Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-08-06

more heart than one would view the
result of dog fight, since he didn't
care which of the combatants in that
cage won. You may eat the lion, he
added, and again he cackled madly, as
if at a great joke.
Joan, my poor Joan!" | said, thrust
ing my arm through the separating
bars and stroking her beautiful hair.
Joan! See here!" l shouted to the
madmen, don't leave this girl like
that" They were going away toward
the hut. Come back here and bring
some water" l called But they
needed me not at all
Presently Joan regained conscious
ness-and slipped some water-and
then put her face between the bars
and said:
John, perhaps it was cruel to save
your life. For they will keep you now
in that cage-as they have kept me
here in my own cage. And to live SO
is worse than death-far worse"
Dear" replied. remember have
you to live for"
She understood And-yes, | kissed
her square on the lips.
For two long years we remained
thus, cellmates, all but for those in
tercepting bars. Night and day we
would hold each others hands anc
keep each other from going mad. By
day we would tell each other stories Of
our past lives. By night we would lie
close together by the bars, still hold
ing hands. Strangest wooing, strangest
love under the strangest conditions
ever man experienced
And so passed the two years-two
long years of torture.
noticed that frequently now the
old scientist and the black man quar-
relied. Once, near our cages, the two
madmen came to blows. What if they
were to kill each other and leave US in
these cages-to starve? l could see
that the same thought was in Joan's
mind. But neither of us spoke. The
thought of what would happen to US
II those two madmen should destroy
each other was too horrible.
Came then the great day when, al
most mad with desire for liberty,
tore frantically at the bars of my
cage. And what happened? To my
amazement and joy felt one of the
bars yielding to my tugging grasp.
The bars are worm-eaten!" cried
to Joan. BY all the gods, the bars OF
this cage are worm-eaten"
Pull" cried Joan. Pull hard
There! There! Oh. God-you are
/ freel"
Yes, was free. First one bar then
another had broken in the middle
where worms had so weakened them
that they readily yielded in the hands
OF the desperate man whom they had
imprisoned for two years.
And now yours," cried to Joan
running to her cage. Now to free
you!"
i You can't" she walled They put
new bars to my cage only a month ago
/ While the bars of your cage have
never been renewed in my memory"
We'll, then, I'll free you with clut
as lever-same as l did before"
y And I went in search of stoul
stick.
Fly, John! fly" cried Joan. hel
voice ringing with fear Run away
quick! They are coming. Don't stoI
for me-"
I'll return with help, dear!" was al
/ had time to say to my darlin;
Joan-and then heard the footsteps
Of the two madmen approaching
and ran ran for door life
How long / ran nor how far shall
never know. For when awoke it wa.
to see the sun rising on new day.
must have ran till fell exhausted ant
unconscious. For l remembered moth
ing of this place in which l now fount
myself. 1t was place amid trees
yet sandy. Yes, there was white san,
under my feet.
CTO BE CoNTINUED)