The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-12-12

waiting lie seemed fast asleep Sam
son. however. was wide awake and
every cruel tooth was exposed as 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 lie stepped upon II. lie was
conquered. His haste to obey, eyi.
IDENTIFY the result Of fear and hatred,
produced ripple Of laughter. The
other lion. feeling the sudden tremor
OF Samson's weight. opened his eyes
suddenly and twtched his tail He
was not asleep, after all.
Abbott found himself intensely nerv-
Gus. He longed to have 1t all over.
anxious, above all, to prove his fears
groundlcss. Yet how were so many
condolences TO be explained away ,
Fran had been a show.Eirl, a trainer OF
lions, and Abbott distinctly remem.
bercd 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 possibly men.
toned only as an excuse for escaping ?
Was that a subterfuge? And why this
red mask which, according to Simon
Jefferson, was an innovation?
At every trick, the blackmaned lion
baked
When the time came for the clown
TO hand the woman her violin he was
afraid, and withdrew bis arm with
marvellous rnpldity. 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 ig.
norant
After the violin playing-"Now." 81.
mon Jefferson announced, gleefully.
there's only one more act, but it's n
corker, let me tell you-that's why
she's resting u minute. La Confetti
gets astride of Samson--the one that's
mad-and grabs his name, and pre-
tends TO ride like n cowboy. Calls her.
self rough rider Makes Samson
get on top of that table then she gets
on top OF him"
But this isn't La Gonizetti," Abbott
protested. shudderlng again.
Now you've said something. That's
right. But It looks like she's game
she'll try it-we'd better stand 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
to 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 It didn;
you'll Seems to me saw Gregory
somewhere not long ago, but wasn't
thinking about him"
"Herculesl" the masked woman ad.
dressed the gentler OF the lions. 60
to your place. Hercules-go to your
place!"
Hercules turned to his blue box,
and seated himself upon It, leaving his
tail to take care OF itself.
The show-giR was fiercely address.
Ing the black-maned lion. Now Now!
To the table! To the tablet"
Samson did not bulge. Facing the
woman OF the mask. he opened his
mouth, revealing the red cave OF his
throat--past the ivory sentine!s that
not only stood guard. but threatened
one could look down and down. This
was no yawn OF WEAKNESS, but a sign
of rebellion--a sort of noiseless roar.
The trainer reiterated to the farther
biut VI Tic Cabc, lucb ihdut u lUTWHTO
rush, waving her whip. and shouting
dangerously. up. Samson. up Sam
son. up!" She did not pause In hei
course till close to his face.
Again he opened his mouth, barins
every tooth. voiceless. but uncon
quered.
Hercules. finding that affairs hat
come to halt, slowly descended from
his box. keeping his half.opened eyei
upon the woman. Restlessly he be
gan TO pace before the outer door
The slight figure withdrew severa
steps. then smote the rebellious lion {
sharp blow across the mouth. He
snapped at the lash. II 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 placed"
She stood pointing sternly. towart
the box. but Hercules stretched him
self across the place of exit and lay
watching her covertly.