Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-10-18

~ standing on his end of the board
waiting. He seemed fast asleep. Sam
son. however. was wide awake and
every cruel tooth was exposed &C he
stretched his mouth. In his amber
eyes was the glow of molten copper.
Suddenly Samson wheeled about.
and made a rush for his end of the
see-saw. He stepped upon it. He was
conquered. His haste to obey, evil
IDENTIFY the result of fear and hatred.
produced a ripple of laughter. The
other lion, feeling the sudden tremor
c. Samson's weight, opened his eyes
suddenly and twitched his tail. He
was not asleep, after all.
Abbott found himself intensely nerv-
GUS He longed to have it all over,
anxious, above all. TO prove his fears
groundloss. Yet how were so many
condolences to be explained away
Fran had been a show-girl, a trainer Of
lions, and Abbott distinctly remem.
bered that she had spoken Of Sam
SON. Fran had just these movements
and this height. He missed Fran's
mellow voice, but voices may be dis.
guised; and the hands now raised to-
ward the audience may have been
stained dark. Who was that sick
friend that Fran had Lo5sibly men
toned enly as an excuse fer escaping !?
Was that a subterfuge? And why this
| red mask which, according 10 Simon
Jefferson, was an innovation!
At every trick. the bfack-naned lion
baked.
When the time came for the clown
to hand the woman her violin he was
afraid. and withdrew his arm With
marvellous rapidity. His grotesque dis
guise could not hide his genuine IN.
easiness. The members Of the band.
too. played their notes with unusual
care, lest the slightest deviation from
routine work bring catastrophe. Moth
ing had gone right but the see-sawing
act; but Of all this. the crowd was is.
norant.
After the violin playing-"Now." ST.
mon Jefferson announced, gleefully
there's only one more act. but it's a
corker, let me tell you-that's why
she's resting minute. La Confetti
gets astride Of Samson-the one that's
mad-and grabs his name, and pro
tends to ride like a cowboy. Calls her.
| self a rough rider. Makes Samson
get on top of that table. then she gets
On top OF him.
But this isn't La Confetti" Abbott
protested. shuddering again.
Now you've said something. That's
| right. But It looks like she's game
she'll try ft-we'd better stand n little
farther back"
A hand was laid upon Abbott's arm
Abbott" said the voice OF Robert
Clinton. harsh from smothered excite
ment. You went TO Gregory's house
did you see him."
Abbott did not hear The refractory
| lion, knowing that his time had come
10 be ridden. was asserting his indie.
| pendence. He would not leap upon
the table. The other lion stood watch.
| ing sleepily to see II he would obey
That you, Clinton?" Simon's
| greeting was tense with enjoyment
Got here for the best OF IL didn'.
| you! Seems to me ! saw Gregory
somewhere not long ago, but wasn't
| thinking about him"
Hercules" the masked woman ad
dressed the gentler Of the lions. Go
to your place. Hercules--go to your
place!"
Hercules turned to his blue box
and seated himself upon II. leaving his
| tail to take ears Of itself.
The show-girl was fcrcely address
Ing the black.maned lion. Now! Now
To the table! To the tablet"
Samson did not bulge. Facing rhs
woman of the mask. he opened his
mouth. revealing the red cave OF hi,
throat-past the ivory sentineIs tha,
rot only stood guard. but threatened
one could look down and down. This
was no yawn OF WEAKNESS, but a sign
| OF rebellion sort OF noiseless roar.
The trainer retreated to the farther
side OF the cage, then made a forward
rush, waving her whip, and shouting
dangerously, Up. Samson. up Sam
son. up" She did not pause in her
course Till close to his face
Again he opened his mouth, barring
every tooth. voiceless. but lncon
| quered.
Hercules. finding that affairs had
! come TO a halt. slowly descended from
his box. keeping his half-opened eyes
upon the woman. Restlessly he be
gan TO pace before the outer door
The slight figure withdrew several
steps, then smote the rebellious lion q
sharp blow across the mouth lie
snapped at the lash. 1t slipped away
from between his teeth. Having res
cued her whip, she shouted TO the 9th
or lion: Back to your place, Hercules
Hercules-back to your place!"
She stood pointing sternly toward
the box, but Hercules stretched Vim
self across the place OF exit and lay
watching her covertly.