The Hope pioneer., 1898-12-08
The absolute command of the circus

| i4AS peIlCTutTS.
It was not Drifter's fault that Mr..
Tempster had failed to give entire sat
| isfaction to the owners of the great
| travelling circus. Either through
slothfulness or drink the trainer
had neglected his duties, and the an
imals were learning no new tricks
and only indifferently performing G
their old ones.
i One day he caught Drifter in the
act of putting his favorite fox-now
wounded by an accident-through a
performance, and instead of repri-
:! manding the boy, he said calmly:
"Well, you DO it good enough to go
in the ring. 1 guess I'll let you do
the teaching hereafter, an I'll take
the credit for it ALL"
He laughed harshly and turned upon
his heel.
After that the boy trained his pet
animals more openly, and taught the m
many new tricks, which Mr.. Demp-
ster took up and adopted after the
animals were broken into the work.
You'll make good trainer some
day, an then you'll 60 with another
circus" were all the thanks Drifter
received from this new service.
But it was enough. 1t encouraged
him to persevere in his work. In a
short time he had every animal in
the cage devoted to him. His in
variable kindness and patience had
won their hearts, while the harsher
methods of Mr.. Tempster caused more
or less su!len rebellion.
Outside of the big animal tent !, Drift
er knew little of what was going on
| among the circus people, for they very
| seldom ventured into his quarters. So
one day when he looked up from his
work of putting the leopard through
new trick and saw man standing
| back of him, he did not know that
it was the manager of the circus. But
he stopped instantly. intuitively guess
ing that the big stranger was a man
of authority.
go on, my lad; go on" he said, in
voice that was not unkindly modu-
lated. "You are doing splendidly."
Thus encouraged, Drifter put the
leopard through all of the tricks he
had taught it, directing the animal so
skillfully by gentle words and motions
of the hand that its natural grace was
ten-fold enhanced.
Bravo, my lad. You do it we'll!
Will any of the other animals perform
tricks for you?"
"Yes, sir; all of them" Drifter re-
piled.
Bring them out. then, one by one,
and let me see them do it,
The boy was anxious to please the
stranger. and he exhibited his skill so
successfully that he was surprised at
his own accomplishments. After half
an hours hard work he stopped. The
stranger was looking intently at him.
"How old are you?" the man sudden
ly asked.
Eighteen" Drifter replied.
"Humph! Eighteen? Well. it's re-
markable. I never heard Tempster
speak of you before; but you must
have been with us for some time"
''With the circus. you mean? Yes,
sir; I've been with it three years."
"Ther you ought to know our
needs" the man added. moment later.
I'm going to give you chance to ex-
hibit in public. Tomorrow night I'll
give you chance in the ring to put
these animals through their tricks.
Report to me at four. in person. and
I'll give you further instructions"
Mr.. Tempster was away that after
noon and did not appear until night.
He knew that his animals were in
safe keeping, and SO he worried little
about them. Drifter could hardly con-
tain himself until then; he wanted to
:ell somebody of his good fortune.
He dreamed of all sorts of successes.
and he mapped out his future life. He
would be introduced to the public, and
he was sure he would attain fame. lie
would become the greatest animal
trainer of the age, and win money and
applause. All he needed was chance
TO demonstrate his abilities before the
public, and here was his opportunity
at last.
Then he fell to picturing the circus
ring. the sea of faces that would sur
round him, the bright tinsel and appar-
ell of the performers, and the elegant
garbs of the spectators. He wondered
Il he would feel any stage fright.
II is possible that he forgot some of
his duties that afternoon in day.
dreaming of his future success. Ger
tainly he was late in feeding the ami
mails, when Mr.. Tempster entered the
tent. The man walked unsteadily. and
for a moment Drifter thought that he
was under the influence of liquor. But
when he caught sight of his face he
knew that something was wrong. lie
was deathly white, and his brow was
drawn into scowl.
Drifter looked at him in pity; his
state of mind seemed so opposite to
his own. 1t was impossible to con-
vey his glad tidings to man suffering
from some secret anxiety.
So he kept the matter to himself all
that night, and went through his rou-
tine work as usual. The trainer was
quiet and taciturn, and several times
he made mistakes in handling the ami
mails that would have been decidedly
annoying had they been exhibiting in
the ring.
The following morning Drifter
sought out Mr.. Tempster, after feed
ing the animals, and he was surprised
to find the man in a state of utter col
lapse. He looked up at the boy for a
moment and then said, in trembling
voice:
I'm done for, Drifter; I'm done for"
The boy was so taken aback that he
could not speak.
I've brought it upon myself, too;
I've no one to blame" he continued,
| burying his head into his hands. "I've
heop peolec+ipo nv. 1rorE ,pI lo,,-;ax-