The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-04-01

come OF a %yellowish ~paleness.
From behind the mask came the
voice so loud that II sounded as n
scream--"Up. Samson. up. Samson
upl"
Then II was that Samson found his
voice. A mighty roar shook the loose
ly-set bars OF the central c~age-they
vibrated visibly. The roar did not
come as n short sharp note OF de-
fance; II rose and fell. then rose anew.
varying In the infections OF the voice
Of a slave who dares to threaten. fears
even while he threatens. and gathers
passion from his fear.
At hat fearful reverberation. the
audience started up. panic.stricKen.
Hitherto. tho last act had been regard.
ed as a badly.played comedy: nov
tragedy was In the air.
Gregory and Grace Noir ut that In.
slant. became alive to their surround.
ings. Hitherto, despising the show. re-
bellious at the destiny which had
forced them to attend It, they had
been wholly absorbed In their efforts
to escape observation. The roaring Of
the lion startled them 10 q perception
OF the general alarm.
Grace chung TO Gregory. "Oh. rave
mel" 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"
Grace Noir. her eyes closed. her
cheeks pallid. leaned her head upon
Gresory's shoulder. ~quivering convui-
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 v~enturing to tlrn her head In
their direction: whoever moves, OF
speaks. or cries aloud, will be my muir
derer. have only n hope left, and
I'm going to try It now. I ask you
people out there to give mo Just this
m chance for my life. Keep absolute
ly still"
Again Samson uttered his terrible
roar. II alone was audible. Tier above
tier. faces rose to the tent-roof, white
and set. The audience was like on,
huge block OF stone In which onl,
faces have been carved.
The penetrating voice addressed the
band boys: Don't play. He can tel
you're frightened"
The agitated music ceased.
Then the woman walked TO the far
therest side OF the Enclosure. In do
ing 80 she vas obliged to pass tn
%crouching form OF Hercules. but sh,
pretended not to know he wal there
she moved slowly backward. Away
facing Samson.
At last the vertical bars %prevente,
farther retreat. Then she lifted he
hand slowly. steadily. and drew OF he
crimson mask. II dropped at her feet
Despite the mufiled street-noises tina
never ceased to rumble from afar. tn,
whispering sound Of the silken mask
as II struck the plank floor OF III
cage, was distinctly audible.
"Grace!" Gregory whispered In hor
ror-"it's Franz"
Grace started from his embrace a
the name and glared down upon tn
stage. She sat erect. unsupported
petrifed.
Gregory's brow a moistened wit
a chilled dew. ITS Fran" he mum
BLEED. ITS Fran! Grace-pray for her!
Fran looked Samson steadily In tn
aOaa mud Gataann plaFah haEk nNaHlN
For a few moments. this CULVER be
tween life and death remained at III
breaking point. Had IA stranger Il
? that moment looked under the tent
entrance. he might have thought ever!
) body asleep. There was neither SCUM
/ nor movement.
:. Grace whispered-"It u the hand O
; Godi"
! Her tone wal almost i%naudiblo. bu
Gregory shrank as from n morta
: blow; It's sinister meaning was unmii
taxable. Swiftly he turned TO stare a
. her.
+ In Grace's eyes was n Wild and on
r inous glare akin 10 that OF the threa'
ening lion. II was a savag convictio
z that Fran was at last confronted b
J. the justice OF heaven.
Suddenly Fran crouched forward II
q her head was almost on a level wit
n her waist. In so much that II was
. physical exertion to hold her face VI
, lifted. In this sinuous position sh
was the embodiment OF power. II sh
felt m~isgivings concerning this las
n resource, there vas no look to betra
o Il. Straight toward Samson sh
. rushed. her body 1.-THE and serpentin'
her direction unerring.
To the beast. Fran had become on
OF those mysterious dying serpent
which bite from afar. He felt IN
sting OF her terrible eyes and his gaz
grew shifty. II wandered away. ant
y on returning. found her teeth bare'
AZ II feeling for his heart