Evening star., 1918-06-02

response to this the whole trend Of
the conversation was altered by the
boy.
"Father." he said, "am I to do the
trick tonight? Senior Sperati says it
is silly of me to sit about all dressed
and ready if l am to do nothing, like
little super, instead of performer
and an artist.
senior to say that" his father re-
piled. soothing his ruffied feelings.
You are an artist, of course; never
suE.r-no. never. But If you shall
do the trick or not, I cannot say. 1t
will depend, as it did at the matinee.
but if l feel it is wrong. then it must
be no. You see, doctor" catching
Cleek's eye. what little enthusiast
he is. and with how little fear"
Yes. do see, chevalier; but l won
der if he would be willing to humor
I've an odd fancy to see how he'd go
about the thing. Would you mind
letting him make the feint you your
self made a few minutes ago? Only.
l must insist that in this instance it
be nothing more than feint, cheva-
Iier. Don't let him go too near at the
time of doing it. Don't let him open
the lions jaws with his own hands.
You do that. Do you mind?"
"Of certainty not. monsieur. Gus
ldNS blow lHc 6Oou uOClOE uow yOu
go about it when papa let's you do
the trick. But you are not really to
do it just yet, only to bend the
head near to Nero's mouth. Now then.
come see."
AS he spoke he divided the lions
jaws and signaled the child to bend.
He obeyed. Very slowly the little
head dropped nearer to the gaping.
full-fanged mouth, very slowly and
very carefully. for Cleek's hand was
on the boys shoulder, Cleek's eyes
were on the lions face. The huge
ed as before. and there was actual
kindness in it's fixed eyes. But of a
sudden. when the child's head was on
a level with those gaping jaws. the
lips curled backward in CHASTITY
parody of a smile, weird, uncanny
sound whizzed through the barred
teeth, the passive body bulked as with
shock. and Cleek had just time to
snatch the boy back when the great
Jaws struck together with a snap
of iron had they closed upon it.
The hideous and mysterious smile"
had come again. and brief though 1t
was. its passing found the boys sis
ter lying on the ground in a dead
faint. the boys stepmother covering
affrighted screams. and the boys ia
ther leaning, shaken and white,
against the empty cage and nursing
bleeding hand.
In an instant the whole place was in
an urFoar 1T smiled again! 1t smiled
again" ran in broken gasps from lip to
lip; but through it all Cleck stood there.
clutching the frightened child close to
him. but not saying one word. not maxi
ing one sound. Across the dark arena
came a rush of running footsteps, and
presently Senor Sperat came painting up,
hf1.a lpll nd rea1o with eyniteypQpt
What's the matter? What's wrong?"
he cried. rs 1t the lion again? Is the
boy .,, killed; Speak up" ~
will he be. The father will do the trick
tonight, not the SON We've had a fright
and a lesson, that's ALL" And, putting
the sobbing child from him, he caught
young Scarmellfs arm and hurried him
talk in safety" he said. I'VE are on
the threshold Of the end, Scarmelli, and
1 want your help"
"Oh. Mr.: Cieek, have you any idea,
any clues"
YES. more than a clew. I know how,
but have not yet discovered why. Now.
If you know. tell me what did the cheva-
lier mean. what did his wife mean, when
they spoke of a dream that might have
come true but didn't. Do you know?
not. do you think your fiance hasr"
why. yes" he made reply. "Zelie has
told me about tiOften. 1t is of fortune
that was promised and never material
lied. Oh. such a long time ago, when he
was quite young man, the chevalier
saved the life Of very great man. a
Pruss;an nobleman of~great wealth. He
was profuse in his thanks and his prom
ises that nobleman-swore that he
would make him independent for life,
and all that sort Of thing"
And didn't?'
mo, he didn't. After a dozen letters
promising the chevalier things that al
most turned his head the man dropped
him entirely In the midst of his dreams
Of wealth a letter came from the old
skinfiint's steward inclosing him the
as his master had come to the conclusion
that wealth would be more ofa curse
tran blessing to a man Of his class and
station he had thought better of his rash
promise. He begged to tender the in
closed as a proper and sufficient reward
for the service rendered, and should not
trouble the young man any further OF
course, the chevalier didn't reply. Who
would. after having been promised
wealth, education. everything one had
confessed that ono most desired? Bcing
young. high-spirited and bitterly. bitterly
disappointed. the chevalier bundled tho
600 marks back without a single word.
and that was the last he ever heard Of
tho Baron Steinheid from that day to
this"
'.fhe Baron Won Steinheid" re-
peated Cleek. pulling himself up as
though he had trodden upon some
thing. 'Do you mean to say that the
man whose life he saved-Scarmeili,
tell me something:-Does it happen
by any chance that the 'Chevalfer di
% 10 prfo Yav,c