Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-01-25
ClrcuS vs..
Cookery
By COLIN S. COLLINS
Copyright, 1905, bg j. ". MuIler
Copyright, 1905, by J. ". Muller

cried det1antly. Il just can STAND tllS
sort OF thing any longer"
"You don't have to-" he urged gently.
You just say the word, Sally, and I'll
see your pa tomorrow
Cant you understand Jack Pc
ters?" she cried, with stamp Of the
foot THAT woman wouldn't let me
take the high school course cause I'd
be wantin' to go to college next, she
said. She just don't want to see me
do anything grand; just get married
and settle down Shaving for some man
just as I've been shaving for her ever
since pa married her"
Don't you think" he suggested gen
tly. that perhaps she means well!
She's seen lot OF the world. Mebbe
she knows 'twouldn't do no good"
There you go, preaching like all the
rest" she stormed. Some Of these
days you'll wake up and find me gone.
l can be as good as her"
Il don't see why you want to go of
and be foolish jest because you don't
like Mrs. Burrows" he declared gently.
"She means we'll"
I'm going to be like her" insisted
the girl, pointing to n lurid poster rep
resenting young woman In gay ap-
parel standing upon the tip of her toe
ON the back Of a spirited horse. "She
was one OF 'em once. | guess l can
ride that way as well as on saddle
"uuh," mused Peters. "A girl as can
cook az well as you amt got no call
TO be trapesing round the country with
q circus"
Sally Burrows got down from the
wall. "All the same" she cried den-
antly, I'm goin' with en-" with nod
toward the circus posters. Il guess
can cook for 'em until l can ride.
She darted off down the road. Peters
looked regretfully after her. He knew
from experience the futility of seeking
to overtake her.
Things had been well between MN
self and Sally Burrows until her father
had married a circus rider who had
been thrown from her horse and LETT
behind by the show until her fractured
leg grew well
the affections of Hiram Burrows, and
she made him good wife. Sally, now
ever. had refused to accept her new
mother, and there had been quarrels
ever since Hiram had brought home ms
bride The girl resented the intrusion
Of another woman In her mothers
place and her own dethronement as
mistress Of the house.
Now she chafed to leave the quiet
home and make name for herse!r
even as the rival had done, and Jack
son Peters pleaded in vain.
He had a strong ally in Mrs. Bur
rows, who saw that the girl IN home
Of her own would be far happier than
In her fathers house. but this very ALI
ance was against him. and Sally from
the barn saw him go into the house,
and her slender frame shook with soDs
as she realized that Jack was talking
over her new idea with her stepmother.
She did not, however, connect Jack
sons visit with his departure for the
county town the following day, nor did
she realize that he carried with him
letter to the proprietor Of Wells Grand
United Shows and Consolidated Men
ageries; therefore 1t was with no sus-
picion that she regarded that gentle
mans enthusiastic welcome Of her
proposition that she join the troupe and
act as cook until she could learn to be
a performer.
Just what | wanted" he cried jo-
vlally you've got the very build for
a rider We lay over here tomorrow,
and I'll give you your first lesson in the
afternoon"
Sally wanted to wait, but Wells
would take no denial. The show would
stay on the grounds over Sunday, and
there was no time to be lost. She
could slip away from her people, and
he could tell just what she could do.
Her stepmother had driven over to
the next town for visit after the
matinee performance Saturday, and
there was nothing to hinder her from
keeping her appointment with Wells.
One of the women furnished her with
a costume from her own wardrobe, and
Sally. blushing furiously at the bloom
ers, crept into the ring.
Wells was teaching his own daughter
TO ride, and to the center pole Of the
tent had been added a huge boom
which reached out as far as the cir
cumference of the ring From a pulley
at the end of this dangled a rope with
the horrible suggestion Of n gallows,
and beneath it stood a broad backed
white horse. his back sticky with pow
dered resin.
man in his undershirt and overalls,
looking very little like the ring master
of the afternoon before, stood talking
with the tired faced clown. As she
appeared he came toward her with
broad canvas belt.
This they fastened about her waist
hooking the ring at the back into the
dangling rope. The ring master lifted
her to the horses back, while the clown
pulled the rope tight, and with a few
brief directions about keeping her bal
ance the ring master cracked the whip
and the horse started off.
For two or three PAGES she kept her
balance then, with yell, she realized
that she was falling Her feet went up
and the weight OF her body was thrown
against the belt
They let her down, gasping for breath,
until she clutched the horses name and
could regain her footing. Then the
dreadful whip cracked again. and again
she hung by the belt wildly waving
her limbs. The boom was pusneu
around - that she kept always over
the back of tt horse, and by an effort
she recovered her balance, aided some
what by the sLackening Of the rope at
the end of the mechanic"
Twice around the ring and her am
bItion to be a rider died within her.
She scrambled from the horses back,
trying to choke back the tears Of hui
initiation.
Wells was all sympathy. Perhaps
you might be better as an acrobat" he