Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-06-12
NJ IlG.

of the man in her pose, bold suggestion
If the woman in the cheap jewelry al
oars and neck, and an unmistakable all
If the cirr,l5 in her tout ensemble. Hei
ores we're gray and full Bold eyes they
we're that seemed to belong of right tc
the over full lips, and sensual curves OF
tLe over full figure. Her teeth were
white. and when the lips parted they
Uttered. and that was all of brightness
About her Everything else suggested Q
eothful. easy temperament, thickness OF
mental fiber, dullness of moral percep
ton.
She was undergoing one of her rare sea-
sons of animation and the face she
turned to the man before her was full OF
play and life.
Her ewes sought his boldly, with kind
If snap in them, and when she laughed
the snap was communicated to her
whole frame, redeening it from its low
soth to something keener and higher.
But perhaps it was the man that sug.
gested keenness, and lent phase of his
own personality to her.
1.-the and tail and dark, with wiry
strength Of physique, he gave one the
impression of panther, and a panther
lu-, pared to spring.
from his long, slender fingers to the
glance of his eye, everything suggested
alertness. Yet the suggestion was evil,
too, and marked him as a man to be dis.
trusted.
There was a play of low cunning about
his eyes, and the very deviltry of jeal-
ousy lurked round his thin lips. AS the
two stood together you felt irresistibly
that the elements of domestic tragedy
were before you-the brute that would
not shrink from beating a woman-the
woman that would tamely submit to be
beaten.
"Well, he said roughly, "are you 60
ing to do that cigar business"
Meg shrank back, fearfully; the vivac-
ity passed from her face and was sue
ceeled by gray shadow of terror.
The man laughed scoffingly.
"You're only a woman! Showing the
white feather first OFF,
She glanced at him deprccatingly, and
he returned the glance with an air of
staggering assurance. Evidently she
was in his power, and both knew it.
Very well, he said with an assump-
ton of easy indifference Il know Liza
will do it, Pluck enough about herr
The implied taunt took effect.
"And what if there Isl" Meg cried
fercely, SHE don't know what she is
doing. She don't know what you are,
Jim You'd shoot at me in one of your
tempers just as soon as you'd shoot at
the cigar. And Liza don't know you,
and that's how she amt afraid"
He was switching off the daisy heads,
and he paused to look at her; it was a
cruel look, containing in it that implica-
ton of secret power
lie did not deny the charge; he simply
looked at her, and Meg's face took on a
new expression of depreciation, while her
attitude became cowed and limp.
And its because you know me that
you should know better than to refuse, "
he said at last.
Meg glanced furtively at him, and
with show of reinsurance answered
doggedly:
We'll, l don't mind. You can try if
you like, only not today"
This was not enough for Jim. With
the obstinacy of the petty tyrant he
would test his influence to the uttermost.
You shall do it now" he said, pas
snlonately, selling Meg by the arm.
Then he tossed her roughly from him
with rude Come on, now, to the van. ="
she followed him, yielding involun-
taruy the obedience of the weaker to the
stronger, but he took no further notice
OF her and continued his walk across the
ueid 10 the corner where the blue smoke
was rising from the circus caravans.
Inc sun was setting, throwing red
siare upon the gayly painted wagons,
whose twlnsiing windows, touched by
tne rays, looked like lurid eyes gazing at
m er two approaching.
me glare fell upon Jim walking jaunt-
~ along, with his hands behind him.
a. touched the slim, murderous looking
Inlgefs' and-was it fancy that made
Siei appear red TO Meg following be-
jim" she said, slowly, whats the
matter with your hands? You've got
blood on them"
lie drew his hands from his back and
examined them, for it was one of his
characteristics that he kept his hands as
"hlte and delicate as a woman's.
BAH. he exclaimed, what do you
"eani My hands are right enough"
90 they were, and Meg was not quick
S%'t'eu enough to see that the red color
nau oeeh due to the crimson sky in the
TTeSI She followed in silence. and when
mll climbed into his wagon me walked
S Sn W ner own, thinking iaI, That he was
s efTocuililg too unreasonable and master
nj LOT her Nevertheless when, few
sLl utes later, he came into the wagon
L turned, to him with no aversion on
"V q, oroad, impressive face.
Ie watched him carelPssly as he
t toaued pistol, and she did not refuse to
tiAe the cigar he held out to her when
A's PREPARATIONS were complete.
tb rut II In your mouth and stand by
t i'e a0or, he said coolly, retreating to
'''e other end of the van.
!, Nay, said Meg sulkily, 81 won't do
i i now I've told you before, won do
The Inc ring of terrified appeal in her
'oice should have aroused what mani
ness was in him, but he took slight
1otlce of her terror.
r;,i All right" he said carelessly; 'Iiza
S mul 40 1t, She's younger woman than
'TI' her nerves will be stronger"
NE ne slouched across the van and down
n ,ne steps, Meg lazily watching him as he
81, out into the red light of the sun
6't And she stood watching-not Jim,
'Ii Ir something far away and beyond
di-untll the sun, glowing and red,
tipped into the under world"
Ftenets Universally Renowned Clrcus-Daring
sTo" es'f ran Feats-M Marvellous Pistol Perform
Co. Jln' the Worlds Wonder, VIII Shoot q
twenty YardA