The Washington times., 1918-07-13

into the high.roofed cage. his courage stiff
fleming At sound Of the animals cultural
breathing. Then. with a heart that could
not breathe. he permitted his hand to rest
on the latch Of the big iron gate. The
yentlest Of movements revealed TO him tho
startling fact that the gate was unlocked.
Il seemed incredible, unthinkable that
Dutchy should neglect so vital prscau-
ton. Yet moments reflection told him
that the thing had happened before and
would continue so Tong as tanners regarded
their beasts with IMMUNITY. OF course he
had not expected to find the gate unlocked.
He had been merely impeIled BY curiosity
to gain q glimpse Of the little tin box
fastened somewhere overhead.
The situation was almost tantalizing
He became wildly certain, as the minutes
few, that with both feet once inside the
house. he could easily draw out the wad
Of bills from the tin box. He had been
climbing and Ieaping all his life. and the
task Of stretching upward a few inches
was not difficult one for him.
The gate moved back at the touch Of his
trembling fingers. in way that filed him
with terror. It had been recently oiled
until its hinges dripped. The clamorings
Of his heart were stilIed by the knowledge
that stiff hinges on lion or tiger house
might mean serious delay in the tanners
exit Dutchy was unduly careful In that
respect, no doubt, on account Of his ami
maIs uncertain temper.
With the gate opened the clown stood,
stiff Iimbed inside the dark house. the
surge OF hundred fears cannonading his
heart
A sickIy warmth that turned sour on
the nerves Of his palate ioated up from
the sleeping tiger. A sudden hypnotic
fascination to peep at the great striped
head seized him He stopped and drew
back sharply.
IF he wakes now, If he wakes He'll
have me sure!"
His momentary fash Of courage threat
ened to desert him. slight, almost i'm
perceptible, sound reached him from under
the house. Turning nimbly to the half
open gate he saw a naked hand stretch up
ward and close it softly. A key was thrust
into the lock and swiftly withdrawn.
The clown stood rooted. his fingers
clutching wildly at the gate lock. SIS II
you, GrimaIdi?" His futile fingers tore at
the cage bars. Someone was playing q
joke, q horribly insane and wicked joke.
He had been decoyed into the cage through
n ahIv runnor of hfddan unonav
1t seemed a piece Of madness now to
stand upright inside the house. II the
beast woke 1t would see him instantly. He
lay on his chest six inches from the locked
gate. and. in a whisper. again addressed
the shadow lurking below.
Grin Adj. I haven't chance If this
beast wakes. For Heavens sake. don't be
a fool"
There was no response. The shadow
seemed to recede under the wheels Of the
house.
Grice lay perfectly still, and as he choked
and stiied his inner cannonadings. he
heard, in his fear, the beating Of the tigers
heart.
Suddenly the cracking Of a whip filled
the dark circus with pistol-like echoes.
"Hoop-la! hoopla! hoop-la! hoop!" The
tanner leaped to the cage front, his whip
shifting through the bars. "Hoop-Ia!"
The tiger lay forward. its ears 1attened.
watching with flaming eyes the rise and
fall Of the whip. A short horrible -snarl
escaped it. The curling thong seemed TO
draw its glance around the cage as the
tanner darted to and fro
"Hoop-lal" He smote again, and the
clown, crouching far back, felt that the
huge cat would leap on his shoulders.
"Hoop-lal" At the third stroke Of the
whip it bounded across tia. greasy floor,
hatred Of the voice and thong in its burn
Ing eye. Round and round it leaped, strik-
Ing the clown with its flank and breast,
mindful only Of the furnishing thong that
licked cleverly and with force through the
bars.
Grice squeezed back to avoid the tigers
shoulder and hips as the beast
bounded from corner to corner His soft
body quailed under the sledge-hammer
strokes Of the flying paws. Up and down
he huge Bengal pounded, its snarling head
1ften brushing past his face. A blood-mist
,bscured his vision. Sick and faint he
rolled near the cage bars gasping and
.lawing with his fingers
"Hoop-la." The tanner paused suddenly,
waited an instant until the tiger halted in
his flying turns, at the far end Of the