The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-14


troupe Of trained dogs, pricked up her
ears knowingly and rose to her feet
Hey, Rubev' the circus war cry from
time immemoriai, was no new sound
to her, and she looked affectionately at
the left leg Of the strangers carefully
creased trousers. deciding that spot
about four inches below the knee
would be the strategic point for q
grip.
Nellie raised q hand. "Don't, Jimr'
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.
lously. why, you've been with the
old show ever since you were a little
kiddie. ever since your ma died Of vel.
low fever In Rio, and we picked you
up the next season. That was way
back In 1892. and you were a little
shrimp Of twelve. Take you away!
I'd like to see the man who'd try itf'
"It's the money" she explained de
spairtnsly. I'm an heiress, and this
gentleman Is the lawyer. He wants
me to 20 back to New York with him
tonight"
For a single moment Blakely's frame
grew rigid. The lawyer. keen OBJ
server of men, followed clearly the
mental strain the circus man was un.
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 dght Of an honest
man with his own desires. In that
short space Biakely made his fight.
When he spoke bis voice was cold and
commonplace.
I'VE 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 OF on the towel as be
hurriedly changed his face for the dog
act.
As one In q daEe he put his pets
through their PAGES, and after the show
was over and the concert audience
was slowly fling into the show lot he
still went about his work AZ though
In a dream. ....-. .t..#
He had loved and watched over Mel
lie ever since that time In Rio ia
neiro when, way back In 1892"
they had picked up the little slip Of
girl, the sole survivor Of a circus
troupe which had played through
South America the season before.
He had known Frank Cosgrove well,
a fine gentlemanly fellow, who had
run or 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 e.
cape memories, and she had taken up
with circus life as willingly as though
she had not been reared in luxury. II
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 broken
leg compelled him to take to clown
ing be had been a wonderful bare
back somersaulter himself.
He had hoped some day to make her
his wife when the nest egg In a city
savings bank had grown large enough
to 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 a. her foster father.
Now be was to lose her and all that
be had planned and worked and saved
for. But II was best for her-that
was enough for him.
H9 took no part n thA EinR bank