Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-01-20
The Coward

forward to by the inhabitants of the
little provincial city; therefore every
one was out to see the street parade
of the troupe. Showily caparisoned
horses snorted and pranced restively
in sharp contrast to the half dozen
ponderous elephants plodding calmly
along in the choking cloud of dust
raised by their own enormous feet.
Behind them came the cage of SER
penis; the tigers-crouching with
half-closed cleaning yellow eyes,
and snarling raspingly; while pac-
ing restlessly from end to end
of his combining cage, the huge
lion-King-gave vert to intermittent
roars of ugly protest against his en-,
forced captivity. Then came the les
ser attractions.
1t was in this same company
also that Richard Agnew had
woed and won his wife, pretty
Marie Duprez. the bravest bare
back rider in the circus. Yes, and
one of the white canvas tents in yon.
der field had been the nursery and
only home of his girl baby-brown-
eyed, petite Aimee.
All, life was worth living in those
days!
But since the awful accident that
had deprived him of both health and
nerve, he had been miserably unhap-
py. He closed his eyes against the
sting of starting tears. This scene
brought it all back SO clearly-the
night when, just after an unusually
trying performance, he had announced
his intention of quitting circus life for
q less nerve-racking passion Of rage,
had declared she would never leave
the ring for the humdrum routine Of
the home; and then, when she had
caught up Aimee, hurled the one word
Coward" at him with singing scorn,
and had flung herself out of the tent
into the nights engulfing blackness!
And in all the weary months that
followed, he had found no trace of
her. or of the child. Well, he was
down and out now-his health brol-
en-, and his nerve gone. Marie was
had proved himself cow
ard!
He pulled his hat lower. He would
not see the sights, nor hear the old
familiar sounds that still thrilled his
heart; that set every pulse leaping
with desire to be back once more in
the excitement Of the circus arena
where even the danger attending each
performance had been but an addi-
tional Joy. Oh, II only he could sum-
mon back the splendid nerve and
courage that was once his!
The procession had halted-and a
huge touring car was slipping and
down the street-heading
straight for the animal vans, despite
the heroic efforts of the chauffeur to
control it's erratic course.
On 1t came, a veritable juggernaut
Of destruction. 1t struck the van, car
rying the lions cage squarely-the
terrific impact smashing car, van and
cage. AS the bars cracked, the surly
brute within leaped free of the wreck.
age with roar of rage, and stood
with lashing tail and frothing mouth,
quite still in the middle of the street.
Then, above the incoherent shouts
of men-above the frightened screams
Of women and children-there rang
out woman's voice. shrilling in
frenzied terror:
"My baby! o God, my baby. my
baby!"
Richard Agnew heard, and franti.
cally beat back all who barred his
way; for, from the opposite sidewalk.
shone Marie's white, agonized face
and directly in front of the maddened
lion, stood laughing, brown eyed
Aimee; her chubby hands outstretch-
ed, her soft lips curved in baby coax
ing!
The mans heart seemed to stop
beating-he swayed dizzily; then his
blood raced through his veins like
liquid fire; his heart steadied, and
with all his old time agility and nerve.
he bounded into the air, and came
down between his baby girl and the
working, dripping Jaws and blood.shot
eyes. With a backward sweep OF
tense hand, he snatched the child to
him in a fierce embrace; then tossed
her straight into the waiting arms of
his wife. Then the cruel paws flew
into the air and struck him to the
earth. The crowd awoke from its
stupor OF fright A shot
rang out, and King, too, fell-his head
resting on the crushed breast of his
victim!
Men rushed forward then women
'obbed. gathering their children with.
IN their sheltering arms. In the midst |
of the confusion, man In clerical
yarb stepped to the side of the inert
mass in the street
Kneeling, he lifted one Of Richard
Agnew's hands. 1t fell back with the
awful helplessness Of death. He
pared his head and stood up.
my friends" he said. "he is gone!
But let us thank God, for as brave a
nan IA true q hero "A ever fell IN |