The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1906-11-17
The RINCMASTER
copy right, by Dady story Puo. Co.
By S. A. o. COX

The ringmaster was handsome
nan, after cruel, tigerlsh fashion;
and Mile. Zongora. the animal train
or, was good looking. too True, there
were hard lines about her face. show.
ing that the mademoiselle had lived
and suffered; but what of that She
had heart. she had feelings. just the
same as do those whom fortune has
never buffeted, and when the ring.
master coolly told her that he no long.
er cared for her, and that he was go.
ing to marry Mile. Therese, the bare
back rider, who can blame Mile Zon.
CORA for feeling hurt and angry?
They stood there beside Nile Zou.
gora's cage of lions and tigers, he
with cold, sneering smile on his
lips, she with pain and rage In her
eyes--eyes which were capable, on oc-
casion, of flashing with as much
fierceness as those OF the most cour.
ageous Of her tigers
so! You are going TO throw me
over and marry that white-faced chit
Of girl. are you?" fiercely.
so | have told you" carelessly.
The animal queen was not the wom-
an to rave. She simply regarded the
ringmaster for a few moments with
flashing eyes. Then she pointed to
Diavolo, the man-eatlng tiger, in the
cage before them, and said in an In.
tense. cutting voice:
Look there! You see Diavolo? He
10. l..
anyone to bits, and that would end it;
but you are worse. You tear your
victims heart, wiring the life blood
from 1t, and leave its owner to live
and suffer! The tiger is the better
animal of the two, YOU"
With harsh laugh, the ringmaster
turned and strobe away, leaving the
woman to glare after him, pain, rage.
despair cleaning from her eyes.
III.
Mile. Zongora, desiring to always be
near her animals lived In "a little
house on wheels, house.wagon con.
sisting of two miniature rooms. There
were two doors opening into the sit
ting.room, one at either side.
After the performance that evening,
the ringmaster entered this room for
what was tacitly understood to be
the last time. Mile. Zongora had in.
vited him to enjoy little luncheon,
with wine. She bore him no i'll will.
she told him, and wished their part.
ing to be as that between friends.
She greeted him with a smile. No
one would have guessed that she was
not happy.
The ringmaster was somewhat i'll at
ease, at first, but after they had eaten
something, and drank some wine, he
began to be himself again, and laughed
and talked as was his wont. He
little suspected that Mile. Zongora was
as good an actor as she was an animal
trainer. He little suspected that she
was playing a part for purpose. He
little dreamed that, standing close be.
side the little house.wagon, on the
farther side from the one at which
he had entered, was the wagon con.
tanning the cage I'm which was Diavolo,
the man.eating tiger. He did not for
one moment suspect that the door OF
this cage was exactly even with the
door of the house-wagon. Nor did he
imagine that certain circus roust
about was standing with hand on the
sliding-door of the tigers cage. ready
to draw II quickly back when he
should hear q whistle from Mile. Xon
goras lips But all this was true
nevertheless.
And when the ringmaster. his head
muddled by the wine he had drunk
rose to leave, he did not notice that
he was shown to the door on the op
posite side of the room from the one
on which he had entered, but this was
true.
With her hand on the door, Mile
Zongora smilingly babe the ringmastel
good night and good-by. Then she
| jerked the door open. at the same mo
ment giving utterance to shril
whistle. There was grating sourd
and then, as the ringmaster. surprised
| and a bit startled. hesitated. Mile
Zongora gave him a fierce, strong
shove, and he went headlong through
! the doorway of the housew agon-and
through the open door of Diavolo's
cage, also! There was grating sound
as the cage door was pushed shut
Mile. Zongora's door closed with 4
slam; and then
Mile. Zongora stuffed cotton In he'
ears and calmly undressed and go
In bed.