The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-06-10
ARoariingLion
By NJ QUAD
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By NJ QUAD


at Dyersville for an afternoon and
evening performance. On the evening
of the day that Zeb Scott first saw the
pictures he laid out his program. He
was a farmers hired man. He was in
love with and engaged to Nancy Smith,
the daughter of another farmer. He
called to tell her the news and invited
her to go to the circus.
He expected Nancy to enthuse, but
she didn't. On the contrary, she look
ed very sober. 1t so happened that
this was the first circus to come along
since they had been engaged. Zeb
knew her for a rather serious minded
girl, but just how serious he was about
to find out When he had stopped for
breath he was amazed to hear her say:
Il can't go to the circus with you,
Zeb. 1t would be encouraging wick
edness to do it,
They argued the matter for two
hours, and then Zeb went home in the
sulks. Nanny utterly refused to go to
miles around might go, but it was
home for her. The father and mother
stood neutral The mother said:
"Mebbe some folks can see a woman
in spangles and not want to come home
and set a neighbours barn afire, but
what's the use in gittin' in the way of
temptation
In two days Zeb was back to talk
matters over again, but he had no bet
ter luck. He even came the third time.
and he was armed with long list of
good people who were going to at
tend the show, but he met with the
same objections. Then he lost his tenn
per and reached for his hat with the
remark that any girl who was too all
fired good TO go to a circus was too
good for him.
The circus was a great success. In
addition to the regular performance a
lion escaped from his cage and got out
into the country, and as he was not
recaptured the excitement was great.
Zeb had good time, but he was con-
science stricken. He had been mean,
and he realized it and wanted to make
up. How was he to do it? This ques-
ton bothered him for the next fort
night He could not 90 over and beg
forgiveness and trail his pride in the
dust. and as far as he could ascertain
Nanny Smith wasn't going into de-
cline on his account. He was lying on
his back in bed one night when the
thought suddenly came to him-that
lion. AS a matter Of fact, the beast
had been recaptured, but the farmers
hadn't heard of it and were anxious
by day and sitting tight after sun
down.
Before morning came Zeb had his
plan. Before noon he had shared it
with a son Of his employer. There
was bit Of a lake on Farmer Smiths
land, and at one point he had built a
summer house. 1t was Nanny's favor
tie spot to sit and watch the sun go
down and the cleaning come on. The
roaming, roaring lion had kept her
away for a few evenings, but as he
had not appeared and devoured her
her courage gradually returned. Zeb
had builded on that summer house.
He had his eagle eye that way as he
MIXED the cows on this particular
evening He saw the pink dress as it
crossed the meadow. The cleaning
came, the robin sang his last notes be-
fore going to bed, and then Zeb and
his fellow consplrator moved.
In pensive silence Miss Nanny Smith
sat In the summer house fighting mos
qultoes and wondering how wicked the
circus had made Zeb when there came
a sudden alarm. From lot Of bushes
not far away came bloodcurdling
growls and a mans shouts, and she
was hardly on her feet before Zeb
dashed up, club in hand, and called
out:
Back into the house! It's the lion.
Back. and I will die here to save you"
"Oh. Zeb-Zeb"-
Back, girl-he Is coming"
And the lion came. That is, he seem
ings were something dreadful to hear.
He moved this way and that; he ad-.
vanced and retreated; he rolled over
and over on the grass. But the brave
Zeb could not be bluffed. He stood
In front Of the house and swung his
club and cried to that lion to come on
If he dared Finally, at the end of
about ten minutes, he suddenly rushed
into the darkness, pounded with his
club and returned to Nanny to say:
HE has fed. and you are saved.
Good night, Miss Smith"
"Oh, Zeb, you can't gO." she appealed.
But l must. l ask no thanks for
the trife l have been able to render
you"
But can't let you go. You must
come to the house. Say, DEAR, really
wish had gone to the circus with
you"
But you wouldn't 90. You kept talk
ing about spangles all the time, while
l never intended to see spangles. |
Just went to study the lion and the
best place to hit him with club If
was ever attacked. 1 found the best
place was the nose, and l rushed in on
him and whacked him one. Miss
Smith,
I'm Nanny, and you come right
along! Why. Zebby, if there's circus
every week after this"-
And next morning Zeb handed his CO.
consDirator a dollar bill and said:
Jim, that was the best growing l
ever heard, and If you ever go and
give it away I'll fOller you all over the
state to break your neck"
The Noise Explained.
She (sternly)-I heard a noise very
late He observation-disclosures II the