The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-01-30

The faces of the band boys had be.
come of yellowish paleness.
From behind the mask came the
voice SO loud that 1t sounded as
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 yisibly. The roar did not
come as one short sharp note OF de-
fiance; 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-strlcken.
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 it, 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 chung 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, hel
4 cheeks pallid, leaned her bead Jlpor
Gregorys shoulder, quiVering convul
siYely.
There, there" Gregory whispered
in her ear, soothingly, everything
will be albright"
The masked woman for the secont
time addressed the terrified audience
still not venturing to turn her head il
their direction: Whoever moves. o
speaks, or cries aloud, will be my mur
derer. have only one hope left, ant
I'm going to try it now. | ask. yo7
people out there to give me just thi
one chance for my life. Keep absolute
: ly still" ~
Again Samson uttered his terribl
roar. 1t alone was audible. Tier abov
tier, faces rose to the tent-roof, whit
and set. The audience was like on
huge block of stone in which onl
5 faces have been carved.
The penetrating voice addressed tn
t band boys: Don't play. He can tie
you're frightened"
8 The agitated music ceased.
: Then the woman walked to the ia
e therest side of the Enclosure. In d
ing SO she was obliged to pass ii
/. crouching form of Hercules, but 81
t pretended not to know he was there
J. she moved slowly backward. alwa1
e facing Samson.
At last the vertical bars prevente
Y farther retreat. Then she lifted ~
e hand slowly, steadily, and drew off h
{ crimson mask. 1t dropped at her fee
n Despite the muffied street-noises TIL
!. never ceased to rumble from affair, Il
whispering sound of the silken Mas
s as it struck the plank floor OF II
t. cage, was distinctly audible.
t "Grace" Gregory whispered in nc
Y ror-"it's Franz"
t Grace started from his embrace
the name and glared down upon t
d. stage. She sat erect, unsupporte
10 petrifed,
II Gregory's brow was moistened WI
a chilled dew. Its Fran" he mu'
X bled. "it's Fran! Gracezpray for her
is Fran looked Samson steadily in
eyes, and Samson glared back fixed
8. For a few moments, this culver
', tween life and death remained at I
breaking point. Had a. stranger
70 that moment looked under the te
is entrance, he might have thought eve
is body asleep. There was neither sou
at nor movement.
a Grace whispered" Is the hand
lis God!"
IN Her tone was almost inaudibie,
Gregory shrank as from a NOR
or blow; it's sinister meaning was unn
I'd taxable. Swiftly he turned tosstare
ng her.
n. In Grace's eyes was a wild and
err nous glare akin to that OF the tire
ening lion. 1t was savage convict
no that Fran was at last confronted
m the Justice of heaven.
Suddenly Fran crouched forward
ad her head was almost on level "
nm her waist, in SO much that it was
.os nhysical exertion to hold her face
he lifted. In this sinuous position
was the embodiment of power. II
raj felt misgiYings concerning this
> resource. there was no look to bet
He it. Straight toward Samson
.ay rushed, her body 1.-THE and serpenti
es- her direction unerring.
tb. To the beast, Fran had become
es Of those mysterious flying serpe
which bite from afar. He felt
,rd sting of her terrible eyes and his
Inn grew shifty. 1t wandered away, 8
4.ir,n found her teeth ha]