The San Francisco call., 1904-07-03

As Tom stepped from the canvas
covered passageway Chita saw h-Il-
The sight stirred the black panther
sraoldering jealousy. He slopPeN
abruptly IN his role as Carmen's pupH'
jumped on the pedestal on when nc
had been sitting at attention anu
sent forth a fierce. snarling growl' IN
which he expressed his hatred OF the
man who he felt had usurped nrsI
place in his mistress heart
At the first notes OF the angry snarl
Carmen turned reprovingly to the ola-'N
panther. She knew there was not the
least danger OF her pet attacking heE'
But he must go on with his perform
ance or the act would be failure
-Chita." she said. IN reproachfuI
tones. looking straight into the angry
panthers eyes. And as she did this she
turned her back on the still sHllen Ben
gal tiger.
The big tiger had been growing more
and more sulky as the act proceeded
His nerves were in a bad state, and the
angry snarI Of the panther had been
the finishing touch NOW Carmen had
taken her eyes OF him That settled
It. He dropped from his pedestal TO e
the floor OF the cage, gathered himseH
for the sprfn~ and the next instant
was shooting through the air, black
and yellow bar OF deadly energy
The impact OF the shock threw Car
men to the floor. But quick az the
Bengal tiger had been. the panther vas
quicker. All thought OF Jealousy van
ished at sight OF the attack on his mis-
tress. Before the tiger could use tooth
or claw the 1.-THE, stFong-hmbed pam
ther had launched himself right at the
tigers throat
Over and over on the floor OF the cage
the two great cats rolled Ordinarily
the panther would have been no match
for the far larger tiger. But the pan
ther had caught his grip first. settling
his sharp. deep-biting teeth in the
tigers throat. This prevented the
tigers using his teeth effectually. But
his claws. especially those OF his strong
hind legs. could be used Again and
again he struck out with them. ripping
through the paather's skin like a soft
glove. But he could not shake the
deadly grip Chita had on his throat
Although he might be torn to pieces by
the great claws. Chita meant to hold on
until he felt his teeth meet in his oppO-
rrrfr-H 49, oil ho
terrible struggle. Diogenes. the NUmid-
ian lion, sat on his pedestal. lazy, good
natured. only calmly interested in the
life and death fight Of his fierce fellow
pupils.
When the circus men separated the
two big cats the Bengal tiger was
dead. and the black panther. torn in
twenty pieces, was dying. Carmen
was unhurt, except for a few slight
bruises caused by her fall on the floor
of the cage. Tom Howard was fore
most among the crowd which had
rushed TO the cage. As Carmen placed
her hand on the head OF the big pan
ther who had died to save her. Chita
opened his great yellow eyes, now fast
dImming in death. But even IN death
the ruling passions OF his fierce wild
animal nature held strong. His eyes
frightened with affection at the sight
Of Carmen Then his glance fell on
Tom Howard. The Jealous snarl start
ed from deep down In his throat, he
half raised his head. Then It sank
down and the black Danther's eyes
closed forever.
And Diogenes. the biE-mansd Lon.
sat on his pedestal. calm. nonchalant,
disinterested. aloof. He was waiting
for the signal. school Is over" 1t
did not come. Diogenes waited nt-
tie longer. Then he opened his great
Jaws In q hah-suppressed yawn,
dropped to the floor Of the exhibition
cage and trotted lazily or to the
most comfortable corner OF his own
cage.