Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-05-22

voice SO loud that 1t sounded as a
scream-"Up. Samson. up. Samson
up!"
Then 1t was that Samson found his
voice. A mighty roar shook the loose
ly-set bars of the central cage-they
vibrated vfsibly. The roar did moi
come as one short sharp note Of de-
fance; 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, the
audience started up. panic-stricken
Hitherto, the last act had been regard.
ed 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. re-
bellious at the destiny which had
forced them to attend 1t. 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 clung to Gregory. "Oh. save
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 l am lost"
Grace Noir. her eyes closed. her
cheeks pallid. leaned her head upon
Gregory's shoulder. auivering convul-
sively.
There. there" Gregory whispered
n her ear. soo.hingly. everything
VIM 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 1t now. l 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. II 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
crouchinS form of Hercules, but she
pretended not to know he was there
she moved slowly backward always
facing Samson.
At last the vertical bars prevented
farther retreat. Then she lifted her
hand slowly. steadily. and drew of her
crimson mask. 1t dropped at her feet.
Despite the mufiled street-noises that
never ceased 10 rumble from afar. the
whispering sound of the silken mask,
as it struck the plank floor of the
cage, was distinctly audible.
"Grace!" Gregory whispered in hor-
ror-"it's Fran!'
Grace started from his embrace at
the name and glared down upon the
stage. She sat erect. unsupported,
petriied
Gregory's brow was moistened with
chilled dew. Its Fran" he mum
bled. Its Fran, Grace-pray for her
Fran looked Samson steadily in III
eyes. and Samson glared back tixedlN
For a few moments, this quiver b.
tween life and death remained AT III
breaking point. Had a stranger Il
that moment looked under the ten
entrance. he might have thought every
body asleep There was neither sounG
nor movement.
Grace whispered-'1t is the hand OF
Godi"
Her tone was almost inaudible but
Gregory shrank as from mortal
blow: its sinister meaning was unmis-
taxable. Swiftly he turned to stare at
her.
In Grace's eyes was a wild and ON.
inous glare akin to that of the threat
ening lion. 1t was a savage conviction
that Fran was at last confronted by
the justice of heaven.
Suddenly Fran crouched forward till
| her head was almost on level with
| her waist, in SO much that 1t was a
| physical exertion to hold her face up
| lifted. In this sinuous position she
was the embodiment of power. If she
felt misgivings concerning this last
resource, there was no look to betray
it. Straight toward Samson she
rushed, her body 1.-THE and serpentine
her direction unerring.
To the beast, Fran had become one
of those mysterious flying serpents
which bite from afar. He felt the
sting OF her terrible eyes and his gaze
grew shifty. II wandered away, and
on returning. found her teeth barred
as II feeling for his haerI