The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-03
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Siddal who call themselves THE
Gabriel Sisters" are trapeze per-
formers with Renfroe's circus.
Con David, the animal trainer, is
in love with Donna who regards
him merely as a friend. Made
line, in love with Con, has been
flirting with Ned Trafford, boss
canYasmap.
I Wien Machines grandfather,
Amos Siddal, asks her to spend
the weekend on his farm she
persuades Donna to take her
place. Donna is much attracted
by Bill Siddal, Madeline's cousin
Two weeks later Donna falls
from the trapeze and is taken to
a hospital, badly injured. Made
line sends word to Bill that
Madeline" is i'll and leaves a
letter telling Donna to continue
the impersonation until she is
well. Tken Madeline goes or
with the circus.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER VIZ
A funeral pail, thick and
heavy, hung over the circus. The
crew train, with tents and stakes
and poles and apparatus, had de-
parted by the time Con and
Madeline reached the siding
where the Pullmans stood, but
the performers stood in little
groups on the tracks or platform
with no intention of retiring so
early. Renfroe paced the gravel
ed roadbed, his hands damned in
his pockets, his black brows meet
ing in a scowi. La Belle Matilde,
his wife, sat on a heavy suitcase.
"Well, what's the verdict"
Renfroe demanded when the cou-
pie approached.
Madeline told him what the
doctor had said. ut will be a
long time before she can work, "
she added. 'I'm going to send
her home as soon as she's able to
travel"
Renfroe kicked viciously at a
small rock. "YOur act will be
lousy without her." he muttered.
"Now I'll have to find a new
aerial turn"
"You mean you're going to let
me out?" Madeline exclaimed.
"What else can l do? You're
a nice kid, but you know the
rules. l don't mean right away
of course"
"But, Mr.. Renfroe-w Made
lines hands were clammy. There
will be the hospital bills"
81 thought your folks were
well-to do? Well, never mind
Wen talk it over in the morn
inc. ~ t~'<t
There was little time for Made.
line to yconsider what he had
said, for the others crowded
about 1sask about Donna. Fol
the next 20 minutes she was busy
answering their questions. Con
Slipped. away, to stand alone on a
reaf< plzftgrm. nursing his grief.
Ffa 4 *
ArshcfF .iater, after the weary
performers had gone to their
statereonae the headlights of the
that was to carry the
train to .,the next stand split the
darkness. The creak of coupling
pins, they switching from one
track to another, the blast of the
whistle tore through Madeline's
agonized nerves like the sharp
cut of a poniard. Stark terror
suddenly gripped her. No one
else might believe that Ned Traf-
ford had tempered with bolt or
screws but she knew he had! He
had tried to kill Madeline herself
and failed, but he might try
again with success. Cowardice
prompted her to leave the circus
at once, but two things were
stronger; first, her absorbing
love for Con David and, second,
the fact that she was practically
without funds. Unlike Donna,
Madeline had not saved her sal
airy. Pretty clothes, French per-
fumes and exquisite lingerie had
taken it as fast as the pay en-
velopes had arrived.
Since she hl-l definitely cut
ties with her family she could not
write to Grandfather Siddal for
money. For five years she had
depended upon Donna to finance
her when she found herself in a
tight place. She had depended
upon Donna. too, to secure their
engagements. No, she could not
leave the circus. Three-a-day
vaudeville or place in the
chorus of a small musical show
was the best she could hope for
alone. Even chorus Job was
almost out of the question since
there were few productions dur
ing the summer.
If Donna should die-Madeline
shivered! Donna's death would be
uOuDlS ulSdSICl. llO". "'eIN
Madeline convince her family
that she was the real Madeline
Siddal? With no employment,
her heritage gone, no money
She must persuade Renfroe to
keep her on with the circus. By
hook or by crook she must win
Cons love. Perhaps Trafford
would not make another attempt
at her life. Since she had cast
suspicion on him he might be
afraid to risk another "accident."
Madeline fell asleep and dream
ed of falling through space, of
being mangled by tiger claws, of
being kidnapped by a red-haired
giant and flung into pit of