Evening star., 1923-11-04


to curl slowly upward. A shrill
trumpet blast sounded. angry. threat
ening. Brace moved into the more
open space OF the car.
"Rajah! Get around there and out
Of this carl"
But the elephants forelegs were
moving like the stamping Of a child
In a tantrum. His small beady eyes
rolled, showing the red.rtmmed
whites, Sweat came to the trainers
forehead. Gray lips moved in q
whisper:
He's next to me-"
Again and again the ehril1 blast
sounded. Then the trumpettng sud-
denly took on a new note, q querulous
note. The padding Of the great hoofs
ceased. A little sQueal came from the
elephant, and he moved forward as a
midget strength. came bounding up
the runway, bounced into the car
shifted about the straw. then began
joyously frisking about the legs of
the elephant. It was Rags, Mason's
nondescript little companion Of the
circus, Just released for the day from
the dog wagon and searching for his
master.
Here and there he trptted, barking
with a surprised note when Mason did
not, answer. The elephant stared down
at him. Rags, merely an endured
thing until this moment-for an ele-
plant by instinct hates a dog-in-
variably denoted the presence of Jim
Mason. Rajah squealed delightedly and
extended his trunk slowly toward the
little mongrel. Rags leaped and wag-
ged his tail.
For q long moment they stood and
shifted at each other in animal silence.
They appraised each other and were
satisfied with their findings, while in
the background . murderer stood star
ing at the strange pair. Brace bent
forward, whistling to the Ynongrel and
Turing him with soft words and an ex-
tended hand.
Rags bounded and 1eaped about the
man, sallying toward him. then rush.
ing happily to the shelter of the ele-
plants legs. The trainer Strengthened,
with the knowledge that Rajah again
was calm. Still petting the dog with
one hand. Brace sought the doorway
Of the car. and turned.
Come on, Rajah," he ordered and
the elephant obeyed. There was no at.
titude Of yielding, only Of tolerance.
A canine friend had intervened; that
was all.
The dog often scurried about the
circus lot in vain search for his mas
| <saV- htSt ~n1yft~ . leo ~ At,,v~ Ar
Rajah. And the elephant came to
watch for him. At night Brace tied
a string to the collar Of Rags and led
him toward the cars, and in their rear,
a shadowy bulk. followed Ra5ah In
placid confidence. But he followed
Rags, not the man!
Rags slept in the thick bedding OF
straw which covered tho floor Of the
elephant car, new home made foi
him by Brace.
As for lard Brace-Rajah obeyed
"A him because Rags obeyed him
There was nothing in the mentality Of
the dog to teach him distrust Of the
man who each day brought him
dainties from the cook house. and who
petted him, even while he wanted tc
choke him.
Brace longed to strike out into q
new life where he could forget and b.
forgotten. but to leave would invite
suspicion. He was blocked. baflled q
every turn, imprisoned in his wakina
hours In the company Of two beingi
which reminded him, hour after hour
Of the man he had killed; at night h,
must sleep In q car which contained
| thirty other persons. any one Of whom
might wake to hear the rawlings Of hi
| disordered dreams. He forsook thu
Pullman. with the intention Of spend.
ing the night on the bull -car with Rag,
| and the elephant. But every shadow
cast by = passing switchlight brcugh
| him visions Of . tottering form
every clanking Of Rajah's picket-chair
set him >shivering; finally he clambere<
over the tops Of the cars back to hi,
berth In the Pullman
He grew gaunt. His eyes followed
his features took on q haunted, beater
look.
The little nongrel rarely left Rajal
now. Parade time found Rajah lead.
ing the herd and Rags leading Rajah
his duffy tail cooked 1t . rudder-lilk,
angle as he trotted ahead of the eIe,
phant line through the sun.strswI
streets.
In the aftsrnoons, whsn ha5ah knel
tn the straw for his daily rent. Nag
clambered over his big head unmo.
.ested. and even nestled in the hollow