The Holly chieftain., 1903-01-16

following day. returned TO ny r6ozp.
where l threw myself down ON the
couch in the alcove. utterly lost in the
bewilderiAg sensations, that the ma
jor's story had aroused.
According to my promise, met
Major Simmons ut the Lotus Club at
four o'clock on the following after
noon. Dilkins was there, and upon
my invitation We agreed to spend the
evening at Madison Square Garden.
Thus it was that At eight O'Clock we
were In our seats at the circus. watch
ing the incoming crowd, which
seemed to me greater than usual.
The intervening acts. passed and
Barlotti came. saw Naubikeck
standing near the ropes Of the trap
eze. and ~ the girl passed him. I saw
her glance up into his face with =
look that spoke unutterable and un-
dying love, and with this love there
was mingled gratitude. l glanced ut
the majors face. It was set and
stern, and his keen eyes were bent
on the beautiful actress.
She stepped into the loop Of rope
and was drawn up to the trapeze.
She .sprang fror the trapexes TO the
bars and back again. Then she hung
bead downward a1io swuns to and fro
on the flying trapeze.
Suddenly there was . smell OF
smoke. and = streak of flame shot
upward. The rope Of the loop, the
one that carried Rariotti aloft and
brought her down again. was burning.
It had evidently been saturated with
oil. for 1t burned nercely, and the
flames licked upward as only the
flame of burning oil can do. =.
And Signorina Barlotti, when she
saw the flames coming toward her,
gasped and hung half fainting on the
bar of her frapese. a
had left my seat and mad, drawn
nearer to the ground inside the trap
eze. Isaw there was still rope that
held this In its place, and down which
the girl might slide with safety. I
was about to call to her when saw
an attendant OF the circus-evidently
an Italian-touch match to this rope
and the flame. began its deadly work.
Apparently was the only one who
saw the act, and sprang forward TO
seize the miscreant, but he dfsap-
peared like q. snake in the crowd
At that moment heard q deep
voice near me calling:
"Nita! Nita! Hold fast to your bar!
Turning, Isaw, the lion tanner at
the newly fired rope. and regardless
of burned hands he was trying to
extinguish the flames. ! stepped to
his side and helped him.
7 TogetherSwe fought the devilish
flame, my hands being severely
burned. until the lower part Of the
rope WAS free from nre.
Above there was still fame, and II
was rapidly licking Is way toward
the trapeze.
Hold this rope tight!", shouted the
lion-tamer in my ear.
Instinctively l seized 1t. and In an
other moment the major was with me.
Together we pulled at the charred
rope, while Maubikeck climbed up
ward, extingufshing the flames as he
progressed.
Suddenly a. pistol shot rang out and
cry Of horror swept over the pant
ing, excited crowd. Il looked upward,
expecting to see either Maubikeck or
Barletti fall dead.
7 To my surprise neither the Hon
.tamer nor Nita exhibited any signs
of having been shot. Above the roar
of the crowd heard his voice.
"Nita!" he cried. 'NitaI Leap
into my arms! Do not hesitate! I
can hold you!"
The girl. obedient to his command,
and confident Of his power. swung the
burning trapeze outward. then inward,
and releasing the bar leaped squarely
at Maubikeck through space. His out
stretched hands seized her and held
her safe.
simultaneously with Nita;s courage.
GUS leap, came cry from the crowd.
"Malignf's shot!" sofnes one cried,
and the cry was taken up and echoed
all over the garden. The uproar In
creased and the center of excitement
moved away from us to that point
where the wounded Snowman lay. In
few minutes Maubikeck had de-
scended with his half-fainting burden,
and his bruised hands held her ten.
derly, while q flask of brandy that
some person handed to the major was
a.