The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-17

circular sweep of the arm. and the big man pulled out q watch from the coat he had resumed. "You want to come with us, if your mother will let your he asked. Toby's face fell.
 she won't" he said dolefuliy. She hates circuses. She's boing to whip promise not to come; not even to look at the parade"
 He's a circus boy, all right. Ted" laughed one of the other men. She | knew thaat if he hit the tents 1t would ali come back to him. and 1t has. He worked like veteran. He'd make a great topmounter."
 ed Ted. I'm goin to see his mother. don't know what grouch she's got against us show folks, but I'll talk her out of 1t. Come, Kid" He held out a hand ao Toby. and to- gether they left the tent. Ted stopped to speak to a man In the dressing tent, and then they struck out across lots for the tiny little home. where, for the last four years. Rena Atkins had sought to support herself aand her son by millinery and dressmaking. She was on steps now peering up and down the street, hoping against hope that Toby would come. But at the sight of the man with him she shrank into the house, though not before the stranger had caught sight of her ana had gone bounding forward.
 When Toby's shorter legs had com passed the distance he found his mother in the strangers arm striving to fight him off. Toby viliantly came to the rescue with feet and fists, but the big man seemed scarcely to notice the at tack
 rao ho aa ing Why did you run away, dearT You ask me that?" Her voice was quiet now and tense with scorn. Let me go and I will show you" His arms dropped to his side and she slipped across the room to where her pocketbook lay. Silently she offered a slip of paper frayed with handling and yellow with age.
 You believed thisT' asked the man. You really thought had eloped with Clara Gray? We left the same night because Griffith was doing us out of our salaries. Her husband, Jim Gray, was playing with Coles circus and she join ed him. played couple of houses Tor expense money to get back home with. I wrote, but the letter was there at the boarding house when I arrived. They told me you had gone. Griffith put that lying notice in the paper to hide the real reason for our leaving. his own dishonesty"
 And I believed it." she sobbed: and I've been trying to hide ever since; to keep the boy from being like his father"
 It's in the blood" the big man said tenderly. Why, the kiddt6 came into the big top and saw us working on the mat and he went at 1t like he used to in the old days. I never guessed that he was my child. I only saw what great top-mounter he would make, and | came to see if you would apprentice him to us. I never hoped to find wire and little son where I was looking for a topper"
 "You--you forgive meT' she faltered.
 You were just a foolish little child to run away before you found out the truth" he said with tender laugh. Its all the more reason you should have a husband to look after you, and I know that Toby wants a father"
 You bet do," put in Toby, at last finding something he could understand. Are you my dadg'
 q am that" said the big man. as he hugged Toby to his breast. And you're a true chip of the block. Why Iaddie, I taught you these tricks you showed us this afternoon. It all came out when you saw a ring again"
 I'm glad broke my promise" said Toby complacently, even If am whip ped for it."
 But the whipping was deferred in- definitely.