Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/314

 "Number two didn't pause to indulge in any funny stunts. Disregarding all frills and fancy crouches, she gave one more bellow, and with her four legs flung wide, and the sun's rays turning her yellowish flanks to old gold, sprang for Tib. The old chap, although panting heavily, calmly planked her twice in mid-air and had a third prescription ready when she landed. And as the sleep-germs began to work, the spectators were simply swept off their feet, sir, to see their ill-advised lady man-killer trip a morris on her hind-legs, spar at the atmosphere, and then come down with a crash.

"My head was swimming dizzily, but I gave a cheer of defiance, and, standing with one foot on the prostrate monarch, viewed with pardonable pride the paralyzed assemblage, while Tib copied my pose on number one.

"Habet! habet! cried Tib, grabbing me by the hand and leading me gracefully forward in front of Feeney's opera-box as if I were the leading lady. And we both bowed easily with a bright sparkle in our fickle, fever-lighted eyes; and Tib bowed even more deeply with all his old-time curtain grace, as Feeney, in pure resentment, tried to bite his axe.

"Then the galleries began to cheer, realizing we were the best pages ever torn from a materia medica. I reckon, at that moment we completely filled in the foreground, middle distance, and background of all