The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-08
FRAN
Copyright, 1912. by The Bobbs-Msrrin Co.

dressed the gentler OF the lions. Go
70 your place. Hercules-go to your
place."
Hercules turned 10 his blue box, and
seated himself upon II, leaving his tall
I to take care of itself.
Say. simon" muttered Robert Gin
ton, you didn't see Miss Grace Noir.
aid you?"
shut up" said Simon desperately.
The show-girl was flercely address
ing the black.maned lion. Now.
Now! To the table! To the table,"
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, bat threatened.
one could look down and down. This
was no yawn OF WEAKNESS. but sign
OF rebellion--a sort OF noiseless roar,
1ne 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 TIL close 10 his face.
Again he opened his mouth barring
every tooth, voiceless but uncon-
Quered.
Hercules. finding that affairs had
come 10 halt. slowly descended from
! his box. keeping his half-opened eyes
/ upon the woman. Restlessly he began
to pace before the outer door.
| The slight figure withdrew several
| steps, then smote the rebellious lion
sharp blow across the mouth. He
! snapped viciously at the lash. IL slip
ped away from between. his teeth.
Having rescued her whip. she shouted
10 the other 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 had be-
come of yellowish paleness. They
continued TO pound and blow, but the
music was not the same; a terrible
fcreboding brought sense OF faint
ress even TO the boldest.
From behind the mask came the
voice so loud that II sounded as a
scream-"Up, Samson, up, Samson
! UP"
! Htll IL was tudl lOuHQ
voice. A mighty roar shook the loosely
set bars OF the central cage-they vi
| brated yisibly. The roar did not come
as one short sharp note of defiance: IL
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.
A,
audience started up, panic-stricken.
Hitherto. the last act had been re-
garded 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,
rebel!ious at the destiny which had
forced them 10 attend IL. they had
been wholly absorbed in their efforts
to escape observation. The roaring OF
the lion startled them to a perception
Of the general alarm.
Grace chung TO Gregory ooh. save
me-" she painted Historically.
The voice Of the woman behind the
bars rang throughout the tent-"Sit |
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
Samsons eyes but on hearing no rat
Ting OF planks. 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 few yards dis
tant, grasped the rope with bloodless
hands: he appeared as a white statue,
seeming not even to breathe. In that
moment, Robert Clinton forgot the
Jealous supicion 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
ia 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
murderer. ! have only one hope left.
and I'm going to try 1t now ask
you people out there TO give me just
this one chance for my life. Keep
absolutely still.
Again Sai son uttered his terrible
roar. II alone was audible. Tier above
tier. faces rose to the tent-roof. white
and set The audience was lie one
huge block Of stone III vniCa only
iscSs have been carved.
The penetrating voice Addressed
The band bows "DoE't play lie can
tell you're frightened"
Then the woman walked 20 the
fsTthest side cf the iEGlosure. In d.
H. & Sc she was Obliged to PASS the
c'oIChing form OF Hercules. tat she
pretended not 10 know lie vas here;