The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-08-28
CHAPTER !.

Under a canopied platform stood a
young girl, modelling in clay, The
glare of the California sunshine 81
tering through the canvas, became
mellowed. warm, and golden. Above
the girls head-yello% like the stalk
of wheat-there hoyered kind Of
aureola, as if there had risen above it
a haze Of Knpalpable gold dust.
A poet know might have cried out
that there ended his quest Of the
Golden Girl. Straight she stood at this
moment, lovely of face, rounded OF
form, with an indescribable suggestion
tof letant physical power or magnet
ism. On her temples there were little
daubs of clay, caused doubtless by I'M
patient fingers sweeping back occa-
sional wind-blown locks of hair. There
was even q daub on the side OF her
handsome, sensitive nose.
Her hand, still filed with clay,
dropped to her side, and a tableau en-
dured for minute or two, suggesting
a remote period, Persian idyl, may
har With smile on her lips she
stared at the living model. The cha
toyant eyes of the leopard stared
back, flicker q restlessness in their
brilliant yellow deeps. The tip of the
tail twitched.
You beautiful thing" she said.
She began kneadlng the clay again,
and with def fingers added bits here
and there to the creature which had
grown up under her strong, supple
fingers.
"Kathlyn! Oh, Xiii"
The sculptress paused, the quicker
left her brow, and she turned, her
face beaming, for her sister Winnie
was the apple of her eye, and she
brooded over her like the mother
would have done had the mother lived.
For Winnie, dark as Kathlyn was
light, was as careless and aimless as
thistledown In the wind.
A collie leaped upon the platform
and began paving Kathlyn, and short
ly after the younger sister followed,
Neither of the girls noted the stiffen-
ing mustaches of the leopard. The ami.
NAL rose. and his nostrils palpitated
He hated the dog with a hatred not
unmtxed with fear. Treachery Is in
the marrow of all cats. To breed them
in captivity does not matter. Sooner
or later they will strike, Never be.
fore had the leopard been SO close to
his enemy, free of the leash
Kit, it is just wonderful. However
can you do it? Some day we'll make
dad take US to Paris, where you can
exhibit them"
A snarl from the leopard, answered
by growl from the collie, brought
Kathlyn's head about. The cat leaped,
but toward Winnie, not the collie
With a cry of terror Winnie turned
and ran in the direction of the bunga
low. Kathlyn, seizing the leash, fol
lowed like the wind, hampered though
she was by the apron. The cat Hoped
after the fleeing girl, gaining at each
bound The yelping of the collie
brought forth from various points low
rumbling sounds, which presently de-
Veloped into roars,
Winnie turned sharply around the
corner Of the bungalow toward the
empty animal cages, to attract heI
father and at the same time rouse
some of the keepers. Seeing the door
of an empty cage open, and that 1t was
approached by board runway she
few to it, entered, and slammed the
door and held it. The cat, now hot
with the lust to kill, threw himseIl
against the bars, snarling and splitting
Kathlyn called out to him sharply
and fearlessly approached him. She
began talking In monotone. Hi,
ears went fiat against his head, but he
submitted to her touch because in
variably it soothed him, and because
he sensed some undefnable powe,
whenever his gaze met hers. sht
snapped the leash on his collar lust az
her father came running up, pale ant
disturbed. He ran to the door anc
opened it.
Winnie. you poor little kitten" b,
said, taking her in his arms, "hoy
many times have / told you never +,
take that dog about when Kits leopar,
is off the leash?"
n u didn't think" she sobbed,
d Ne, Kit here and must always d.
your thinking for you. Ahmed"
Yes, sahib," answered the hea,
keeper
See if you can stop that racke
over there. Sadie may lose her little
If 1t keeps up"
The lean, brown Mohammedan trot
ted away in obedience to his orders
He knew how to stop captive lion
from roaring. He knew how to sen
terror to their hearts, AS he ran b
began to hiss softly.
Colonel Hare, with his arm abou
Winnie, walked toward the bungalow
Lock your pet up, Kit" he calIe
over his shoulder, and come into tea.
Kathlyn spoke soothingly to tn
leopard. scratched his head behind tn
ears, and shortly a low, satisfied run