The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-06-02
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her to marry him. Amos Siddal
Madrline's grandfather who owns
the farm, is bird. Mrs. Planter
horaokeeper discharged by Don
IA, is her enemy.
} Donna and Bill are married.
Meanwhile Madeline has marriet
Con David, circus animal trainer
ard takes part in the animal act
Amos Siddal has stroke.
| In New Orleans Madeline goes
into the cage alone with the Ben
gal tiger and is killed. Renfroe
discharges Con. Unable to get
work, Con decides to 60 to the
Siddal farm.
He arrives on Thanksgiving day
ard sends a note to Donna.
NoW,GO,oN WITH THE STORY
-' CHAPTER XXXIlI
Donna opened the door Of the
farm house and faced Pete Rad,
er. She had never seen him be-
fore and greeted him with a be-
wildered, "Yes?"
81 got a note for you, Mis-
Siddal, and Pm to fetch an an
swer back"
The moment she saw the en-
velope an icy chill passed over
the girl.~ She opened the door a
trifle wider and asked the boy to
come in. Then, making sure she
had closed the door through which
she had passed and that there
were no witnesses, she tore open
the envelope. Her hand shook so
violently that the folded sheet
slipped to the floor.
Donna stopped quickly and
picked it up. conscious that the
eyes of the boy were filled with
curiosity. When it dawned upon
her that Con had written the
message and that he was within
five miles of her she dropped to
the hOrsehair sofa and looked
hlankly at Pete.
Hes that circus Teller that
went into the lions cage" Pete
volunteered. az recognized him."
eyes, "nDonna said huskily. She
read the curt little note again
and then tore it up. "There is
no answer" she said.
But"
'I'll telephone-tell him that"
Rather, reluctantly, Pete rose.
At the door. he repeated, "He
said was to get an answer.
You'll be Sure to telephone, won't
you? If YOU don't l may not
get my dollar"
"I'l phone" Donna promised.
She waited until she heard the
outer door slam and then flung
the scraps of paper into the fire
place. She watched them slowly
crnmple into ashes, wondering
awhat she was to do. How could
she telephone?' There was only
one telephone in the house and it
was in the hallway just off the
dining room. Every word she
said could be heard by those at
the dinner table.
After the differences between
herself and Bill, the presence of
Con David in Lebanon was a def
mite menace to her happiness
even though Con were there as
friend, and Donna had serious
doubts Of that. Something had
brought the animal trainer to the
little town when by all reason he
should have been in vaudeville or
in some European circus.
OF course she could ignore tie
message. Possibly that was the
best thing to do. She owed moth
ing to Con and since Madelne's
death did not even feel kindly to-
ward him. professionally he had
caused Madeline TO risk her life.
At any rate it was impossible
to get in touch with him that
day. Tomorrow, perhaps, when
Bill was out of the house
She glanced at her reflection
in the mirror over the fireplace
Fand saw that her face was pale.
She pinched her cheeks to bring
back their color, smoothed her
hair and returned to the dining
room.
"What was it," Bill asked as
she took her place at the table.
"Some-someOne inquiring for
the Lawrence place." Donna lied.
Fortunately Bill was not looking
at her and did not see the deep
flush that accompanied her
words.
Throughout the long meal
(Which had lost its flavor for
Donna) Grandfather Siddal and
Miss Perkins and Bill kept up
gay chatter. Donna tried her best
to join in the conversation but
her thoughts kept returning to
the man at the hotel in Lebanon.
Why was he there? Of course
the circus had closed with the
cold weather, but that no reason
to bring a high-salaried perform
er like Con to such a place as Lee
banon.
The more she thought about it
the more dismayed Donna be-
came. Her first reaction, upon
receiving the note. had been fear
of what Bill would say or do il
he knew the man he believed tt
be his rival were in town. NO"
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