Evening star., 1923-11-04

meath the lower edge Of the canvas.
ana the heavy, stocky hoofs OF the
circle OF elephants on guard against
another outbreak. Far away the
band played in the big top. ana the
clowns roarned about the hippodrome
track; the rings flashed with the
spangles OF the equestriennes and
resounded with the cludding hoofs OF
the osin-backs." Only one thing
was missing-no massed elephants
appeared, no cracking OF bull-whips
or shouts OF command from the
pachyderm trainers, no ludicrous
"hoot no base ball
game. no blowing OF harps in the
trunks Of comical giant clowns. For
the elephant herd Of the Worlds
Amalgamated stood at their posts OF
duty, the death guard about q con.
demned member OF their own tribe.
An anxious.eyed lot superintendent
glanced toward the sky, then seat
forth scurrying messengers TO sum-
mon the stake and sledge cfewA
Word travelled within the tent to the
bandmaster; and the masic--the clock
Of the circus--quickened in signal OF
the approach Of bad weather. The
chariot races thundered about the
hippodrome track; the ropes OF the
reserved seats were loosed. ana the
crowds massed for the homeward
journey. At the menagerie connec-
ton the manager summoned his nrst
assistant.
"Cut the concert short. Blow COM
ing. Looks bad. Want to lower the
peaks OF the big top. Look after It,
will you? I've got to go down to the
runs. They're going to bump or that
Rajah bull. Hes gone bad again"
Outside the menagerie, the strip q
side walling pulled away, the elephants
were being pushed closer to the con-
demned ,Rajah and formed into = hol.
low square. Then came the query:
"AA set?''
"Aye."
"All right. Jones and Kendall lead
off; the rest Of you keep pace. Now"
"Iey, Mathews,'' 1t was the voice
of the lot superintendent. "How Ions
you going to be?''
Don't know. Bout an hour, j
guess
well. keep the bull herd down al
the cars, will you? And send bach
any men you can spare. She looks
awful black over there In the west"
'T'n let you have Ave in . half hour
. as soon as we get the nooses hitched.'
! Mathews spurred his horse to re3oil
F.! the strange march Of death--where Z
titanic beast went willingly forwart
| because his comrades Of the herd ver'
near him. ana beside him trotted
| faithful little companion Of fair weaths'
and foui--the dog Rags. Far in th'
background another figure moved.
l gaunt faced man who watched tn,
great mass Of the hollow square AZ &
crossed the lot and reached the rail.
| road tracks. The wind had risen. so0d
ding tho black clouds across the sky
and whistiing esrily through the saat,
Of the stock cars. Rajah raised hi
trunk and trumpeted Querulously: 4
was the first storm since the nigh
| Mason had died. Again he shrilled
| and again. Mathews, the superinten'
dent, spurred his horse about the hol
low square.
Hold them bulls tight in line! Jonei
i-Kendall! Swing to the right ant
| bring Jennie and Maud straight up 4
the runway. Then pull 'em OF quick
one on each side Of the run-and holt
'em there. The rest Of the herd viii
force him inl''
At the runway Rajah hesitated. then
crowded from the rear by his herd
| mates, went onward. But the Httls
| dog stood on the runway and barked
with q new threat in his tone. Thu
canine mind 10 quick to sense the un'
usual, and Rags never had seen hi
great companion sent to the carS .,
any other time save nightfall. From
the right and the left two switch en-.
gines puffed lastly. The engineer
climbed from the cabs to receive theil
| instructions. Mathews leaned from hi,
| saddle.
I ssI'fl 9iva fhe ai1nalo laA annoe,0ood