The Somerset reporter., 1904-10-27
The Price of
A Threat
By ALEC BRUCE
Copyright, 1901, by Alec Bruce
Copyright. 1901, by Alec Bruce

"Marie You are in trouble, ma'am
selle? Your face, 1t is so white
whispered Pierrot, stepping noiseless
ly toward her on the little sawdust
circle before the performers entrance
"Oui oui liam in trouble-grave
trouble, Pierrot," she answered broken
ly.
"Ah, ma'amselle, and you know moi
what to do. That is itT' he questioned
quickly and inviting confidence will
his earnest, searching little eyes. But
Marie, ma'amselle," he muttered, step
ping closer to her, so close that she
felt the warmth of his breath on hel
cheek, "maybe-maybe Pierrot might
know-if-if you would tell him, heyY
"Ah, Pierrot. nom" she faltered, coy
ering her face with her hands. YOU
you could not. non, you-you"- Nc
other words would come. Her lips
quivered. Her eyes filled.
Marie, Marie" he urged, maybe /
I-ah, you think not, heyY And his
III OtlAl VI cast N0liCh W III a olilOtllNlSb
love, a love that had known no utter
ance, for he was "Pierrot, the fool u
groom And shef She was "Ma'am.
selle Mirabeau, premier equestrienne,'
in Barkalows big circus ring.
Suddenly ting ting, ting-ting- ting.
"Ma'amselle, ma'amselle," whispered
warnlngly, tile first bell! You hear
Thirty minutes and you go on. just
thirty, Marie
But still she did not answer
"Ah, am only Pierrot, Plerrot, the
fool" he murmured, and you-you
will not tell tool, ma'amselle. No
no. Why should youT
"Pierrotm From her tear dimmed
eyes she dropped two small pink star
fish hands and faced him. "Pierrot "a
fool| You said foolw she quayered
"Ah, to ma 'amselle you must not say
so once again. l know you. A fool:
Non, non. You say l will not tell you,
l will not trust you, mon ami. Leesten,
leestenl That Hercules, the dead
weight litter, bahp' and she shuddered
violently. Again, today, he say.
Ma 'amselle, you Will marry me, oui?
Already six times he hat said SO. Oh,
Lala, how persistent! All, Pierrot, you
do not know. And for answer l say;
NJ sieur, no-no. No-no-no! Six
times l say 80, and OF heem l think no
more. But today, today, 1t Is differ
ent. l am afraid. He look so black, SC
terrible when he say: 'Ma'amselle, you
will marry me. No? All, no more
trihing, l say, none at all. Gif me your
answer. You hat till o'clock tonight;
that is allr And Plerrot, number
eight on the programme, oui, number
eight, tonight's! Look at it, and-and
you will understand"
Number eight, ma'amselle, number
eight ON the programme, tonight'sf /
have one somewhere" he mumbled,
searching doubtfufly among the frilled
yards of red, white and blue at his
pockets. ALI At last with trembling
fingers he unfolded the crushed Grim.
son sheet. .Hercules, Hercules, Her,
cules, The dead weight litter. To-
night, tonight, tonight" it read. Head
downward from a swinging trapeze
twenty feet above the circus ring this
worldwide champion will dangle in his
teeth 100 pounds of solid steel. Is that
all? Mo- We tell you no. But see
for yourselves the most marvellous
sight ever seen. From ring beneath
the suspended weight he will hold fast
the added burden of our premier eques-
trienne, and backward and forward in
midair she will swing and hing until
at length she drops, dancing and plr-
ouettng on her gallopng steed below
"Mon Dieu. mon Deu." muttered
Pierrot when he had read the bill Il
understand | understand, ma amselle.
Tonight you must answer 'Oui' or he
will drop the dead weight from his
teeth when you hang below"
"Pierrot, Pierrot," she cried, Il can
not, l will not perform tonight! See
-see-I tremble; | could not stand, !
could not ride Comanche Bill. l must
beg off. | am sick. II will tell the
manager"
"Ma'amselle! No, no, ma'amselle;
one moment, one moment. cautioned
Pierrot, OBTAINING her and pressing his
hand against the crimson diamond on
his forehead
But. Picrrot. Pierrot," she insisted,
II must, | must u
Non, non, ma'amselle, you must
notw he whispered. Il have it; Pier
rot has It," And again he glanced in
tently at the programme. "Bien, bien,
! have IT, In number seven you ride
Comanche Bill. Ride him, ma amselle.
Pirouette! Jump! Jump through the
drum. | hold it, ma'amselle Look,
number seven, 'Mirabeau on Conan
che Bah, beg off? Non, non; trust
Plerrot. Have no fear. You VIII not
swing from Hercules weight"
"But, Plerrot how? How? You
must tell me-
Ting ting, Uniting ting!
Second bell, ma'amselle," he inter
rupted, second bell" and, grasping the
curtains, he peeped through the faded
fringe. "Ah, the tiers; they are black