Putnam patriot., 1913-08-08

hardest to manage. I reckon, one day. he'll just naturally jump afoul of her, and tear her to pieces. Look at him. I don't believe this girl is going to make him get up on top of that board. Myl how he Is showing his teeth at her. Say! This is a pretty good show, hey? Glad you came, uh? Say! Look at his teethi"
 In truth, the black-maned lion opened his mouth to frightful extent, making, however. not the slightest sound He refused to budge.
 Abbott shuddered.
 "Samson!" cried the woman, i'm pellingly. The other lion was patient ly standing on his end of the board, waiting He 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. He stepped upon it. He was conquered. His haste to obey, evil dently the result of fear and hatred, produced a ripple of laughter. The other lion, feeling the sudden tremor suddenly and twitched his tail He was not asleep, after all.
 Simon whispered hoarsely: Its in- teresting all the way through. A fel- low never knows what's going to hap pen. Faint as if you was watching clowns, knowing what the jokes to be before they say it. To my mind, lions are more like men than clowns are"
 Abbott found himself intensely nerv- ous. He longed to have it all over, anxious, above all, to prove his fears groundless. Yet how were so many eoincidences to be explained away? Fran had been a show-girl. trainer of lions, and Abbott distinctly remem- bered that she had spoken of a Sam son." Fran had just these movements and this height. He missed Trans 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 black-maned lion baked. He seemed resolved not to leap upon the wall-bracket; and, after attaining the precarious elevation, he pretended not to understand that he must descend His insubordination disquieted the enormous animal acting the corresponding part. Even he be- gan to pace softly to and fro at such times as he should have remained mo- tionless.
 When the time came for the clown to hand the woman her violin he was marvellous rapidity. His grotesque dis guise could not hide his genuine un- easiness. The members of the band. too, played their notes with unusual care, lest the slightest deviation from routine work bring catastrophe. Noth- ing had gone right but the see-sawing act; but of all this, the crowd was ig- norant.
 After the violin playing-"Now,' ST. mon Jefferson announced, gleefully, there's only one more act, but it's 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 mane, and pre- tends to ride like 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 Gonizetti,' Abbott protested, shuddering 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"
 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 AAObp hAOW thab dAo tAAA4C ANNNN to be ridden, was asserting his lnde- pendence. He would not leap upon the table. The other lion stood watch ing sleepily to see if he would obey
 That you, Clinton?" Simon's, greeting was tense with enjoyment, Got here for the best of 1t didn't you! Seems to me l 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 1t, leaving his tail to take care of itself.
 Say, Simon" muttered Robert Clin- ton, you didn't see Miss Grace Noir. did you?"
 Shut up!" said Simon desperately.
 The show-girl was fiercely address ing the black-maned lion. Now! Now!l To the tablet To the tablet!
 Samson did not budge. Facing the woman of the mask, he opened his' mouth, revealing the red cave or nisl throat-past the ivory sentinels tnat not only stood guard, but threatened one could look down and down. This was no yawn Of weariness, but sign of 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 nao