Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-26

me-! ne asked IN repreSSeO tone.
She bent her head Il am very sor-
~, Gregory. If have hurt your feel
ings. l ought not to have told you"
Glad you did" said Gregory CURLY.
"Goodby." And without another word
he left the house.
Janet, left alone. watched him swing
ing down the path. and new found
terror took possession of her. "Oh,
why did l say it to him? He looks
different today. l shall hate to go to
the circus with Dan after treating
Gregory So
But she went, as did Gregory Bar
ton. He sat not far away from where
Janet sat beside Dan Lesson. By
slightly turning his head he could see
the pale pink OF her dress and the
fair oval of her face framed beneath
the fluffy white hat His heart con
tracted as he thought OF what she had
said. So he was a coward in her sight
because Of that little childish episode
of many years ago! He was glad that
she had refused to come to the circus
with him.
Afraid II anything happened that
I'd run away and leave her." he told
himself grimly.
Janet saw Gregory, and the sight of
him added the finishing touch to her
unpleasant evening. She hated her
self for her meannesS in recollecting
the affair Of the red COW and despised
herself for recalling it to Gregory's
mind For all she knew he might be
tbn h., nj hn in
the world. That childish fear might
easily be accounted for. She watched
him furtively and longed to tell him
that she was sorry for what she had
said, and she hoped he would know
that she was having a horrid time in
spite OF the brilliant performance that
was being enacted in the ring before
her eyes.
The lion tanner was driving before
! him the solitary huge king OF the for
! est, which was the last OF a once for
midable troupe of performing lions.
( The whip cracked the lion jumped:
! the whip cracked again, the hon lay as
one dead. Once more the whip crack
ed, licked the beast on one sensitive
eyeball, and the enraged animal turned
on his trainer. The man lodged and
vanished, and with a roar Of pain and
anger the lion leaped over the railing
and into the sawdust OF the track.
Amid a pandemomium of screams
and yells the crowd broke into mad
struggle to escape. The lion crouched
in the sawdust, and his launches Quiy-
cred for the spring.
Gregory Barton had stood up the IN
slant the trainer disappeared His first
thought had been for Janet Norton.
He turned and saw her standing, white
and rigid with terror. while Dan Lee
sons broad back could be discerned In
the van of the disappearing crowd.
The lion was regarding her pink fig
ure with blazing eyes. That was his
objective point. There was his victim.
While the long tawny body quivered
for the spring, while the tail lashed
the track, Gregory leaped forward and
snatched Janet into his arms, whlrling
her about so that he stood in her place.
Run, run. while you can" he com
manded tiercely.
mo, no. no: you mustn't! I shan't
have YOU" she was crying as she re-
sisted his thrusting arms.
The yellow body arose and shot
through the air. Mercifuily il fell short
and went crashing among the tum-
bled benches. While it yet beloved
forth its rage and ere It could extri-
cate itself from the debris it had Gre
ated something whistlcd through the
air and settled around the named neck
Then with a fierce yell the wild west
ernei'' who had lassoed the escaped
lion rode his trick performing broncho
around the track, dragging the king OF
beasts ANONYMOUSLY in his train.
ooh, Gregory. Gregory" Janet was
|, sobbing. what have ! said TO you
you coward? Why. you are the brav.
est man | ever knew"
> That's all right; that's all right
Gregory was patting her shoulder com
fortably, but his eyes shone with q
triumphant light. Nothing very brave
> about that The circus people always
l manage to catch EN- before they dc
much damage"
"Then why did you try to save me?'
asked Janet quickly. and she laughed
at GTeCory's confusion.
D just lItU IAN LtthOH hlTOlIeu UP
looking rather crestfaucn. At sight Of
Gregory his neck stifTcned where
y were you, Janet| he asked complain
Il ingly. 81 told you to follow me, anC
when ! looked around"-
u Il was just where you left me wher
! you ran away" said Janet sharply
Are you ready TO take me home, Gree.
i ory?" she asked that dazed young man
! Yes" said Gregory happily.
y When they parted at Jaucts gate thu
girl said earnestly: Il hope you viii
y forget what | said the other morning
L Gregory. about always thinking % yol
/ as running away from the red COW.
% shall always think Of you as protect
:. ing me from the lion"
It Il don't care much what you thinl
Of me so long as you think Of m'
l. sometimes" said Gregory boldly.
1t Janet's eyes sent back a brief daz
lie zling answer which was as much
e, revelation 20 herself as - the hero a
d the gufe Then she ran into the house