Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-24

apply for a meal, and was given some stale
broad and meatbone, and told to move on,
as they did not tolerate tramps.
He walked along the road running south
mile or two, then turned into thieket and
went to sleep.
That slumber cleared his .wearied senses
like magic. He did not need much thought
to decide what he would do when he awoke.
With Newton, he resolved, he was through
for many long day. The world was before
him, and it was big enough and varied enougl,,
to offer an attractive choice of residence and
vocation.
New York's out of the question: consid-
cred Nat, with longing thought of 10 Nor.
ris. "Oh, if l could only find him, and he'd
chum9, with mel He amt one of my sort,
though. No, Nat, old boy it's your own
hook or nothing and the eircus-that's it.
I've wanted it, now / can have it, the cir
GUS"
Mats eyes sparkled enthusiastically as he
spoke that tailismanic word. A week previous
a circus had performed for two days at New
ton, and had set its juvenile population wild
with excitement
Circumstances had not exactly favored
runaway-trip with the tent people for Nat
just at that time; but. after witnessing two
performances, he mentally decided that this
represented exactly the life that suited his
tastes.
Now, being wanderer he was free to
choose. Other boys had secured employment
in the circus, why not he? He could tumble
like an acrobat, had walked across ten feet
of stout elotheslne without a fall. and he
was even undaunted at the bare horseback
riding, as he recalled an amateur circus, in
which he had appeared on Farmer Dobbin's
Nat tried to remember the announcements
on the circus-bill posted at Newton. He
decided that the circus must now be at either
Millvile or Dover They lay south, on the
railroad the farthest town being only twenty
miles distant.
I'M try it," decided Nat, little dreaming
that he was rushing on his fate in his rash
choice. Hey, there's wagon. Give me
ift?"
Yes, he might ride down to Wayne juno
ton, half the way to Mllville the driver Of
the wagon that came down the dusty road
at that moment told him; and just at noon
Nat was at the railroad track again, fresh
aad ready to foot it over the ties the re-
mainder of the distance to Milville
1t was nearly dark when he turned a
curve, came to feneedin siding, and rested
on pile of ties. with glance of satisfaction
at the steeples of town he knew to be Mill
VILE
Over on the common he could see mann
moth white tent cleaning in the dying light
of day, and he knew that he had reached the
Mecca seee = Of his ambitious hopes.
Nat started slightly, but smiled at his sud-
denly aroused fears as his glance fell upon
small circular posted on the fence of the sid
ing
twenty -HNe uOHdTs reward, III Deyan, ana
at first Nat imagined that il might refer to
10 Morris, or the burglars, or himself. A pc
rusal of the body of the circular showed. how
ever, that it referred to the theme upper
most in his mind-the circus.
Rather the menagerie part of it, for the cir
enlar went on to say that a tiger known as
Bengal Tom, and wearing brass chain,
had escaped from the circus at Millville.
Farmers were asked not to kill the beast.
The reward stated would be paid on the re-
44tfr, t<. fbn oft he IL.
Nat scarcely read the circular through His
thoughts were on the circus, and, az faint
strain of Grassland music foated to his hear
ing his muscles stirred excitedly.
He made for the highway and hurried ON
toward the town.
Just then he forgot Newton and the people
he had known there, and thought only of the
prospect before him.
To secure employment in the very hum
best capacity at first would suit him
Wages were no object. He was after glory
and adventure
"Ill have to tidy up bit" he soliloquiz-
ed, as he came to deserted cabin, with its
door swinging open, and a broken pump near
it. "I'n take wash, and get the gravel out
Of my shoes, and dust my coat, and I'll look
like new boy"
Nat tossed his coat, his hat and his shoes
across the threshold of the cabin. appropriat.
ing it as his dressing room, and ran to the
pump.
the cool water, and felt like lark as he came
back into the cabin.
Goodness! What's that?"
Nat grabbed the door, and trembled with
wonder and apprehension as he spoke
From corner of the cabin had proceeded
fearful growl
As he glanced, first two balls of glowing
fire. then sinuous striped form. that seemed
creeping slowly toward him, showed.
'The tiger" yelled astonished Nat. TITS
Bengal Tom, the beast they. advertised for"
I,sn n. lrl \
coat, abandoned to the savage beast in bis
fight for life.
Nat was too quick-witted to be caught in
trap, when there was time afforded to escape
IT. Snrapo en,tssda drexy t1as door In after