The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-10-22

SO much as that" the man continued.
"Pve been neglectful, but they might
have given me warning. I've wife and
four chilren and they'll have nothing
to live on if lose my job. 1t amt easy
to get another position as trainer,
It's more'n l can stand"
There were tears trickling down the
mans cheek, and the boy tried to con-
| sole him.
1T might not be so bad as that" he
said. Maybe the other man won't
suit"
| you don't know the manager. When
he's set on takin' man he'll take him.
He's got hold of some good trainer, an
he knows good thing when he sees it.
And do you know, Drifter, you'll have to
go, too, for /, and not the manager,
employ your"
The boys face flushed, and his eyes
dropped before the trainers steady
gaze.
But I'll speak good word for YOU"
MIR. Tempster said. you've been a
good helper, an I'll try to get the new
man to take you. l think he will. Ill
try it,"
thank you, Mr.. Tempster," Drfter
said, with little gulp in his throat.
II wish had somebody to speak for
me; but there amt any body who would
take the trouble"
Yes, there is" the boy replied,
quickly.
"Who?"
Then, seeing Drifter's earnestness,
he added, with a smile:
"Yes, l know you would, Drifter;
but I'm afraid the manager wouldn't
| consider ii of much account"
We'll see. never met the manager
| but once, an then didn't know him
until he had left" -.
1t was a solemn afternoon in the big
menagerie tent. Mr.. Tempster went
about his duties with sad, detected
| countenance, and Drifter was almost
as quiet and serious in his demeanor.
He asked for leave of absence at four
| o'clock, and then did not appear again
that evening.
well, the boy deserves a vacation"
the trainer said, as he prepared the
animals for the ring, "and I'll gladly
do his work for him tonight. Maybe
ii will be my last chance"
| He wondered why the new trainer
did not appear. He would certainly
want to familiarize himself with the
animals that were to perform tricks
| for him. No man would be such fool
as to exhibit with new animals with
out seeing them beforehand!
| Nevertheless, the time came for
sending them into the ring. lie drove
them in and placed them in their POI
sitions. Then he waited FOR develop
| ments.
Suddenly from one of the side doors
emerged the new performer, and,
walking lightly toward the center
of the big tent, he made low
obeisance to the audience. There was
loud applause, for it could be seen that
he was only boy.
Mr.. Tempster looked for minute at
his rival and then muttered aloud:
| "Drifter!"
The gong changed out notice for OPP
erations to begin. Drifter led out Sly,
the leopard, and started to make him
jump through a hoop. The animal
made clean leap, and returned to his
former position. Then the perform
err spoke sharply to him. and rolled a
barrel into the ring, accompanying the
action with sharp snap of his whip
ON the leopard's nose.
The animal jumped back with a
snarl and refused to be pacified. Drift
| or I'd nd hnt H.,
| animal became unruly, and had to be
| taken out of the ring.
Next the boy snapped his whip close
| to Toms trunk, and ordered the big
elephant to dance. But the beady eyes
snapped, and the trunk swayed un-
| easily. Picking up an iron hook he
prodded the surly animal with it. The
elephant screamed with pain, and
raced around the ring like an angry
bull.
After 20 minutes of desperate la
Dor. the whole menagerie was involved
in difficulties, and there was danger
of an uproar. The people began to
grow anxious and excited. Then the
manager stepped down from his box
and ordered Drifter back to the dress
ing-room. Mr. Tempster was called to
subdue the excited animals and make
them go through their performance as
usual.
When :he circus closed at midnight,
the trainer looked in vain among the
cages for Drifter. 1t was an hour be-
fore he found him, curled up on
heap of blankets. The boy had been
crying. Mr.. Tempster looked at him
a moment and then said brokenly, as
he lifted the boy up:
81 saw it all; / saw it all. 1t was
| noble of you; but it must have been
hard-very hard"
The boy gave vent to a sob.
IL shall never forget it, prifter, an
wouldn't have permitted tiff it hadn't
been for my wife and four children.
said to myself that needed the po-
sition more than you did, an l will
keep quiet"
He wound his arm around the boy,
and continues:
you'll get a position some day as
performer, an then you'll show them
what YOU can do"