The Washington herald., 1913-05-18
| F RAN

NOW! 20 the tdOle! 10 inc tdOic
Samson did not bulge. Facing the
woman of the ntsk, he opened his
mouth, revealing the red cave Of his
throat-past the ivory sentinels that
not only stood guard, but threatened,
one could look down and down. This
was no yawn of WEAKNESS, but sign
of rebellion sort of noiseless roar.
The trainer retreated to the farther
side of the cage, then made 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 unconquered:
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 rebelllous hon
Sharp. blow across the mouth: He
snapped viciously at the lash. II
slipped away from between his teeth:
Having rescued her whip, she shouted
to the other lion, Back to your place,
Hercules. Hercules-baek to your
place"
She stood pointing stenrly toward
the box. but Hercules stretched him
self across the place of exit and lay
watching her covertly.
The faces of the band boys had be-
come of a yellowish paleness. They
continued to pound and blow, but the
music was not the same: a terrible
foreboding brought sense OF faint
ness even to the boldest.
From behind the mask came the voice
so loud that it sounded as a scream
up, Samson, up. Samson-uPP
Then it was that Samson found his
voice. A mighty roar shook the loose
ly-set bars OF the central cage-they
vibrated visibly. The roar did no,
come as one short sharp note of def
ance; it rose and fell, then rose anew,
varying in the infections Of the voice
of a slave who dares to threaten,
fears even while he threatens, and
gathers passion from his fear.
At that fearful reverberation, the
audience started up, panic-stricken
Hitherto, the last act had been regard
ed as a badly-played comedy; now
tragedy was in the air.
Gregory and Grace Noir at that in
slant, became alive to their surround
ings. Hitherto, despising the show. re-
bellious at the destiny which had
forced them to attend it, they had been
wholly absorbed in their efforts tc
escape observation. The roaring OF
the lion startled them to a perception
of the general alarm
Grace chung to Gregory "Oh. save
me-" she painted Historically.
The voice of the woman behind the
bars rang throughout the tent-"Sii
down." The voice was not loud, now,
but singularly penetrating. sit down
all of you, and remain absolutely mo-
tionless, or | am lost"
She dared not remove her gaze from
Samson's eyes; but on hearing no rat
Ting of planks, she knew her appea
had been obeyed. There came to her
however, the smothered cries of terri,
fed women, mingled, here and there
with unrestrained CALCULATIONS of dis
may
Abbott Ashton, but a few yards dis,
tant, grasped the rope with bloodles:
hands; he appeared as a white statue
seeming not even TO breathe. In that
moment, Robert Clinton forgot the
Jealous suspicion that had tortured hi:
heart since missing Grace Noir from
her desk
Grace Noir, her eyes closed, hei
cheeks pallid, leaned her head upon
Gregory's shoulder, quivering convul'
sively.
There, there" Gregory whispered in
her ear, soothingly, everything will be
all right"
The masked woman for the second
time addressed the terrified audience
still not venturing to turn her head ir
their direction: Whoever moves, oil
speaks, or cries aloud, will be my muir
derer. | have only one hope left. and
I'm going to try it now. ask yor
people out there to give me just thi:
one chance for my life. Keep abso
lutely still"
Again Samson uttered his terribl,
roar. 1t alone was audible. Tier above
tier, faces rose to the tent-roof. white
and set. The audience was like ont
huge block of stone in which only face:
have been carved
The penetrating voice addressed tn,
band boys: Don't play. He can tel
you re frightened"
The agitated music ceased.
Then the woman walked to the farth
est side of the Enclosure. In doing SC
she was obliged to pass the crouchins
form of Hercules, but she pretended
not to know he was there; she moved
slowly backward, always facing Sam
son.
At last the vertical bars prevented
farther retreat. Then she lifted he,
hand slowly, steadily, and drew of hel
crimson mask. 1t dropped at her feet
Despite the muff1ed street-noises thai
never ceased to rumble from afar, tht
whispering sound of the siken mask
as it struck the plank floor of tn.
cage, was distinctly audible.
"GraceP Gregory whispered in hor.
ror-''it's Franz
Grace started from his embrace a
the name and glared down upon tn,
stage. She sat erect, unsupported, pet
rihed
Gregorys brow was moistened witt
a chilled dew. ITS Fran" he mum
bled, Its Fran! Grace-pray foI
herr
Fran looked Samson steadily in tn,
eyes, and Samson glared back hxedly
For a few moments, this culver be
tween life and death remained at TIT
breaking point Had stranger at thai
moment looked under the tent-entrance
he might have thought everybod,
asleep. There was neither sound moi
movement.
Grace whispered: ct is the hant
of God II