Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-05-22


waiting. He seemed fast asleep. Sam
son. however. was wide awake and
| every cruel tooth was exposed as he
stretched his mouth. In his amber
eyes was the glow of molten copper.
Suddenly Samson wheeled about,
and made a rush for his end of the
see-saw. He stepped upon 1t. He WAS
! conquered. His haste to obey, evk
IDENTIFY the result of fear and hatred.
produced a 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 1t all over.
anxious. above all. to prove his fears
groundless. Yet how were SO many
condolences to be explained away ?
Fran had been a show-girl, a 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 subterfuge? And why this
red mask which, according to Simon
Jefferson, was an Innovation?
At every trick. the blackmaned 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 un-
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 a
corker. let me tell you-thats why
she's resting minute. La Confetti
gets astride of Samson-the one that's
mad-and grabs his name. and pre-
tends to ride like a cowboy. Calls her
self rough rider. Mak~s Samson
get on top of that table. then she gets
on top OF him
But this isn't La Confetti" Abbott
protested. shuddering again.
Now you've said something. That's
right But it looks like she's game
she'll try it-we'd better stand little
farther back"
A hand was laid upon Abbott's arm.
Abbott" said the voice of Robert
Clinton. harsh from smothered excite
ment. You went to Gregory's house
did you see him."
Abbott did not hear. The refractory
lion, knowing that his time had come
to be ridden, was asserting his inde-
pendence. He would not leap upon
the table. The other lion stood watch
ing sleepily to see If he would obey
THAT you. Clinton?" Simon's
greeting was tense with enjoyment
Got here for the best of 1t didn't
you! Seems to me saw Gregory
somewhere no; long ago. but | wasn't
thinking about him."
"Hercules!" the masked woman ad.
dressed the gentler OF the lions. Go
to your place. Hercules-go to your
place"
Hercules turned to his blue box,
and seated himself upon it, leaving his
tail to take care of itself
The show-girl was fiercely address
ing the black-maned lion. Now! Now.
To the table! To the tablet"
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. but threatened,
one could look down and down This
was no yawn of weariness, but a sign
of rebellion-a sort of noiseless roar.
The 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 till close to his face
Again he opened his mouth, barring
every tooth. voiceless, but uncon-
quered.
Hercules, finding that affairs had
come to halt, slowly descended from
his box. keeping his half-opened eyes
| upon the woman. Restlessly he be
gan to pace before the outer door.
The slight figure. withdrew several
| steps. then smote the rebellious lion a
sharp blow across the mouth He
snapped at the lash. 1t slipped away
from between his teeth. Having res.
cued her whip. she shouted to the 9th.
er lion: Back to your place. Hercules
Hercules-back to your placei"
She stood pointing sternly toward
the box, but Hercules stretched him
self ACROSS the place OF e1dt and lay
watching her covarls-