The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-26
(Copyright.) }

on fact-The Editor.
 (Copyrght)
 ]" HE canvases were wet and sticky.
 drenching downpour early in the \ forenoon had put them in that con- dition. Streamers hung in little gummy balls, and Tapped back and forth with doleful pretense of hilarity when they were coaxed into 1t by the fresh breeze.
 Farnum sat on a box southeast of the dressing tent and thought of Davidson. There had been a good deal of friend ship between the two men in one way and another ever since the short, pudgy, good-natured "menagerie'' man had come into the circus and so into Farnum's life. Davidson had ruled the two magnificent lions-the bills introduced them as the Irwin Hercules"-and ruled them as Far mum had known no other man to do save one and that one had so far outreached Farnum's life and remembrance that the necessity of filling Davidson's place. and that, too, quickly, failed to awaken the recollection.
 For Davidson was dead-had met his end at the sudden bursting forth of the savage instincts of the very beasts he had bantered and leased, and bent to his own will, the while devils burned in their eyes and fear dilated their nostrils. The Twins loved few; and what love they could give never wholly replaced nor sub- dued their inborn hate of man and pas sion for the kill Farnum believed this.
 Jo, the only theory he could go upon in de- termining the cause of that gruesome scene when the keepers dragged David son, mangled and bleeding, from the reach of the Twins just before the performance in Roburne.
 "Godv said Farnum aloud, and shiv- cred at the vision before his eyes.
 The streamers were slowly being beaten into full length by the wind. Men stag gered about rocking with sweat, trund- ling tent paraphernalia here and there with reckless precision. Stettiner, the manager, coming unexpectedly around the dressing tent, ran full tilt into fellow with a huge stake on his shoulder. In untangling himself he caught sight of Farnum.
 What in thunder are we going to dor he growled, dropping his thin and wiry length on the box.
 Farnum strengthened down his coat collar and put his back in more com fortable position against stake. f "Well, Davies gone poor devil!' he fsolloquized softly, without looking up. s'Who'n you get?"
 "Thats what want to know. I wired McIntyre-hes the only fellow I could think of, but no one knows whether he'll come or not. Likely not. He can't get here before Thursday anyway"
 "Tvo nights" computed Farnum.
 "E,nough to ruin us,' grunted Stettiner. "The Twins are the biggest thing we've rot. It's all up if we don't find some body. Get your head to work, can't your"
 "A man can't think to order" objected Farnuni, rolling a cigarette and studying matters q know only one man who could manage The Twins, and he's-well, he wouldn't touch it."
 Nonsense. Why not? We've got to have him.
 T tell you he wont do it. repeated Farnum bluntly. "He had exclusive con trol of The Twins seven years ago, and now he can light his cigar every day with what you and I make" Farnun leaned over and whispered in the others ear.
 Millionaire, by Jove!' exclaimed Stet- timer. "And you say he's done it in .aven years? No use. then. trying tc