Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-02-05

whispering sound of the silken mask,
as it struck the plank floor of the
cage, was distinctly audible.
"Grace!" Gregory whispered in hor-
ror-"ft'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. Its Fran" he num-
bled, its Fran! Grace-pray for bert"
Fran looked Samson steadily in the
eyes, and Samson glared back fixedly.
For a few moments, this CULVER be-
tween life and death remained at 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
Cod"
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
nous 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 1t was a
physical eXertion to hold her face up
lifted, In this sinuous position she
was the embodiment Of power. II 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. 1t wandered away, and
on returning, found her teeth barred
as If 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
up!
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.
Hercules slowly rose, stretched him
self, then marched to his box. He
looked from Fran to the immovable
Samson waiting upon the table, Their
mounted to his place, and seemed tc
fall asleep.
And now, at last, Fran looked at the
spectators. Stepping lightly to the
bars, she threw kisses this way ant
that, smiling radiantly. "Oh!" sht
cried, with vibrating earnestness
you people out there-you can't thinl
how l love you! You've saved my life
You are perfect heroes. Now make al
the noise you please"
May we mover" called a cautious
voice from a few feet away. It wal
Abbott Ashton, with eyes like stars.
Fran looked at him, wondering a
his thoughts. She answered by an up
ward movement of her hand.
AS though by a carefully rehearset
arrangement, the audience rose to it
feet, band boys and all. Such a shout
Such waving of hats and handker
chiefs! Such unabashed sobs! Sucl
inarticulateness-such graspings o
n%eighboring hands! The spectator
had gone mad with joyful relief.
Fran leaped upon the table, an
mounted Samson.
"Now, I'm a rough riderl" sh
shouted, burying her hands In tn
name, and lying along the lions bacl
in true cowboy fashion. She plunged
she shouted loudly, but Samson onl
closed his eyes and seemed to sleep.
After that, making the lions retur
to their cramped side cages was h
, mere detail. The show was ended.
Fran, remaining in the empty cage
, stood at the front, projecting her han
through the bars to receive the gree
: ings of the crowd. Almost every on
wanted to shake hands with her.
Look, look!" Simon Jefferson SUE
denly grasped Robert Clinton's hant
and pointed toward the tent-roo
. There they are!"