The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-03-20
CHAPTER |.

young girl, modelling in clay. The
| glare of the California sunshine, fl
tering through the canvas, became
mellowed. warm, and golden. Above
| the girls head-yellow like the stalk
| of wheat-there lowered a kind Of
| aureola, as if there had risen above 1t
haze of impalpable gold dust.
A poet l know might have cried out
that there ended his quest of the
Golden Girl. Straight she stood at this
moment, lovely of face, rounded OF
form, with an indescribable suggestion
of letant physical power or magnet
ism. On her temples there were little
daubs of clay, caused doubtless by i'm
patient fingers sweeping back occa-
sional windblown locks of hair. There
was even daub on the side OF her
handsome, sensitive nose.
Her hand, still filed with clay,
dropped to her side, and tableau en-
dured for minute or two, suggesting
a remote period, a Persian idyl, may
har With smile on her lips she
stared at the living model The cha
toyant eyes of the leopard stared
back, flicker of restlessness in their
brilliant yellow deeps The tip Of the
tail twitched.
you beautiful thing!" she said.
She began kneading the clay again,
and with def fingers added bits here
and there to the creature which had
grown up under her strong. supple
fingers.
"Kathlyn! Oh, Xiii"
The sculptress paused, the quicker
left her brow, and she turned, her
face beaming, for her sister Winnie
was the apple of her eye, and she
brooded over her like the mother
would have done had the mother lived.
For Winnie, dark as Kathlyn was
light, was as careless and aimless as
thistledown in the wind.
A collie leaped upon the platform
and began paving Kathlyn, and short
ly after the younger sister followed.
Neither of the girls noted the stiffen-
ing mustaches of the leopard. The ami
/ NAL rose, and his nostrils palpitated.
! He hated the dog with hatred not
unmixed with fear. Treachery is in
the marrow of all cats. To breed them
; in captivity does not matter. Sooner
or later they will strike. Never be-
fore had the leopard been SO close to
his enemy, free of the leash.
Exit, 1t is just wonderful. However
can you do it? Some day we'll make
dad take us to Paris, where you can
exhibit them"
A snarl from the leopard, answered
. by a growl from the collie, brought
4 Kathlyn's head about. The cat leaped,
J but toward Winnie, not the collie.
With cry of terror Winnie turned
and ran in the direction of the bunga-
low. Kathlyn, Selling the leash. fol-
lowed like the wind, hampered though
she was by the apron. The cat Hoped
: after the fleeing girl, gaining at each
bound. The yelping of the collie
brought forth from various points low
rumbling sounds, which presently de
!. veloped into roars
7 Winnie turned sharply around the
corner of the bungalow toward the
empty animal cages, to attract hei
father and at the same time rouse
some of the keepers. Seeing the dool
Of an empty cage open, and that it wa.
approached by board runway. sh,
. few to 1t, entered, and slammed tn,
e door and held 1t. The cat, now no
70 with the lust to kill, threw himsel
|. against the bars. snarling and splitting
ID Kathlyn called out to him sharply
p and fearlessly approached him. Sh
= = began talking In monotone Hi
!, ears went fiat against his head but h
submitted to her touch because In
!, variably 1t soothed him, and becaus
!. he sensed some undefnable powe
Is whenever his gaze met hers. Sh
Or snapped the leash on his collar Just a
W her father came running up. pale an
R. disturbed He ran to the door an
en- opened 1t.
Of Winnie, you poor little kitten" h
= said. taking her In his arms, Tho,
many times have | told you never I
a take that dog about when Kits leopar
off the leash?"
Il didn't think" she sobbed.
he mo. Kit here and must always d
a. your thinking for you. Ahmed"
Yes, sahib,' answered the hea
keeper.
he See If you can stop that rack,
CO over there. Sadie may lose her lite
he II 1t keeps up"
= The lean, brown Mohammedan tro
~ ted away In obedience to his order
=" He knew how to stop captive lioi
,,,c from roaring. He knew how to ser
oh terror to their hearts. AS he ran
IL began to hiss softly.
red Colonel Hare, with his arm abo
in. Winnie, walked toward the bungalo
IS Lock your pet up. Kit" he cali
les over his shoulder. and come into tea
pes Kathlyn spoke scothingly to Il
oct leopard. scratched his head behind Il
,n' ears, and shortly low. satisfied ri
ny BILE stirred his throat, and his tail
longer slashed about. She led him
an bis own cage, never ceasing to tai
ed locked the door, then turned a