The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-06-04
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f8 injured by . fan from fha xfapDRD Madeline mrFmmgeB for HNR Co bo taken eo GRAND. FATHER BlDDAEp8 farm 10 ro. 1upeFate. To please her partner Donna pFetends to be Madeline. She Is ashamed of this decep. AQn but keeps it up, even when BILL bIDDAL, Aiadellne's cou. Alm, asks her t0 nimrry him.
 McnnwhIIe Madeline mnrriea CON DAVID, animal trainer witn the circus, and takes part 1n the animal act.
 Donna and Biii are married. MRS PLANTER, h0usekeeper discharged by Donna, is her
 GFsndfathcr sIddaI hns a stroke and Donna writes Made. line about his illness.
 The circus is in New Orleans. COn tells Madeline she must go into the cage alone with Lucy, the tiger, during the evening per. tOrmnnce.
 CHAPTER XxV
 Contrary to expectations, Rem froo was not at all enthusiastic about Madeline going Into tho cage alone with Lucy.
 q don't trust that beast," the circus owner said. "I never have, and never will. oh, know Madeline has been working with the cat for several weeks but, just tho Same, shes afraid Of her. If she should suddenly loso hor nerve"
 ''But sho won't" Con protested. ssWhy, you seen for yourself how well Lucy behaves now. Madeline can handle her aB well hB 1 can"
 Ronfroe shook his head. "f'm not afraid that anything will hap. pen when you're in tho cage, Con. With Madeline It's different. An accident now would ruin our bus. mess hero and, God knows, we need the business"
 Con laughed. "rhen what arc you complaining about? This net will got business for you. It's 20. ing to Do sonsntionl Give tho crowd some real thrills and watch shom flock ir'"
 But Renfroo was not convinced. 1t required several minutes of ar. gument before the circus owner finally Ravo n grudglng assent, Evon then ho refused to mako tho announcement that Madeline would sntor tho cago alon0 with tho tigross.
 There was m hIr of huBhod sus. pense in tho big tent m hour later whom the striped beauties and thoIr larger, less foroclous cousins, tho lions, filed In through tho wooden enclosure and took thoir plncos ln tho huge stool cage, Madeline stood nonr at hand and watched Con go through tho net that hud frst won hor admiration.
 The great spotlight shone on Con Mndeline'B Blond0r, yelloWsclnd hg. Hro was in tho shadows. But when, just boforo the finish of tho usual routine, Con paused and announced that Milo Gabriel would put the tigroAg through her p1cos, tho glow ing light swung nbout and foll di. rsotiy on Madeline, lighting her beauty and omphpsIzIng tho dclion- cy of hor figure.
 Drawn by snow.whlte horses, an- other cage was brought Into tho arena. Lucy, looking magnificent and nt tho Bnmo timo repollant, glarod through the bars os tho cngo made q circuit of the tont, Then through thoir runway and Lucy, snnrling, splitting and doiant, wns prodded with pronRs until sho on- tered tho massive c1Ro,
 Perhaps ht that moment Con had n promonltlon of what wuB to happen. Perhaps ho felt n twingo Of conscience or n spark Of fs1dornoBs toward tho girl who stood beside him. Ho leaned to-. ward her and whispered, "lf you're afraid. Honey, we'll call tho wholo thing off."
 Madeline raised her shndowcd eyes to hIB, n blttor smile twisting her lovely, rouged lips. I'll 70 out in blaze Of glory," sho snid, Sho was thinking thnt thls was Co bo her farewell appearance with tho circus. Az soon ns tho net wnS over she would tell Con thnt shc was Dumping" tho show, thnt she was through with hlm and With Renfroe'B circus forever,
 The dor of the cage was opened then and, armed only with n whip, Madeline slid through the aperture, Spectators held their breath. Tho big tent that had beon hushed bo- fore seemed utterly still and silent,
 There were men on guard out- side armed with rovolvers but few of the watchers knew that. Lucy stood in tho center of the cnRo, her yellow eyes meeting Mndolino's, ns the graceful feline body cTouehed low.
 Step by step, tho girl advanced, speaking softly. "On tho chnir, Lucy. On the chair"
 Suddenly man in q seat Just behind the first row arose to hlf feet. He gave n low, mIrthlcss laugh and called out in n voice that penetrated the entire tent "Go to 1t, Baby! l said I'd be here and here l am!"
 Unmindful of her danger. Made line turned. She saw Trnfford, standing in the second row, and caught the ieering grin on his face, fk was at thnt instant-while heT attention wavered--that the tigress ieaped.
 The rest happened so swiftly R vivid splash of orange and white and black shooting through the air hhe blood -curdlihg scream and the great beast bearing the slender body to the ground-that the hor' rified spectators were grlpped IT complete inactivity by the shock.
 Even the men on guard to pre- vent accidents were to stunned to move. Con cried out. Good God! and tore at the fastenings of the door. Perhaps because he jerked sc violently, the lock caught and jam med. Then A shot rang out. The Agress sprang into the air, gave q dying groan and fell back across the mutiiated. bleeding body of the girl.
 It was then that the audience came to life. There were screams