The log cabin Democrat., 1922-04-17
The Clowns Story
By CHARLES E. BAXTER

MI NtS anu hau S'SA known. They say all lions know a sight more than humans give them credit for, but l won't say yes or no to that. I'm only the clown.
 She used to purr like a great kitten when l went by, and stretch out the soles of her feet for me to tickle them through the bars. Rub her head? God bless you, many a time I've been in side her cage and run my hand down her back and tickled her ears, although 1t wasn't strictly allowed. You see, I'm only the clown
 And she knew when Tpp had been drinking. She couldn't stand that mo- how. She used to growl when he'd put her through her tricks, and stand flashing her tail in anger. You see, lions can always spot anything wrong about humans. But what made her real mad was when Tipp had been beating his wife How do 1 know? Well, in way 1 have to watch things You see, I'm only the clown
 Nancy Tipp had been as pretty as a picture when Tipp married her. One of those little doll-like women who take to men like Tipp for some reason that nobodyll ever know. A regular angel in disposition too. High-trapeze performer, and bred in the business, and that's apt to sour some women, but it hadn't soured Nancy Tipp. She idoliZed him, in spite of everything, and wouldn't look at any of the boys who used to cast eyes at her, though there was many one would have died for her. How do I know? We'll, I'm the clown.
 But when Cissie Bustom joined Blake X Bexley's and begun roping in Tipp-who was always ready for anything in the female line that was on Ossie's lines, Ada knew as soon as any of us. After that Tipp used to treat Nancy Tipp worse than ever, and more than once I've seen her painting out a black eye that 1ipp had given her before running into the arena. She grieved over him, too, for long time But after while she got kind of quiet and bitter against him, and I'd watch him and think how I'd like to bust his head if I was anything but the clown.
 Yes. sir, Ada knew all right. Tipp and Nancy used to perform together inside of Ada's cage, kind of gym nastic exhibition, ending in Ada's hoof- ing Tipp out of the cage and lying down at Nancy Tipps feet. And (iSSia and Tim hnOan rarrXipy more and more openly, Ada's temper got worse and worse, but she loved Nancy, and I think that's what saved Tipp's bacon, if l may say so, though I'm the clown.
 It was the day before the annual move to New York and Cissie and Tfpp had been alone all day. Something was in the wind. I didn't know what, but what 1 did see, about half an hour before the performance, was Tpp standing alone in front of Ada's cage and laughing at her. If anything made Ada mad, that did. She snarled and showed her fangs, and growled, and dashed her tail, and bit at the iron bar he dug into her ribs. It was clearly his intention to irritate her to mad ness, and I wished more than ever wasn't just the clown
 When the performance come on that night Tipp and Nancy stepped inside the cage and l saw he had loaded pistol in his hand. Ada saw it too, and she acted better than for q long n her eye which I recognized for what it was worth. Then come the moment when 1t was time for Ada to spring on Tpp and roll him over with her hoofs which is the word l use for pads, being only a clown
 And suddenly my blood went cold For l saw Tipp deliberately pull some thing out of his sleeve and jab Ada in the nose Quick as lightning it was done. With his back to the audience, and quick as lightning he was on his feet and bolting for the door as Ada snarled. And l saw that it was his game to make his getaway and have Nancy torn to pieces, the miserable, skulking clown!
 My blood went cold, as l said. But il was all done in the flash of a mo- ment. There came roar from Ada and just as Tipp had his hand upon the door, she caught him. saw Nancy run forward screaming, and fling her self between them. And then il was all over and Tipp lay on the floor of the cage, and he would never beat Nancy Tip again, for his head was half torn from his body. 1 yelled and ran forward into the cage. and 1 must have locked pretty sight with my face white and my spangles, me dressed up us a clown,
 Nancy was lying in a dead faint across Tips body and Ada was crouching at her feet and never moved nor uttered a sound when l pulled Nancy up and carried her out. Of course Ada had to be shot But, as I began to say, lions know a good deal about humans, and if there's any lion h.. I gIA Il