Democratic messenger., 1906-01-13

AOu iuNA HhS tht NVaNs s'Hbff $3.50 -
see your pa tomorrow"
cant you understand. Jack Pc
ters:" she cried with a 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
lust ns I've been shaving for her ever
since pa married her"
Don't you think" he suggested gen.
tly. that perhaps she means wellf
she's seen II lot of the world. MebDe
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.
can lie as good as her"
II don't see why you want TO go or
and bc 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 lurid poster rep
rcsenting IL young woman In gay ap-
parel standing upon the tip OF her toe
on the back of Il spirited horse. she
was one OF 'em once. | guess l can
ride that way as well as on saddle.
Huh" mused Peters. "A girl as can
cook as well as you amt got no call
to be trapesing round the country with
circus"
Sally Burrows got down from the
wall. "All the same" she cried deh-
antly. I'm goin' with EN-" with nod
toward the circus posters. 81 guess
can cook for 'em until | can ride"
She dnrtcd of down the road. Peters
looked rcgrctfully after her. He knew
from experience the futility OF seeking
10 overtake her.
Things had been well between him
self and sally Burrows until her father
had married a circus rider who had
been thrown from her horse and LEFT
behind by the show until her fractured
leg grew well.
Long before that time she had won
the affections of Hiram Burrows. ana
she made him II good wife. Sally. how
ever. had refused 10 accept her new
mother. and there had been quarrels
ever since Hiram had brought home his
bride. The girl resented the intrusion
of another woman In her mothers
place and her own dethronement as
mistress of the house.
Now size chafed Ia leave the quiet
hAfNlIr
even as the rival had done, and Jack
son Peters pleaded in vain.
lie had IL 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. hut this very alli-
ance was against him. and Sally from
the barn saw him go into the house.
and her slender frame shook with sob5
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 a
letter 10 the proprietor of Wells Grand
United Shows and Consolidated Men
ngcries: therefore IL 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
performer.
Just what wanted" he cried j0-
vially. you've got the very build for
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 he 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
II costume from her own wardrobe. and
Sally. blushing furiously AT the bloom
ers. crept into the ring.
Wells was teaching his own daughter
Ia ride. and To the center pole of the
tent had been added II huge boom
which reached out as far as the cir
cumfercmce of the ring. From pulley
at the end of this dangled Il rope with
the horrible suggestion of gallows.
and beneath II stood broad backed
white horse. his back sticky with pow
dered resin.
A man In his undcrshlrt 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 a
broad canvas belt.
This they fastened about her waist.
hooking the ring NJ the back into the
dangling rope The ring master lifted
her to the horses back. while the clown
pulled the rope tight. and with few
brief directions about keeping her bal
ance the ring master cracked the whip
and the horse started or.
For two or three PAGES she kept her
balance. then. with YELL she realized
that she vvns falling Her feet went up