Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-31

ing unloaded by gangs of men, and man in
charge ordered Nat to set at work and help.
| Nat introduced 10. He would work his way
with the circus part of their trip; could he
have show? Yes, they were short handed;
shove ahead, answered the man, carelessly.
| 10 worked with will. They were a motley
crowd around him, and he did not enjoy the
rough companionship, but he felt hopeful and
delighted as he realized that within few
days, probably many before Meserve would
make any definite move, he would be at Sa-
varnah an,a and on the track Of Mr.; Percival
he thanked Providence that graceless, good
| for nothing Nat had come to make him trou-
bic only to heroicaly evolve from it the deep
| est benefits.
l. Nat's Transformation from reckless hood
iim to spirited, energetic friend puzzled
him. Joe wondered as he helped cart this and
that article to the hold if humdrum life might
not bring Nat Davis back to idleness and rest
less longing for bad company again.
III make him come with me when we
reach Savannah. I'll keep track of him, and
amy good IN me can better him. I'll exert
| it, decided 10, resolutely, as he finally sat
down to rest ON bundle of canvas storage
ITS strange he doesn't come. They put
him at work carting the trunks to the cabins,
but they're all aboard
Bells rang, the whistles sounded. The inn
mense water-craft steamed away from its dock
just before midnight
The hold crowded with the circus
paraphernaha, the steerage-deck was piled
high with cages and canvas, the animals Keep
ing up hldeous uprear the first hour out.
10 kept looking for Nat, and even inquired
of the men about him, but no one could tell
what had become of him.
A welldressed man came along finally and
showed 10 and several others some hunks
in stuffy hole the stern.
| You're to sleep there" he said. "Get
things little more ship shape in the morning.
boys. We're short-handed The change in
the route has made some back out"
The words struck 10 rather ominous
but, his mind on Nat, he pressed after the
man and ventured hurried inquiry for his
friend.
81 was looking for a boy, SIR" he said
Would y9p please tell me? His name is
=. "Hello!" calculated the man, with start,
"is he your chum? / guess he's left you in
the lurch. then, for ! sent him ashore with a
before the boat started, but he didn't.
| conclude he was sick of his bargain"
We haven't sailed without him?" cried
Jo, ..tagi aghast; st.. ,..
the man. indiferently.
And he passed up the steerage stairs.
10 grasped at bench for support, and stood
looking drearily through an open. window
ing lights of the city.
The discovery of the moment overwhelmed
him. Nat was not aboard He had sailed
alone. He knew to a certainty than only ac-
CiCtut COufu nave GNe UOY. NO
.'change of route would have daunted daring
Nal Davis from following the darling longing
of his nature to be. part of a circus.
A sudden, reckless impulse almost drove
Jo to spring overheard and swim to some
city-bound craft passing by.
Gradually he grew calmer and more philo-
sorheal.
"If Nat is left behind. something extraor-
dinary detained him." reasoned 10. "He's
sharp enough to learn where the boat stops,
and get there to overtake it. If he don't, I'll
find him somewhere in New York when I
get back from Savannah. / hate to leave him
behind, but | must go on"
10 passed restless, anxious night; a rude
breakfast followed, and attention to the ami.
mails in the morning.
!. The wen dressed man he had spoken to
'say," asked one of JOS companions. "are
you one of the circus people"
eyes; I'm the new manager"
Where's the old one"
"Is Wiley and his partners aboard."
'No. they stayed behind"
"Have we got to keep below decks all the
time?"
agreement. You don't expect state room
and couple of servants, do your" sneered
the man. We've got to go on cheap basis
tll we make some e, money none for the terms of
ooh. the circus is in new hands?" MUIR
INJURED the inquirer, perplexedly.
'sMay | ask you question, sir?" ventured
''What is it?"
'FWhen viii we be likely to reach Savan.
nah?"
"Savannahl" replied the man. 1--WE don't
touch at Savannah"
''Nor Charleston"
"No."
10 started in dismay.
''Well, anywhere along the coast?"
The man stared hard at 10.
"See here" he said, "is this game. or
don't you really know about where we're
going?"
ern States"
mot at ALL Counfound that jackson! I
believe he's lied to half the men. A pretty
pickle TIL have on my hands if he has. We