Middletown transcript., 1914-01-10

tunes Of the interior, and somebody
had already armed them with scythes
rusty boarding pixies, stable-forks, and
one or two flintlock muskets. An evil
looking crew, if ever saw one. They
were the scum OF Morbihan.
WELL" muttered Speed in amaze
ment
After a long silence, Kelly Eyre
looked at his watch It's time we
were in the tent, he observed, dryly;
and we turned away without a word
At the bridge we stopped and looked
back. The red flag was flying from
the mayors house
81 think" l said, that we had bet.
ter ride over to Trecourt after the
show-not that there's any immediate
danger"
There is no immediate danger,
said Speed, because she is here"
My face began to burn; / looked at
him miserably. How do you know ?"
"She is there in the tent. | saw
her Don't misconstrue her presence.
Don't be a contemplate fool. If |
have read her face-and l have never
spoken to her, as you know tell
you, Scarlett, that young girl is going
through an ORDEAL Do women of that
kind come to shows like this to be
amused?"
And he turned on his heel, leaving
me speechless.
] do not remember dressing. When
came out into the passage-way By
ram beckoned me, and pointed at a
crack in the canvas through which
one could see the interior of the am
phitheater.
The show was on.
l stood in the shadow of the stable
tent, dressed in my frock-coat, white
stock, white cords, and hunting boots,
sullen, embittered, red with a false
shame that better men than l have
weakened under, almost desperate in
my humiliation, almost ready to end
it all there among those tawny, rest
less brutes pacing behind the bars
at my elbow, watching me stealthily
with luminous eyes.
She knew what l was-but that she
could come to see with her own eyes
| could not understand, l could not
forgive. Because she had, in her gra-
cious ignorance, given me a young
girls imprlsive friendship, was l to
mistake her?
Have you seen her?" whispered
Speed, coming up to me, long whip
trailing.
| shook my head
He looked at me in disgust Here's
something for you" he said shortly,
and thrust an envelope into my hand.
In the envelope was a little card
on which was written: Il ask you to
be careful, for a friends sake" On
the other side of the card was en-
graved her name.
Where is she?" I said, steadying
my voice, which my leaping heart al
most stifed.
He drew me by the elbow and
looked toward the right of the amphi-
theater. Following the direction of
his eyes, l saw her leaning forward.
pale-faced, grave, small, gloved hands
interlocked. Beside her sat Sylvia
Elven, apparently amused at the an
tics of the clown.
q will be careful" l said to Speed.
in low voice "If it were not for
Byram | would not go on today-but
that is matter of honor. Oh, Speed"
| broke out, lis she not worth dying
for?"
why not live for herr" he OBJ
served, dryly.
He let go of my arm and stood back
as my lion-cages came rolling out.
drawn by four horses.
Its your turn" he said, in a dazed
way. Look out for that lioness."
entered the cage, afraid.
Almost instantly l was the center of
snarling mass of lions; / saw moth
ing; my whip rose and fell mechan-
ically. l stood like one stunned, while
the tawny forms leaped right and left
Suddenly l heard a keeper say,
Look out for Empress Khatoun, sir."
And a moment later cry, Look out,
sir!''
Something went wrong with another
lion, too, for the people were standing
up and shouting, and the sleeve of my
coat hung from the elbow. showing
my bare shoulder. I remember say
ing, aloud: Il must keep my feet; I
must not fall" Then daylight grew
red, and was on my knees, with the
foul breath of a lion in my face A
hot iron bar shot across the cage.
The roaring of beasts and people died
out in my ears: then, with a shock,
my soul seemed to be dashed out of
me into terrific darkness.