The Washington herald., 1914-11-08

cred to receive them. AT greater dis
tance stood all of the servants anc
farm hands, and as the wagon backed
against the gate, with the door of keys
cage opening against it, the entire au-
dience, with one accord, moved solidly
TO the rear. Herrick. with a pleased
but somewhat nervous smile. mounted
the wagon. But before he could unlock
the Gage Kelly demanded to be heard
He insisted that. following the custom
of all great artists, the bears should
give a positively farewell perform
ance."
He begged that Bruno and Clara
might be permitted to dance together.
He pointed out that this would be the
last time they could listen to the strains
of the Merry Widow Waltz" He
called upon everybody present to whis-
tie IT.
The suggestion of an open air per-
Torrance was received coldly. At the
moment no one seemed able to pucked
his lips into a whistle, and some even
explained that with that famous waltz
they were unfamiliar
One girl attained an instant popular
ity by pointing out that the bears could
waltz just as well on one side of the
fence as the other. Kelly, cheated of
his free performance, then begged that
before Herrick condemned the bears to
starye on acorns, he should give them
a farewell drink, and Herrick, who was
slightly ratified, replied excitedly that
he had not ransomed the animals only
to degrade them. The argument was
interrupted by the French chef falling
out of a tree He had climbed it, he
explained, in order to obtain a better
view.
When, in turn, it was explained to
him that a bear also could climb a
tree. he remembered he had left his
oven door open. His departure re-
minded other servants of duties they
had neglected, and one of the guests,
also, on remembering he had put in a
long-distance call, hastened to the
house. Jackson suggested that perhaps
they had better all return with him,
as the presence of so many people might
frighten the bears. At the moment he
spoke, key emitted a hideous howl,
whether of Joy or rage no one knew,
and few remained to find out. II was
not until Herrick had investigated and
reported that key was still behind
the bars that the house party cautiously
returned. The house party then filed 4
vigorous protest Its members, with
Jackson as spokesman, complained that
Herrick was relying entirely too much
on his supposition that the bears would
be anxious to enter the forest. Jack
~t,.,N .N
care to do so, there was nothing to pre-
veht them from doubling back under
the wagon; in which case the house
party and all of the United States lay
before them 1t was not until a lawn
tennis net and much chicken wire was
stretched in intricate thicknesses across
the lower half of the gate that Herrick
was allowed to proceed. Unassisted,
he slid back the cage door, and with
out a moments hesitation key leaped
from the wagon through the gate and
into the preserve. For an instant, dazed
by the sudden sunlight. he remained
motionlesS, and then, after shifting de-
lightedly at the air, stuck his nose deep
into the autumn leaves. Turning on his
back, he luxuriously and joyfully kicked
his legs, and rolled from side to side.
Herrick gave a shout of joy and tri-
umph. What did tell you'll" he call
ed. See how he loves it! See how
happy he is"
Not at all" protested Kelly. "HeI
thought you gave him the sign to roll
over Tell him to play dead and he'll
do that"
Tell all the bears to play dead "I
begged Jackson, until I'm back in the
billiard room.
Flushed with happiness, Herrick toss
ed keys cage out of the wagon, and
opened the door of the one that held |
Bruno and Clara. On their part, there
was moment of doubt As though
a trap, they moved to the
edge of the cage, and gazed critically
1t the screen of trees and tangled vines
hat rose before them.
They think it's new backdrop," ex-
blamed Kelly.
But the delight with which key was
.njoying his bath in the autumn leaves
vas not lost upon his parents. Slowly
md clumsily they dropped to the
Iround. As though they expected to be
'ecalled, each turned to look at the
'AOuP Vi pSOPlC WIZ Hdu now Iuu 10
'eer through the wire meshes of the
ence But, as no one spoke and MOI
me signalled, the three bears, in sin
lie file, started toward the edge of the
crest They had Of cleared space to
over only little distance, and at each
tep, as though fearful they would be
topped and punished, one or the other
urned his head. But no one halted
hem With quickening footsteps the
ears, now almost at a gallop, plunged
The next instant they were
ost to sight, and only the cracking of
he underbrush told that they had come
ITO their own. Ii
Herrick dropped to the ground and
ocked himself inside the preserve. /,
"I'm going after them" he called, TO {
ee what they'll do" il
There was frantic chorus of cries
nd entreaties.
Don't be an ASST begged Jackson.
They'll eat you" /,