Cañon City record., 1910-08-18

Just as his satisfied hands came In
contact with her. velyety something
brushed curiously across his face. and
then suddenly dropped to his waist
their waists-and the two were lifted
high In the air to be placed gently on
the back OF the elephant
The girl gave frightened half
scream. and her little hands convul-
sively clutched the arm Of her COM
panion
"what-wha-what is 1T" she gasped.
Erickson thrilled at her touch
Don't be frightened" he said. The
big elephant has picked US up. and.
for some reason. placed US on her
back Just at present 1T is the safest
place In the tent We are out Of the
struggling crowd. and away from the
tiger. Hello. What's happening7"
The elephant was beginning to
move. Slowly. cumbersomely. like the
heavy body that II was. the great
mass of flesh began to get under way.
and in a moment the two upon the
beasts back found themselves under
the starry sky. Save for a scurrying
circus man, here and there. the
stretch OF green about the tents was
deserted.
: The girl kept tight hold of the
exultant youth. although the broad
back and gentle motion Of the now
rapidly moving Bess were not calcu-
lated to precipitate a fall.
20. IL am so frightened" gasped
the damseI Her hands conyulsively
grfpped the youths arm. Erickson was
a
happy.
From behind them came hoarse
shouts. and the elephant. hearing.
quickened his pace. Had Erickson
been solitary rider. he would have
slid to the ground. but now he was
pleasantly impressed with q sense OF
guardianship.
Keep up your nerve" came from
the young attorney. The elephant 10
running away with us. but he is not
dangerous. We are safe enough. The
keepers and circus men are trying to
catch US"
Suddenly the beast plunged on the
moon-iit road and into q lane. slowing
up and stopping as IL came to q tall
tree The sensitive trunk cautiously
and then. with a despairing squeai. .
long-tsiied spider-monkey was brought
from a sheitering clump of leaves. and
passed carefully back and into the
very hands OF Erickson
The lawyer laughed
20. how sweet" ventured the girl.
her fear suddenly gone And how do
Jos suppose the elephant knew hs
vas In this treef-
I'm sure I don't know. II seems to
have been her sols errand for she 10
now going back
Sure enough. the great beast vas
nov rstrscing her footsteps.
In q few minutes she had come To
the pack that had been following her.
with the sang froid q q calculating
human. the animal reached q careful
trunk around and placed her passsn-
gers. one At . time. on the ground
Th.n the same impressabie organ 70
neved Erickson OF his ehatterfng
charge. and without waiting for her
escort the elephant ambled on. turn
ing a quirxical ere to her late riders
ss she did %.
II dsy yeloped that the tiger was stiii
q captive The panic had been started
By some mischief maker. but the rush
ing. scrambling crowd had alarmed
the animals. and the monkey cage had
been overturned by the crazy exit OF
the masses The little simfau rescued
by the big pschyderm had been an es-
peciai pet Of the trainer having Bess
in charge How she knew the monkey
was hidden In the tree. no one knew.
Well, said the girl. flushing as shs
turned to Erickson. Il am sure that
shaii never care to zee another cir
Gus"
Il shall always have a friendly feel
ing for them" answered the youth
meaningly. and the nush on the girls
checks deepened to an alarming red.
-Inasmuch as Il will be useless to
attempt to nnd your escort. must In
sist upon seeing you safely to your
home"
"You don't have to-to insist" an
swered Helen Landen. softly.
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