The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-03-21

1.-THE enc I'm speaking Of had ali
the latest improvements" ventured
the man.
q know" nodded the girl. He was
a taxameter.'
"Of course, the tortoise won," de.
clared the boy.
NO" confessed the man. THE race
had to be declared off because the
kangaroo skidded."
ut must have been very expensive
ride" commented the girl.
Il think 1t was oly a trial run"
said the man.
In the Elephant house he must have
made up something more than usually
grotesque, because the discussion that
ensued between the children was par
ticularly lively. But there, as well as
In the Lion house, on acco int of the
people and the noise, could catch 1T.
tie of their talk. When, agaa, | mad
the opportunity of listening it was in
the comparative solitude of the Zebra
yards. They were manifesting ex
IRENE interest In the Quaggas.
"They were soldiers once" the man
was saying.
"Of course; look at their stripes,
Quoth the boy.
The girl began spelling out the de-
scriptive notice that is affixed to the
fence. From South Africa!" she ex
claimed, Where they in the war;
Yes, in the transport department,
reioined the man. 1T happened near
the Vaal.'
please go on" was urged
"a Quagga who wasn't afraid" mar
rated the man, was always the first
on parade, but when fighting began
he got into van, which he drove
long distance for aid"
"Ah, a turning movement! Good
man." remarked the boy.
80 he got the d. c. NJ" augmented
the man.
The boy began thinking. yes" said
he, presently. The Distinguished
Conduct Medal. OF course!"
"No--District Court Marshal" cor
rected the man.
Poor thing" murmured the girl.
And now he's in lager"
ooh, no, objected the man. This
is the Lower House you know. He
was elected to 1t by Het Volk, and
The Quagga raised his unmusical
voice.
He's speaking now. HUSH" adj
monshed the man.
Politics." whispered the boy.
Yes-suffragettes! adventured the
girl.
Then she said something about
Home" and they went of at brisk
pace. AS | strolled in their wake
felt grateful for the glimpse had had
of the devotion which childhood can
inspire in the heart Of a grown man;
of the magic sensibilty that enables
the adult mind to see things with tho
eyes Of youth.
The afternoon was drawing In, and
the people were streaming through the
gateway when | reached 1t, AS | min
ged with them on my way out there
was a touch upon my arm and, turn
ing. | looked down into the uplifted
eyes of the girl Such pleading eyes,
each with tear trembling on the long
lashes BY her side was the boy look
ing deeply concerned.
Please, please, help us TO find IA
ther!' she implored. We've lost
HIM"
She saw at once that was ready to
obey her, and. putting her hand In
mine, led me away while she poured
out her fears for her fathers safety.
OF personal anxiety there was not
trace. The reason followed quickly,
A blow on the head from Boer rife
while he was defending wounded
comrade had destroyed his reason
Once withdrawn from their protection
he was sponsible-helpless as
child.
All day had been laboring under
delusion. The man was their charge,
not they his. 1t was they who had
been endeavoring to stimulate his fan
ciful imagination, and so provide him
with entertainment and | had been
deceived by his unconscious humor.
When we found him wandering
about aimlessly, as we did within Ave
minutes, the girls relief was intense,
MY darling!" she sobbed, trying to
get her small arms round him. MY
poor dear!"
He showed no feeling at the re
union, made no remark; merely fell
into step between his small protectors,
and left the gardens with oae of them
on either side guarding him tenderly.