The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-01-30

son, however, was wide awake and |
every cruel tooth was exposed as he
his mouth. In his amber
eyes was the glow of molten copper.
Suddenly Samson wheeled about. |
and made rush for his end of the
see,saw. He stepped upon It, He was
conquered. His haste to obey, evil |
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 twitched his tail. He
was not asleep, after ALL
Abbott found himself intensely nerv-
GUS. He longed to have it all over,
anxious, above all, to prove his fears
groundless. Yet how were so many
condolences to be explained away?
Fran had been show-girl, trainer of
lions, and Abbott distinctly remem-
bered 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 black-maned lion
baked.
When the time came for the clown
to hand the woman her violin he was
afraid, and withdrew his arm with
marvellous rapidity, His grotesque dis
guise could not hide his genuine I'M
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," 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 a minute. La Confetti
gets astride of Samson-the one that's
mad-and grabs his name, and pre-
tends to eide, like cowboy. Calls her
self rough rider. Makes Samson
get on top of that table, then she get;
on top of him"
! "But this isn't La Confetti" Abbot
protested, shuddering again.
Nov you've said something. That
right. But it looks like she's game
she'll try it-we'd better stand littl
farther back"
A hand was laid upon Abbott's arm
! Abbott" said the voice of Rober
Clinton, harsh from smothered excite
ment, "You went to Gregory's hous
did you see him."
Abbott did not hear. The refractor
lion, knowing that his time had com
to be ridden, was asserting his indt
pendence. He would not leap upo
the table. The other lion stood watcf
ing sleepily to see if he would obey.
"That you, Clinton?" Simon
greeting was tense with enjoymen
"Got here for the best of 1t didn
you! Seems to me saw Grekor
somewhere not long ago, but WASH
thinking about him"
"HercuIes!" the masked woman a.
dressed the gentIer Of the lions. e
to your place. Hercules-go to vol
placed"
Hercules turned to his blue DO
and seated himself upon it, leaving h
tail to take care of itself.
The show-girl was fercely addres
ing the black-maned lion. Nov! Nov
To the table! To the tablet"
Samson did not bulge. Facing Il
woman of the mask, he opened b
mouth, revealing the red cave of b
throat-past the ivory sentinels tn
not only stood guard, but threatene
one could look down and down. tn
IT was no yawn of WEAKNESS, but sil
lie of rebellion a sort of noiseless roar
Is The trainer retreated to the farth
NJ side of the cage, then made forwa
IN rush. waving her whip, and shouts
dangerously, up, Samson, up sa
r son. up!" She did not pause in h
k. course till close to his face.
to Again he opened his mouth, bari
se every tooth, voiceless, but uncc
quered. :.
If. Hercules, finding that affairs b
10. come to a halt, slowly descended frc
ne his box, keeping his half-opened ey
v. upon the woman. Restlessly he
#, gan to pace before the outer door
a! The slight figure withdrew seyel
to steps, then smote the rebellious lior
d sharp blow across the mouth
at snapped at the lash. 1t slipped aW
cd from between his teeth. Having r
y! cued her whip, she shouted to the Q
er lion: Back to your place, Hercui
on Hercules-back to your place!"
ut, She stood pointing sternly tows
EST the box, but Hercules stretched a
self across the place of exit and
watching her covertly.