The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-12-22

OON l. JIM ohE BALD fLAlNI1NEL1.
troupe of trained dogs, pricked up her
ears knowingly and rose to her feet
Key, Rube!' the circus war cry from
time immemorial was no new sound
to her, and she looked affectionately at
the left leg of the strangers carefully
creased trousers, deciding that Il spot
about four inches below the knee
would he the strategic point for
grip.
Nellie raised a hand. Don't JIM
she said plaintively. HE hasn't said
anything TO me. It's just that they
want to take me away"
take you away" he cried incredu-
lousy. why, you've been with the
old show ever since you were little
EfA1ie, ever since your ma died of vel
fever in Rio, and we picked you
Sthe next season. That was way
back in 1892, and you We're little
shrimp of twelve. Take you away,
I'd like to see the man who'd try it,"
It's the money" she explained de-
spairingly. I'm an heiress, and this
gentleman is the lawyer He wants
me to go back to New York with him
tonight"
For single moment Blakelys frame
grew rigid. The lawyer, keen OBJ
server of men, followed clearly the
mental strain the circus man was I'M
dergoing. He could see what the girl
had never seen, that this man with the
uncouth mask of zinc and carmine low
ed the little rider, and In the brief
struggle he read the fight of an honest
man with his own desires In that
short space Blakely made his fight.
When he spoke his voice was cold and
commonplace.
Eve always said" he commented.
that your mothers people must be
Of the right sort I'm glad of it, Work
with the tents isn't for such as you"
Then he turned, but more than the
makeup came off on the towel as he
hurriedly changed his face for the dog
act
AS one in daZe he put his pets
through their PAGES. and after the show
was over and the concert audience
was slowly filing into the show lot he
still went about his work as though
in dream.
He had loved and watched over Mel
lie ever since that time in Rio ia
metro when, way back in 1892"
they had picked up the little slip of a
girl, the sole survivor of circus
troupe which had played through
South America the season before
He had known Frank Cosgrove well,
fine, gentlemanly fellow, who had
run off with an English girl when her
parents had objected to her marrying
the riding MASTER of an English
caravan.
They had come to America to es-
cape memories, and she had taken I'D
with circus life us willingly as though
she had not been reared in luxury. 1t
was Blakely who had persuaded Del
more to take the girl into the troupe,
and it was he who had completed her
education as a rider. Before a broken
leg compelled him to take to clown
ing he had been a wonderful bare
back somersaulter himself.
He had hoped some day to make her
bis wife when the nest egg in a city
{ )ings bank had grown large enough
10 warrant the purchase of country
place and assure a competence when
they should have retired. Until then
he had spoken no word of love. but
rather had encouraged her to look upon
him as her foster father
Now he was to lose her and all that
he had planned and worked and saved
for. But it was best for her-that
was enough for him.
He took no part in the ring bank
chat after supper He had no hear1
to sit there about the bank and hear
the comment that would be made about