The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-08
BEGIN HERE TODAY

IL
.FWhen Madeline's grandfather
who Is bird asks her to spend a
weekend at his farm she per
srades Donna to go instead
( Donna, pretending to be Made
lire, falls in love with Bill SD.
DIAL. Madeline's cousin.
Con David, animal trainer, is
devoted to Donna but she regards
him merely as a friend. Made
line loves Con and schemes to
win lin.
| Donna falls from the trapeze
and is injured. Madeline wires
Bill 10 come for her and begs
Donna to continue the imperso.
ration. Bill takes Donna to the
farm to recuperate. Mrs. Planter,
the housekeeper, is suspicious OF
the girl.
Donna grows stronger and soon
is able to get about in a wheel
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
..'. CHAPTER XI
Ned Trafford was surly and
belligerent. Irritable without
provocation. Twice Renfroe had
caught him under the Influence
of liquor and threatened him
with a "notice" if he ever caught
him drinking again. But Traf-
ford avoided Madeline and, as
the days sped by, her fear of him
lessened and gradually died.
She concluded the canvasman
was more afraid of what she
might say or do than she was
afraid Of him. Nevertheless
Madeline remained convinced that
Trafford had been responsible fol-
Donna's fall and she told Con
David this. The result was that
! Con hated Trafford with a dead
lily, silent hatred that made hin
careless and bitter and even crue,
to the snarling beasts that help
ed him earn his living.
Renfroe had watched Madeline
performing on the trapeze alone
and, since business was bad ant
there was a prospect of Donna!
return, he had decided to lei
Madeline remain in the show as
a Single" One Gabriel sister
did not make 4 feature act, but
the cut in salary helped little
! Madeline knew Cons interest
in her was due to the fact tina
he could get news of Dom;
Through her. but his very indif
ference only spurred Madehne''
determination to win him.
In every conceivable manner
she eontrived to keep him neal
her. She made rarebits or sand
witches and invited Con into he
stateroom to share them will
her, though she knew Renfro'
would "read the riot act" if HI
heard of it.,
During every performance sh'
watched the animal trainer puT
his ''cats" through their pace
and, she never failed to compli
ment him on his daring when HI
left the arena, his white sill
shirt clinging to his body ant
beads of perspiration about hi
white lips.
"There isn't an act in thu
world that can equal it. Com
she would exclaim ecstatically. g.
simply marvel ut you! / coult
watch you all day, even though
my teeth chatter with fright fol-
you"
She lowered over him like 8
mother, watching. for loose
button or a dangling bit Of braic
on his coat. As though it were
her duty to perform such tasks
she demanded that he hand the
garments over TO her to mend.
When the new tiger, a gorge
Ouslv beautiful Bengal, gave Cor
a vicious scratch on the wrist
Madeline changed the dressing
ON the wound daily for a week
although Con insisted the injury
was nothing. ,.
He was flattered by these at,
tentions. The sting of Donna
repulsion still ranked, though lie
loved her with all the feryor OF
his Latin temperament. Con was
lperfectlv aware of Madeline
love for him. as was every one
else in the circus. He acceptee
lit as homage due his position as
the star performer of the troupe
Now and then he invited hel
to dinner at a hotel or restau'
rant as a change from the fare
lin the mess tent. Madeline al
ways made the most of these oc'
casions, combing her hair as
Donna had worn hers, dressing as
nearly as possible like Donna am
aping her mannerisms until the
man was a trifle bewildered! He
wondered why, when the twt
girls were SO alike, he Shout
love one and not the other.
A month went by, then 81,
weeks. The heat became intense
Under the tents the air wa
heavy, almost intolerable. Thi
poor animals, forced to stay i!
: small quarters, suffered AM
snarled and roared and spit. The
staterooms in the Pullman ca"
were Sitting. Electric fan
merely stirred the fetid, Sitting
air.
Under the glare of a THOUSAND
blazing lights q the performer.
tried to concentrate on thei
numbers, to forget their discom1
, fort and put forth their best Ell