The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-09-09

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perately in the wind created by the
panic-stricken crowd-and went out.
4 feline scream rose above the noise,
and an animal chorus quickly respond
ed. Elephants trumpeted- Lions roared
The camels lifted their voices in IN
cannyl shrieks, and excitement 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. a 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 of the elephant
The girl gave a frightened half
scream, and her little hands conyul-
sively clutched the arm of her com
panion.
"What-wha-what is it?" 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, it is the safest place
in the tent We are out of the strug-
Cling crowd, and away from the tiger.
Hello! What's happenings"
The elephant was beginning to move
Slowly, cumbersomely, like the heavy
body that it was, the great mass of
flesh began to get under way, and in
moment the two upon the beasts back
found themselves under the starry
sky. Save for a 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 precfpitate a fall.
20, II am so frightened gasped
the damseI. 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.
Suddenly the beast plunged of the
moon-Iit road and into a lane, slowing
up and stopping as it came to a tall
frn Tho coTeiTfxro fF-7Inx 02TTfinT1GlV
rose to investigate the lower branches.
and then. with a despairing squeal. a
long-tafled spider monkey was brought
! from assheltering clump Of leaves, and
passed carefully back and into the
very hands of Erickson.
The lawyer laughed.
90, 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 I don't know. It 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 a time, on the ground
| Then the same impressable organ re-
lieved Erickson OF his chattering
charge, and without waiting for her
escort the elephant ambled on, turning
qufzzical 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. 81 am sure that |
shall never care to see another circus"
81 shall always have a 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, 1 must in
sfst upon seeing you safely to your
home"
You don't have to-to insist" an
swered Helen Landen, softly.