The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-24

TO the table! To the ble!"
Samson did not bulge. Facing the
woman OF the mask, 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 weariness, but sign
or rebellion-a 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 uncon.
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
sharp blow across the mouth. He
snapped at the lash. It slipped away
from between his teeth. Having res.
cued her whip, she shouted to the 9TH
er lion: Back to your place, Hercules.
Hercules-back to your place!"
She stood pointing sternly toward
the box. but Hercules stretched him.
self across the place of exit and lay
watching her covertly.
The faces of the band boys he'd be.
come Of yellowish paleness. They
continued to pound and tlow, but the
music was not the same: q terrible
foreboding brought sense Of faint.
ness even to the boldest.
From behind the mask came tho
voice. A mighty roar shook the loose.
scream-"Up, Samson, up. Samson
up!"
Then It was that Samson found his
voice. A mighty roar shook the losse-
ly-set bars of the central cage-they
vibrated visibly. The roar did not
come as one short sharp note of de-
fiance; 1t rose and fell, then rose anew,
varying In the infections Of the voice
Of slave who dares to threaten, fears
even while he threatens, and gathers
passion from his fear.
At that fearful reverberation, tho
audience started up, psnic-stricken.
Hitherto, the last act had been regard.
ed as badly-played comedy; now
tragedy was in the air.
Gregory and Grace Noir at that In.
stant, became alive to their surround
ings. Hitherto, despising th. Nv. re-
bellious at the destiny which ..au
forced them to attend 1t, they had
been wholly absorbed In their efforts
to escape observation. The roaring of
the lion startled them to q perception
Of the general alarm.
Grace c'urg 70 Gregory. ."Oh, save
mol" she pauted bysterlcaily
I've voice of the woman behind the
bars rang throughout the tcrt.-"Sit
downl" The voice was not loud, row,
but singularly penetrating. "Sit down,
all OF you, and remain absolutely mo-
uonless, or / am lost"
She dared not remove her gaze from
Samson's eyes; but on hearing no rat
Ting OF plapks, she knew her appeal
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 q few yards dis.
tant, grasped the rope with bloodless
hands; he appeared as q white statue,
seeming not even to breathe. In that
moment, Robert Clinton forgot the
jealous suspicion that had tortured his
heart since missing Grace Noir from
her desk.
Grace Noir. her eyes closed. her
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 in
their direction: whoever moves. or
speaks, or cries aloud. will be my muir.
derer have only one hope left, and
I'm going to try it now. ask you
people out there to give me just this
one chance for my life. Keep absolute.
ly STILL"
Again Samson uttered his terrible
roar. 1t alone was audible. Tier above
tier, faces rose to the tent-roof, white
and set. The audience was like one
huge block OF stone in which only
faces have been carved
The penetrating voice addressed the
band boys: Don't play. He can tell
you're frightened"
The agitated music ceased.
Then the woman walked to the far.
therest side Of the inclosure. In do
Ing so she was obliged to pass the
crouching form Of Hercules, but she
pretended not to know he was there;
she moved slowly backward, always