The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-02-04

and he was a familiar personality to
them all. Whenever anything new
came in that even so much as men
toned elephants, it was always called
to his attention.
This had been the rule with but one
exception. For more than a year past
in several Of the magazines there had
been occurring a most interesting type
of black and white drawings which fea-
tured the elephant in strange and Pc
culiar phases, and in most unusual sur
roundings. There were sad elephants,
coy ones, comical, rollicking, devil-may-
care elephants, abandoned and digni-
fed elephants.
They strolled or danced along the
streets, they looked curiously over gar
den walls, into or out of unexpected
doorways, strolled up or down the steps
Of sunken gardens, sometimes in the
most delightful company of dancing
girls or nymphs in silhouette.
And when Martin Brown first saw
those drawings he laughed and hunted
eagerly for more. He found them, quite
a few of them, signed modestly in the
corner, IS. B." He called the attention
of one of the librarians whom he had
known for several years and asked her
if she knew anything Of the artist. She
did, The artist was girl who came
there and pored over elephant books
and made quantities Of sketches.
'What kind Of q girl?" asked Martin
Brown.
"Rather young-and sort of attrac-
tive" reluctantly admitted the libra
rian, who was neither. "Why, here she
comes nowl" she added in surprise.
| and his glance followed hers as tall,
slim girl came toward them.
'Miss Barstow," said the librarian,
stopping the girl with a gesture to-
ward Martin Brown, "this is the ele-
| plant man, Martin Brown"
| Brown looked into pair of sad gray
eyes that were frankly wide and curl
Gus. He could not understand why
those eyes were sad, for there was
| hint of humor in the curves of her
mouth, and her drawings sparkled with
| fun.
1--WE often wondered about you, Ele-
plant Man." said Sara Barstow, with
an open-eyed smile.
1t was but natural that they should
become friends, they had so much In
common. At his insis<ent invitation she
visited his studio and sketched his ele-
plants, and he gave her of his lore and
such companionship as she had never
| before known In the timidity of her
! dreams.
Brown did not know, but that was
| the reason for the sadness in her eyes,
| the loneliness of a shy but courageous
spirit fighting upward In the conten-
tious competition of remorseless Man.
haitian. But as she reyelcd 10 the
| joy of her association with Brown the
ldok Of sadness lifted from her ayes
and they began to reflect the dancing
lights of her natural spontaneous ma
ture that had always revealed itsei1
In the humorous quirk of her flexible
mouth and the jolly elephants whlcn
cavorted engagingly when depicted Dy
the genius Of her drawing.
Together they went to the various
ZOOS and one after another she met
the friends of his fancy. The keeper
stared in surprise to see their temper
amental and sometimes cratic charges
instantly accept this slim girl with
the same affectionate fellowship that
they always displayed for Brown nim-
self.
Gently they slipped inquisitive, ca
ressing trunks down over her thln-ciad
shoulders, curling them about her with
diseoncerting ardor. But Sara Barstow
was unafraid-delighted to feel tnat
they trusted and loved her even as
they did Brown.
There was but one exception In this
attitude toward Sara Barstow among
the elephants of New York, and tnat
exception was Minerva, the mightiest
beast of them ALL Minerva had been
caught in her native Africa In ner
early girlhood and brought to New
York For years there had been no In
dicatiOn that she had resented this IN
terruption to her jungle career, but MI
nerva was of the species feminine, ana
the female Of the species has Its own
peculiarities, as almost every one ana
Rudyard Kipling can swear to.
The day Martin Brown and Sara VS.
tied her Minerva seemed not at All
her own sweet self. True, she squeaied
delightedly at the sight OF Brown and
reached toward him engagingly with
her trunk. but after they had -