Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-05-06
A QUEEN IN RAGS.
l.
6 r Y OUP-LA,'

- Crack went the circus
l. l. masters whip as the girls
hying figure went through the last tin
sci covered circle. higher even than the
preceding ones. and alighted safely in
the saddle amid rounds of rough APP
plause.
One solitary figure occupied the
dress seats--a tall, dark man. with
bronzed face and keen eyes. and to this
one upper-claSs patron was tne cream
Of the entertainment directed.
As the girl rode round before her exit
she made the usual feint of blowing a
kiss to the stranger, but the circus mas
ter's jealous eye noted that deep flush
dyed her forehead. He also noted that
the same solitary figure was there for
the third night in succession-wasth there
alone-and that as soon as Queen Ca
milla" left the ring he got up. collected
stick, hat and gloves and departed.
Hes a fish out o water" muttered
the man to himself whats he doin'
here, wonder? If he's got an eye upon
Camilla he'll soon find as how others
as got an eye upon him."
And that night. after a frugal but
somewhat noisy supper the ringmaster
sought out fat. elderly woman, al
ways strongly redolent of gin. but who.
In spite of that and other little delin
quencies. was called by courtesy the
wardrobe mistress. The manager-for
In Leo Saiterne's circus the manager,
owner, director and ringmaster were
rolled In one-came upon this lady as
she was folding away Camilla's gilt
tering robes.
Look here!' he began roughly.
"Have you heard anythin' about the
gent that's been hangn' aroundI'
'Course | have!' muttered the wom-
an sulkily. "Who 'asn't? He's the new
squire. just come home from Australy."
AN what's he doin here:'
''Come to see Salterne's circus. sup
pose," she replied-"leastways, he pays
is money like the rest"
There was silence. save for the tin
Killing Of baubles as she folded the cos
tunes. Then the man seized her by
the arm.
"You amt been splittin'?' he Missed.
III you have. Meg Hudson. it'll be the
worse for your
Dye think I want to get rid Of the
girl? Dye think don't know that the
show would soon go to the dogs II 1t
warn't for Queen Cam? Dye think
don't know that she keeps things gOin'
both before and behind scenes? Why.
there isn't one o the whole company
iDut what loves her, and"-with a scOwl
Ing glance-"hates you"
| "Well, It's dangerous neighlOrhOOd,
anyway" said the man, shifting uneasi
" beneath the glance. IAN It's time
we was movin' on"
Jay! AS long as the Hall stood emp
~. and no one knew where to look fol-
q heir
Hold your tongue for a crOaking old
fool.' cried the manager angrily. glanc
ing round at the thin wooden partition
"Who knows who might hear ye. ye oil
movin' on. We can't AFFORD To throw
away money. but there's worse nigh
happen IL we stayed" And. slammin
the door. he went.
At ieas, old Meg thought he had gon'
and she muttered TO herself:
no, an ye can't AFFORD To be foun
out neither. my fine master"
The whit OF a cheap cigar and mu
tered oath told her that she had bee
overheard, though she didn't catch Il
managers concluding remark.
"ru find some means OF stOppir
your tongue. madam; you know t
much, and seem like CROWN DANCE
Ous."
When Ronald King laid his ha
crown on the grlmy sill Of the lit
nav Office next night he was inform
that "the reserved seats was all to-
by a party" But instead Of the tut
ing away In disgust. as the manae
hoped, he merely exchanged the &C
for a sixpence. aud passed In amO
the crowd.
Queen Camilla was to do her hi
Night tonight. and 1t was Queen
milla he went to see. He hadn't wait
n analyze the attraction: he SIM
went because he was attracted. To
sure, entertainment was scarce IN
village where he had suddenly bt
cast: and though he was the owner
lovely estate and $4,000 a year. tn
wasn't a more friendless creature Ii
he In existence.
He had been ranching for fourtt
wears In Australia. and had been
,.,,aA In moat uneXDected fashion
step into his dead uncle's shoes. !
family history was to him a sea
ROOT. His uncle had had children Y
hsd died. and that was all he knew
Queen Gam was later than usual I
nisht and many watches had been