Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-01-24
The Man and the Grizzly
az JOHN p. MURPHY.

glad TO escape from the drizzling
rain that had been falling all the fore
noon.
Sidonia was not In her usual lively
mood, and she hardly knew whether
10 ascribe il 10 the weather or TO
the haleful glare which she faneied
she detected In the eyes of nTuin. the
big grizzly. Her anxiety with regard
TO the ilihumor OF the bear was ex,
planned by the fact that francesca.
the gay and fascinating animal tanner.
was billed 10 exhibit the brutes in
telligenee at the close OF each per.
formanoe; and Francesca had been
paying considerable attention TO
| Sldonia OF late--so much that Otto.
the strong man. once foremost In her
affections. had been relegated almost
entirely TO the background.
She sought her lover at the first OPP
portunity and Informed him OF her
fears.
II wish you would take extra pre-
cautions when you enter Bruins cage
this afternoon" she said. Il never
saw him look so ugly before, and |
fear that he may do you an injury"
What foolish notion has taken
possession OF you now?" he playfully
inquired 'Bruin is as gentle as a
kitten and has never been known TO
harm anyone"
But he looks different to day." she
persisted Ills eyes haye red glare
In them that | never noticed there
before"
1T is only because Of the weather
and the spectators" he replied, sooth-
ngly. This is a holiday. and the
miners are noisier and more curious
than the average crowd. lie will be
all right when am in the cage"
At this moment the gigantic Otto
went by them on his way TO the ring.
and as he passed the girl look OF
reproach showed in his blue eyes. He
entirely ignored her companion.
The latter glanced after him and
shrugged his shoulders disdainfully
ia rather face Bruin. at any time
han that fellow" he said with a
srimace. He is so furiously jealous
of me that | would not trust myself
n his power for single instant"
You wrong him!" she cried, her
lark eyes flashing. otto is as brave
md noble as he is strong"
ln I'd a.,
nent and seemed to be on the point
II replying angrily, but at that in
slant the bugle sounded for Sdonias
| appearance In the main tent With a
wave of her hand in his direction, che
leaped on her horse and galloped into
| the ring.
The tumultuous applause of the
,rowd drove all forebodings from her
mind and never did she ride more
iaringly. Cheer after cheer attended
her performance and she was like a
| pleased child when she returned to
The dressing tent. 1t was not until
she saw the huge cage being hauled
INTO the ring that her misgivings re-
turned, and she fastened to take up
a position where she could observe
everything that took place.
The audience was largely composed
| of rough miners from the coal fields
| and when the cage was run in they
| rushed from their seats and swarmed
around 1t. 1t was the last act on the
program, and as the manager feared
| that there would be trouble if he tried
to drive them back, he decided not to
| interfere.
So densely We're they packed that
francesca experienced considerable
difficulty in forcing his way through
them The crowding of the people
| seemed to have a bad effect upon
Bruins temper, and he growled vic
!ously when the trainer entered. The
latter was perfectly cool and started
toward him whip in hand, but his
shoes, muddy from the trampled
ring, proved his undoing. At the first
step he slipped and fell heavily to the
floor
The sight of the trainer helpless be-
fore him aroused all the ferocity of
the bears nature, and with a furious
growl he rushed at the PROSTATE man.
| But Francesca was accustomed to
| danger and he did not lose his pres
ence of mind for an instant Agile as
cat, he was upon his feet before the
rushing fury reached him, and slash
ing tiercely with his whip, he lodged
swiftly about the ring before his
clumsy antagonist. 1t was plain.
however that it would be only mat
ter of time until he was exhausted.
and his only hope lay in the assist.
ants who were swarming to his res.
cue.
| A dozen men armed with long poles
were hurrying to his aid, but they en-
| countered a totally unforeseen obsta-
Gle Fascinated by the mans awful
danger, the crowd had packed them
selves around the cage in such dense
mass that the rescuers found it an
| impossible task to force their way
through them Shouts and curses
were of no avail. The people were
blind and deaf to everything but the
tragedy that was being enacted be-