snapped his
watch, glanced anxiously at wife and
daughter, and heartily wished the whole
nerve. racking business over.
Owing to her ,hackles, Margaret had to
b. lifted to The platform of the cage. As
stockton reached forward to unlatch the
door. she unexpectedly turned her face up
to nj,
Kiss me. dear, she whispered.
Il was part of the act which Stockton
had forrutten--a stage trick to which he
had reluctantly consented in order to please
the managers. In his present mood this
mockery OF love seemed something saeri-
+ lesiou, and he was about to ignore Mar
garct request when her shining eyes riv-
eted hi attention They told him that
7 the kiss was to be no mockery for her
( Half unneryed he laid his hps upon hers,
{ startin. at their coldness A hush fell
T over the vast eoneourse. and here and
I there woman handkerchief went up to
I her eyes.
[ Margaret, Ainc is dangerous today
said stockton. in low. haggard tone.
II don want you to 20 in unless you are
absolutely fearless
Il am not afraid she answered, soft
/ ly lie. he,itatei an instant, and then
/ quickly opened the door and slipped her,
feet first into the cage As he did 80, he
secretly cut the rope which bound her
( ankles. The aeft stroke, arranged in ad-
( vance, was unseen even by the committee
/ on the platform Another thing which
{ the committee did not see was short
f stick. laying on the floor of the cage close
to the door. which Margaret seized and
concealed against her side as she was ship
I ped along. Then the door changed ruth
/ -. IA h.l,l,.- ,,,,,.,, l., =,
~. ., = -. -, ,,.
Five of them prowled suspiciously about
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p. 49,. ..,.,.,,. ~ l,,l.j ,he rar.o,;f
-. I, ;,,,.an. o,1 ;odoIsnce R,,
,h.r, ,,.r,, ,w, ,,;rs If evas nearer NJ
ta,J ..,l L.,,,.r ,.or.al IN feline Graf,
.-,;.L 80. Rcd rr.o, tho lion O,e
r,ir w,s N,rgsr., and the other he,