Evening star., 1918-06-02
SS@ SA@
QIl lIl
~ ggglIg
children and loved every creature of

children and loved every creature of
the animal world.
How well that love was returned
Cleek saw when he went with him to
animals were kept and watched them
nose" his hand or lick his cheek
whenever the opportunity offered.
But Nero. the lion, was perhaps the
greatest surprise of all. for so tame,
so docile. SO little feared was the ami
they found one of the attendants
squatting cross-legged inside and
playing with it as though it were a
kitten.
There he is. DOCTOR" said the chew
alier. waving his hand toward the
beast. "Ah, will not believe that 1t
was anything but an accident. sir. He
loved my boy. He would hurt no one
that is kind to him. Fetch him out,
HON, and let the doctor see him at
close quarters"
Despite all these assurances of the
animals docility Cleek could not but
remember what the creature had
done. and. in consequence, did not
feel quite at ease when it came lum-
bering out of the cage with the at
tendant and ranged up alongside of
him, rubbing its huge head against
the chevalier's arm after the man
ner of an affectionate cat.
NOh I NC III Sdlu 1OIl
noticing this. Nothing more'n big
dog. sir. Had the care of him for
eight years. have-haven't I.
chevalier?-and never growl or
scratch out of him. No smile for
your old Tom, Is there, Nero, my
boy. eh? No fear! Amt thing as
anybody does with him. sir, that 1
wouldn't do offhand and feel quite
SAFE"
"Even To puttino vour baad In b;a
mouth?" queried Cleek.
Tor. yes" returned the man. with
a laugh. That's nothing. Done 1t
many a day. Look here" With that
he pulled the massive jaws apart, and
bending down. laid his head within
them. The lion stood perfectly pas
sive and did not offer to close his
mouth until it was again empty. 1t
was then that Cleek remembered. and
glanced round at young Scarmelli
He never smiles for any but the
chevalier and his son, I believe you
said." he memarked. T wonder If
the chevalier himself would be as
safe II he were to make a feint of
doing that?" For the chevalier, like
not changed his dress after the mat
inee. since the evening performance
was soon to begin. and If, as Cleek
had an idea. the matter of costume
and makeup had anything to do
with the mystery Of the thing. here.
surely, was a chance to learn
Make feint of It? Certainly. I
But why feint? Why not the
actual thing?"
mo. please-at least, not until have
seen how the beast is likely to take
1t. Just put your heaf down close
to his fnuzzle. chevalier. Go slow.
nj nd g.
distance"
The chevalier obeyed Bringing his
head down until 1t was on a level
with the animals own. he opened the
ponderous jaws. The beast was as
passive as before: and. finding no
trace Of the coming of the mysteri-
Gus and dreaded "smile." he laid his
cleaning teeth. held it there a mo-
ment and then withdrew II unin-
jured. Cleek took his chin between
his thumb and foreinger and pinched
1t hard. What he had just witnessed
would seem to refute the idea of
any bearing upon the case.
did you do that today at the mat
tnee performance, chevalier?" he haz-
arded, after a moments thoughtful
ness.
"Oh. yes" he replied TT was not
my plan to do SO. however. I alter
my performance constantly to give
variety. Today + had arranged for
my little son to do the trick, but
somehow All! I am foolish
man. monsieur; I have odd fancies.
odd whims. sometimes odd fears
since-since that awful night. Some
thing came over me at the last mo-
ment, and just as my boy came into
the cage to perform the trick I
changed my mind. would not let
him co 1t. I thrust him aside and
did the trick myself"
"Oho" said Cleek. "Will the boy
do it tonight. then. chevalier"
Perhaps" he made reply. HE Ii
still dressed for 1t. Look. here he
comes now. monsieur. and my wife
and ssme of our good friends with
them. All. they are SO Interested: !:
they are anxious to hear what re-
port you make upon Nero's condi-
tion.'
Cleek glanced round. Several MEM
bt rs Of the company were advancing
In the lead was the boy, a little fell
low of about twelve years of age,
fancifully dressed in tights and tunic.
BY his side was his stepmother. look
ing pale and anxious. But, although
both Signor Martinellf and the Bra
lillian coffee planter came to the edge
of the tent and looked out, 1t was
observable that they Immediately
ithdrew and allowed the rest Of the
party to proceed without them.
Dearest. / have just heard from
perimenting with Nero" said the
chevalier's wife. as she came up with
<he others and Joined him. "Oh. do
h1 "a reful dot Much as I like the