The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-03
CRIME OF THE GORILLA
BY G. PoEHLMAN.

because of her gentleness and kind
heart.
Politeness and consideration are
rare articles in a circus crowd, but
Senobia, 1.-The queen of tightrope walk
ers," as she was billed, had no reason
to complain in this respect. Every.
body treated her with the greatest
politeness and respect, though she was
the youngest and poorest paid of US
all.
Strange 1t was. however, the one
who showed her least respect was
the smartest of the whole company.
1t was not because he thought him
self so far above her, but because
he loved her more than any Of US
did. passionately, and therefore sell
fiishly. The rest Of US could feel
happy whole day when Senobia had
spoken q few kind words to US. but
he, Stavarta, champion juggler of the
world" would not even have been
satisfied had she given him her whole
soul.
We were in Pittsburgh. The circus
was crowded with people. and every.
body was anxiously watching for the
appearance Of Senobia.
When we arrived in town, the direc.
tor Of the circus, greatly to his an.
noyance, had discovered that It was
impossible to fix Senobia's rope proper
ly with the safety curtain underneath.
Then came the fatal night. As
usual, l was standing underneath
watching her every movement. She
was just ready to walk across the
rope the third time, carrying a jap
anese parasol. when I suddenly discov.
cred that the rope was sagging and
that Senobia walked backwards to
the place from where she had started.
At this moment the audience shud.
dered. / looked up, the rope had be.
gun to swing violently. It was not
Senobia who did this-she had all she
could do to keep her balance. It was
caused by something at the other end
Of the rope, and true enough, there on
the other platform sat "Goble," the
big gorilla, crouching and shaking,
the rope with its big powerful fists.
AS fast as my legs could carry me
ran to the nearest door leading to
the gallery. To get to this I had to
pass by the monkey cage, and here
stopped. believing for a moment that
must have gone mad, for In the cage,
which was strongly bolted, sat the big
gorilla. And still l had seen 1t only
few seconds before at the other end
II the building.
/ rushed towards the stairs leading
o the gallery and suddenly l heard
'omebody coming down in mad haste.
suspicion entered my mind. I hid
myself quickly and watched. A mo-
nent later a figure in red tights ran |
'ast my hiding place towards the
'orilla's cage. It was Stavarta.
You miserable BEAST" he roared at
he ape. II wish could kill you!"
He ran away from the cage, looked
bout cautiously and disappeared. A
moment later a number Of people
anne running towards the cage, pale
nd excited.
What a hero Stavarta is." cried the
inehlaster. But for his courage and
resence Of mind the mad beast might
ave attacked the audience"
"Stavarta!" blurted out. What did
% dor
HE says he was standing in the
allery waiting for his turn when he
card the cries from the audience. At
be same moments he saw Senobia
alling and caught 8 glimpse Of the
orilla. Without thinking Of his own
eril he made a rush for the beast,
ut 1t Was too quick for him. 1t ran
ack into it's cage and he bolted the
DOR behind It,"
"Stavarta is Q liar" l said.
At the same moment he struck me
violent blow in the face with his
ut.
How dare you call mo liar, you
owardly curl" he cried. you have
lways been jealous because she loved
1e and did not care for you"
Il. jealous OF you! You know very
rell that Senobia was not In love
nth any Of US, and least Of all with
on. And you know yourself that you
re lying, for at the moment I saw
enobia l ran to the gallery stairs.
ad only one thought-to kill the
orilla, but as l passed the cage ! saw
sitting In there"
what is the good Of calling ono an
Their liars" said the ringmaster.
1T means that Stavarta must e1-
lain what he was doing in the gallery
nd how it happened that We saw
orilla while Goble was In his cage"
Il will kill you for thisf" screamed
tavarta.
Easy. easy, Stavarta," said the ring
Master, and turned to me.
Then you saw gorilla, too? How
o you explain that?
Il believe | can explain. Follow
le."
| walked up the stairs. The others
nd Stayarta followed. He turned
aler with every step. At the top
here were six little rooms. They
'ere all open but one.
"Where is the keyW | asked,