Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-30

Continued from last week

however, the smothered cries of terri
fed women, mingled, here and there.
with unrestrained CALCULATIONS of dis
may.
Abbott Ashton, but a few yards dis
tant, grasped the o with bloodless
hands; he appeared as a white statue,
seeming not even to breathe. In that
moment, Robert Clinton forgot the
jealous suspicion 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-
Isively.
''There, there" Gregory whispered
in her ear, s~oothingly, 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 MUIR
'derer. I have only one hope left, and
I'm going to try it now. l ask you
people out there TO give me just this
one chance for my life. Keep absolute
Gly still"
Again Samson uttered his terrible
roar. 1t alone was audible. Tier above
tier, faces rose to the te~nt-roof, white
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
crouching 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 off her
crimson mask. 1t dropped at her feet.
Despite the muf1ed street-noises that
never ceased to rumble from afar, the
whispering sound of the silken mask,
a it struck the plank loor of the
Aa6C, was dl6llilCtAJ du0AOAC
"Gracei" Gregory whispered in hor-
ror-'it's Franz"
Grace started from his embrace at
the name and glared down upon the
stage. She sat erect, unsupported,
petrified.
Gregory's brow was moistened with
a chilled dew. "It's Fran" he mum
Dled, its Fran! Grace-pray for her!"
Fran looked Samson steadily in the
eyes, and Samson glared back fixedly.
For a few moments, this CULVER be-
tween life and death remained al the
breaking point. Had a stranger at
that moment looked under the tent
entrance, he might have thought every
body asleep. There was neither sound
nor movement.
Grace whispered-"It is the hand of
Godi"
Her tone was almost inaudible, but
Gregory shrank as from a mortal
blow; its sinister meaning was unmis-
taxable. Swiftly he turned to stare at
her.
In Grace's eyes was a wild and ON
tnous 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 a level with
her waist, in so much that it was a
physical exertion to hold her face up
lifted. In this sinuous position she
<uroC fha oh0dffon mt re nxro To ohn
felt misgivings concerning this last
resource. there was no look to betray
1t. 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. 1t wandered away, and,
on returning, found her teeth barred.
as II feeling for his heart.
Rushing up to his very face-"Sam-
son!" she cried. impellingly.
Again he seemed to feel the lash
upon his tawny skin.
Samson. UP. Samson, up, Samson
-upl
Suddenly Samson wheeled about,
and leaped upon the table.
Fran stamped her foot at the other
lion go to your place, Hercules!"
she cried, with something like con-
tempt. ga.
Hercules slowly rose, stretched him
self. then marched to his box. He
looked from Fran to the immovable
Samson waiting upon the table, then
mounted to his place, and seemed to
fall asleep.
And now. at last, Fran looked at the
spectators. Stepping lightly to the
bars. she threw kisses this way and
that, smiling radiantly. "Oh!" she
cried, with vibrating earnestness,
1.You neonla ont thereon can't think