The Winslow mail., 1909-05-08
N OF ON THE
PROGRAM
BY Frank Hurburt o'Hara.
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Coz


woman and man were standing.
Through the flap that separated them
from the glare of lights the music oi
a brass band penetrated and the busy
murmur of spectators. The woman
dug the toe of her slipper into the
sod, while the man talked earnestly.
She was gorgeous vision in fluffy
pink: her companion was garbed as a
clown. They made strange picture.
There was sharp call, and the clown
ran in between the flap, leaving the
woman to return to the dressing room
behind. AS she passed inside, a large
woman with masses of bleached vel.
low hair directed a fiery glance at her
and muttered, with a raw laugh:
"Spoonin' again?"
The other did not notice her. Every
thing seemed strangely confused, and
her brain was running riot. She rec
ognized this as an unfortunate circum
stance. There was a hustle, the cry
ing of voices and the Lily-they called
her that, Wanda, the Lily, though he1
name was plain Clara Smith
into her chariot, the attendants loosed
the impetuous horses, and she was
gliding through the flap into the bril-
liant arena. The lights hurt her eyes
The band played for a moment, then
paused, then burst forth in tumultu
ous clatter. There was an awed
breathless silence from the rows oi
taut faces. The large woman with
the yellow hair was beside her. The
race was on.
The Lily somehow thought of moth
ing save the man in the clowns garb
There was something repulsive, she
thought, in that costume, in the silly
painted face-the face which was SC
| handsome in real life. He had begged
her to leave all this glitter before she
was lost and go away with him. There
would be less financial reward, he
had admitted, but surely a more sim
pie peaceful life And she had re-
fused. She must wait, she had said
Why? All, yes!-why? She won
dered now.
All this she thought in brief, fleet
ing moment. Then she was startled
What was happening? The other
woman should fall behind She was
leading. Had she forgotten? The girl
| looked quickly toward her. The wom-
an seemed to be straining every eff.
fort to keep the lead Great clouds OF
dust and dirt flew about them. Wanda
gave a little cry, lashed the mad
dened steeds, leaned forward, held her
breath.
Around the circle they dashed
There was a great uproar now, as of
tremendous thunder Dust blew in
Wandas eyes. She could scarcely
see. The woman with the yellow coils
of bleached hair was smiling slightly,
urging her horses on. TIE heavy,
sharp thud-thud of the painting ami
mails echoed above all other sounds.
Wanda cried shrilly, in hysteria. The
other woman laughed, gasping.
1t was the last lap. Both women
cracked their whips fiercely. Jealousy
ON the one hand, indignation on the
other, inpelled them to fury, madness,
abandon. Awed faces of circus men
stared at them in fright. The audience
applauded in ignorance. Some of the
employees yelled out to them:
"Fifine! For Gawd's sake, Fifne,
Wanda! Lily!"
But the charioteers paid no heed.
This was the elimination of the feud
that the older woman had imposed be-
tween them. She was wild with pas
sion. She was crazed because the
man should have loved this girl now
risking death at her side. Each was