The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-02
BEGIN HERE TODAY

MIN merely as = ITleno- bldoS
line, in love with Con, has been
hHirting with Ned Traffor4. boss
Eeanvasman. ..,r ga. a.. >-c..
~. When, ,Madeline's grandfather
, Amos Siddal, asks her to spend
the weekend on his +, farm che
persuades3 Donna to. take hel
place. Donna is much attracte,5
Ev Bill Siddab Madeline's, cousin
l., Back at the circus Donna warns
Madeline that iTrafford, who j.
.iealors, may cause trouble foi
them. tat r. .ord. 40 g.
NoWGooN WITH THE, STORY
ft.. CHAPTER VI
NiTWo weeks later "Renfroe' s
Colossal Three Ring Circus" was
hundl eds of miles from Lebanon
Aside from his presence in the
entrance of the tent each time
the Gabriel sisters went through
their act, Ned Trafford gave no
hint of the revenge for which his
soul longed. -...In... .a, r.
H.. Madeline made one attempt to
get back into his good graces,
but he snubbed her so effectively
that she avoided him and then
forgot him completely.
Four days after Donna's me-
morakle weekend on the farm
Madeline received a letter which
she opened, read with quizzical
smile and tossed to Donna. "This
certainly isn't intended for me ~
she said. "You must have made
hit with the big boy"
Donna's cheeks famed She
took the letter and read it latej
when she was alone.
Dear Madeline: I can't very
well call you Miss Siddal, though
| suppose I should. We have
never correspondent, but many
times ! have written to you fol
Grandfather. Until / met you
those letters meant nothing at al
to me. Now I should be very
grateful if you would drop me &
line now end then. Or is thai
asking too much? | suppose the
trivial happenings around the
farm will not interest you. but
assure you everything. in your
life will be of interest to me-"
The letter continued im~erson
ally. relating various incident!
and closing, CORDIALLY, Cousin
Bill" Donna treasured it, wait
ed until the next day and ther
answered it. ...
Because love had come to her
making the whole world more
beautiful. she felt a deep sympa
thy for Con with his hopeless in
fatuatiOn. He mistook her kind
ness and again plead with her tt
marry him. Donna's refusal hur
him and once more he turned t.
Madeline for consolation.
1t was the sight of Madeline 81
frequently in the company of tn,
animal trainer that finally preci
pitated the tragedy, though wher
It occurred both girls had com
pletelv forgotten the threat
Trafford had made.
For two days it had raincd ant
attendance at the circus wa
small. Renfroe was in a had hu
NOR. His wife, La Belle Matilde
was irritable. reflecting her. hus
bends temper. The animals were
restless and snarling. pacing thei
cages in a frenzy of terror every
time the thunder roared. The
clown, De Iucca, had caught E
heavy cold and was working un
der difficulties, and one of the
best "props" had broken his arm
when a falling stage brace hit
him.
All these facts increased Traf-
ford's black moodiness. He was
responsible for the safety of the
troupe and was working short of
help. Tired, soaked to the skin
and shifting from, incipient hay
fever, he strobe into the "big
tor" to see Madeline with her
arms about Cons neck. An cleo
trio shock charged with venom
shot through Trafford's veins. he
whirled and left the tent. He
walked for miles in the rain,
fighting conscience and profes-
sional honor while his bitterness
mounted. .. ..,
whether he actually tempered
with the screws that held the
! trapeze to braces or whether an
inefficient assistant neglected to
make sure of their security no
one ever knew. Not even Made,
lines shrieks that Ned Trafford
had tried to kill her convinced
Renfroe that his most efficient
canvasman could do such a thing
But it was not Madeline who
came hurting through space to
crash upon the sawdust-streWn
ground and lie, a crumpled all
hut-lifeless little figure. 1t was
her partner, Donna.
Pandemonium. Screams. Made
| line shrieking and almost falling
as she slid down the rope tc
kneel beside Donna. Rentroe
calling frantically for a phvsi'
clan. Women snobbing. Chill
dren bewildered and terrified
And the rain coming down II
: sheets u1on the gray canvas:
; 1t was Con who reached Don
ma before Madeline's pink satlI
sI,,nor, bod touched the ground