Evening star., 1941-08-17

down to the soft white roots. Muscles
flickered under the yellow and black
hide. Her weight flowed into balance
to free spiked paw. George crouched
over the ankle unsuspectingly.
Suddenly the slanted yellow eyes
of the tigress clicked into focus on
Georges feathery tail. The tail waved
like the baton of conductor soothing
the brasses. Kali watched hypnotic
ally. The snarl sputtered like a car
running out of gas, and died away.
She opened her mouth and began
washing George carefully.
Brad exhaled a two-minute breath.
He inched back his legs, rose slowly,
and collected his chair, revolver and
whip. 1t took him while after that
to get Kali's attention, but finally she
left George, allowed herself to be cued
back into the runway
Brad mopped his forehead and sat
down on the chair. He shook his head,
wordlessly, when people asked if he
were hurt He sat for a minute, think
ing. At last he got up and walked to
the side of the arena.
Maybe" he said to Francesca,
you think l looked silly being res
cued by George"
you certainly did And lucky"
Brad turned to the Gibraltar Films
official. Maybe you think l looked
silly. too"
Emmett grinned family. "Now
that it's all over, yes. I'll probably
laugh myself sick when see the film"
Brad growled. Tell your boy
friend to slip in a new reel. I've got
some business with George"
Francesca cried. Brad, you can't!
George has earned the right to little
respect. Just because he made you
look silly ="
Hold everything" Brad said. "Pm
going to let him make me look sill
lier.'
liz LIFTED the kitchen char so that
the four legs pointed straight out in
front of him. He gripped his revolver
and whip in his right hand He
wheeled, crouched slightly, and ad-
vanced on George.
For a moment George did not un-
derstand, and prepared to sidestep
rush. There was no rush. The man
advanced slowly, cautiously. The
whip cracked three feet over Georges
head. A thrill tweaked Georges spine
In split-second he put on three hun
dred and ninety-one pounds and a
yellow hide with black zigzags. He
snarled like a fret saw cutting a cigar
box lid. He lashed at chair leg with
a paw.
Veteran animal men, who saw the
newsreel later, agreed that there was
no flaw in Brad's technique that day.
His footwork was perfect; his whip
cues a model for future trainers. He
swung the chair at just the right mo-
ment to absorb the shock of lashing
paws. Nor, the animal men admitted,
was there any flaw in Georges per-
Torrance. Plenty of tigers could have
improved their arena work by study
ing the film.
George allowed himself to be backed
to the side of the arena, fighting all
the way. At the last moment, Brad
paid him the crowning tribute. He
held his revolver carefully straight
up in the air and blazed away with
the full load of blanks. George almost
tainted from an emotion which Brad
later swore was delight. George backed
out of the arena, shook himself, and
then staggered toward the door.
Emmett met Brad as he let himself
out of the safety cage. "Hawley,"
he said. 'about your picture -"
you don't have to say it," Brad
muttered. 81 know everything's off"
"Of, my eye" Emmett snorted
"All | want to say is we got to have
that cat in tho pirt,,re What an