Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-08-25

ium, the gasoline lights fichered des-
perately III the wind created by the
panic-stricken crCWd-and went out
feline scream rose above the noise.
and an animal chorus quickly respond.
ed Elephants trumpeted. Lions roared
The camels lifted their voices in un-
canny shrieks. and excitem ent was the
order of the moment
Erickson, stricken dumb, suddenly
recovered himself and reached out
blind arms for the girl. His first
thoughts were Of her. She must be
rescued at all hazards.
Just as his satisfied hands came in
contact with her. velvety 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 Il the elephant
The girl gave a frightened half
scream, and her little hands convul-
sively clutched the arm of her COM
panicn.
"What-wha-what is it," she gasped
Erickson thrilled at her touch.
Don't be frightened" he said. 1.-THE
big elephant has picked US up, and, for
some reason, placed us on her back
Just at present, it Is the safest place
in the tent. We are out of the strug-
Cling crowd, and away from the tiger.
Hello! What's happening?"
The elephant was beginning to move.
Slowly, cumbersomely, like the heavy
hot of
flesh began to get under way, and in q
moment the two upon the beasts back
found themselves under the starry
sky. Save for skurrying circus man,
here and there, the stretch Of green
about the tents was deserted.
The girl still 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 fall.
20, II am SO frightened" gasped
the damsel. Her hands convulsively
gripped the youths arm. Erickson was
not frightened. He was hilariously
happy.
From behind them came hoarse
shouts, and the elephant, hearing,
quickened his pace. Had Erickson
been a solitary rider, he would have
slid to the ground, but now he was
pleasantly impressed with the sense of
guardianship.
Keep up your nerve" came from
the young attorney. The elephant is
running away with us, but he is not
dangerous. We are safe enough. The
keepers and circus men are trying to
catch u.s." .<eet
Suddenly the beast plunged Off the
moon-lit road and into a lane, slowing
up and stopping as it came to tall
tree. The sensitive trunk cautiously
rose to investigate the lower branches,
and then, with despairing squeal, a
long-tailed spider monkey was brought
from sheltering 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
you suppose the elephant knew he was
in this tree?"
I'm sure l don't know. 1t seems to
have been her sole errand for she is
now going back"
Sure enough, the great beast was
now retracing her footsteps.
In a few minutes she had come to
the pack that had been following her.
With the sang froid of a calculating
human, the animal reached a careful
trunk around and placed her passen-
gers, one at time, on the ground.
Then the same impressable organ re-
iieved Erickson of his chattering
charge, and without waiting for her
escort the elephant ambled on, turning
a quizzical eye to her late riders as
she did so.
1t developed that the tiger was still
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 simian rescued
by the big pachyderm had been an es-
pecial 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 she
turned to Erickson. II am sure that I
shall never care to see another circus"
81 shall always have friendly feel
ing for Them" answered the youth
meaningly, and the flush on the girls
cheeks deepened to an alarming red
'Inasmuch as it will be useless to
attempt to find your escort, ] must in
sist upon seeing you safely to your
home"
You don't have Toto insist" an
swered Helen Landen, softly
Defining His Position
rs your husband in favor of the