Part 17 (1/2)

CHAPTER XV

THE CHARMS OF MUSIC

For the lass and landed in the sho of the auction store Matt was too astonished to reat beast, which had undoubtedly escaped fro the parade, was so totally unexpected that all in the place were too paralyzed with fear to move

Screams of terror rent the air, and to these the brown bear added a grohich was both deep and angry

Andy, who stood some distance behind Matt, was the first to do any rational talking

”Grab the pistol, Matt!” he exclaimed ”Grab it quick!”

The weapon to which Andy referred was lying under the counter, just in front of the boy It had been purchased by the firly person raised a dispute, or a sneak-thief tried to run off with any article Andy had said that thematters to terms ords had no effect

Matt understood his partner's cry, and he lost no tiht up the pistol, and at once aimed it at the bear's head

Whether or not the beast understood that his life was in danger would be hard to say, but no sooner had the weapon been pointed at hirowl that was fairly blood-curdling to the involuntary listeners

Matt did not claiht experience in pistol practice, and, even in thatthe bear and striking some one on the sidewalk outside

”Clear the way out there!” he cried ”Clear the way, or youthe few venturesoht do In the meantime those in the store ran out of the open doors as quickly as they could Andy alone reest carving-knife the stock afforded

Once on his hind legs the brown bear hesitated in his movements He was separated from Matt by five feet of space between the sho and the raised platform upon which the boy stood He did not seem to wish to leap the span, nor did he appear inclined to step down to the floor and then up upon the platform

”Why don't you let him have it?” yelled Andy, as he saw Matt raise the pistol and then lower it again

”I don't believe he's soto shoot until I have to Say!” he went on suddenly, ”give hiasped Andy in astonishment

”Play him a tune He may be a trained bear, and if so, the ht Matt's idea, and, taking up an accordion which stood close at hand, he began a lively tune of a popular sort

At the first bars of the tune the brown bear appeared surprised He raised his, until his head touched the top of the sho Then he started as if to dance, crashi+ng over every article which was on exhibition Finding he could not dance in the limited space around him, he leaped to the pavement outside, and there, to the bystanders' a

”He's dancing, sure enough!” cried Andy ”That was a good idea of yours, Matt”

”Keep it up until his keepers co ”

Andy continued to play, and as the brown bear began to dance more heartily than ever, the people, who a an to laugh

”That's better than shooting him,” remarked one man

”Indeed, it is,” returned another ”Keep it up, young fellow!”