Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1909-05-07

about half clothed, reading, crocheting
or sewing, while others added PEN
ciled eyebrows, powder or rouge to
their already exaggerated makeups.
Here and there child was putting
her sawdust baby to sleep in the till
OF her trunk before beginning her part
IN the evenings entertainment. Young
and old went about their duties with a
systematic. busincssllsc air, and even
the little knot OF excited women near
Polly-it seemed that one of the men
had upset circus tradition-kept a
Bharp lookout for their turns.
"What do you think about II, Polly?"
asked handsome brunette as she sur
veyed herself in the costume of a
Roman charloteer.
"Abo1t whatf asked Polly vacanuy.
"Leave Poll alonel She's in one OF
her trances!" called a motherly, good
natured woman whose trunk stood
next to Polly's and whose business
was to support son and three daugh-
tiers upon stalwart shoulders, both fig-
uratively and literally.
well, l ain't IN any trance" answer
cd the dark girl. land | think it's prot
ty tough for him to take up with a
rank outsider ard expect us TO warm
UP to her as though he'd married ono
of our own folks" She tossed her
head. the pride OF class distinction
yelling high In her ample bosom.
lie amt askin' US to warm up to
her." contradicted Mile. Elolsc. II pale,
light haired sprite who had arrived
late and was making undignifed eff
forts to get out of her clothes by way
of her head. She was Polly's under.
study and next In line for the star
place In the bill.
well, Barker has put her into the
leap of death stunt, amt hep" con.
tinued the brunette. Course that
aln't regular circus act" she added.
somewhat mollihed. "and SO far she's
had to dress with the freaks. but the
next thing we know he'll be ringln'
her In on a regular stunt and be put
tin her In TO dress with u.s."
mo danger OF that" sneered the
blond. Barker Is too old a stager to
mix UP his sheep and his goats"
Polly had again lost the thread Of
the conversation. Her mind had gone
rowing to the night when the fright
ened girl about whom they were talk
ing had made her first appearance I'm
the circus lot, clinging timidly to the
hand of the man who had Just made
her his wife. Her eyes had met Pol
ly's with look of appeal that had
gone straight TO the chlld's simple
heart
few nights later the newcomer
had allowed herself to be strapped
into the cumbersome "leap Of death"
machine which hurled itself through
! space at each performance and flung
itself down with force enough to break
/ the neck OF any unskilled rider. Cour-
, age and steady nerve were the requi-
elites for the job. so the manager had
said. but any physician would have
;old him that only trained acrobat
rou,d long endure the nervous strain.
tie muscular tension ard the physical
rack of such an ordeal
What matter? The few dollars
earned In this way would mean n
Great deal to the mother whom the
siri's marriage had left desolate.
Polly hsd looked on hu:grily the
RIGHT that the mother Ind taken the
taughtcr IN her arms 10 say farewell
lA the little ccdntry town where the
circus he'd played before her mnrrlngc
SIC could remember TO womans arms
| eEcut hcT. FOR It was fourteen years
| sircc tender hands had cnrricd her
/ mcihcr from the performers tent into
/ The rocnlit lct 10 die The baby was
20 used to seeing "mumsle" throw her
clf wcrrlly eli the prcurd after com.
Ing ont Of the big top" exhausted
that she crent 10 the woman'8 side. as
usual, that night and gazed lnughlngly
( Into the sightless eyes. gurglmg and
/ prattling and stroking the unrespon
slve face. There were tears from
those who watched. but no word was
spoken.
Clown Toby and the big ''boss can
vasman" Jim had always taken turns
amusing and guarding little Polly
while her mother rode In the ring. So
Toby now carried the babe to another
side OF the lot, and Jim bore the life
less body OF the mother 10 the distant
ticket wagon. now closed for the night,
and laid II upon the sellers cot.
tits allus like this in the end" he
murmured as he drew a piece OF can
vas over the white face and turned
away to give orders TO the men who
were beginning 10 load the props"
used earlier in the performance.
When the show moved on that night
1t was Jlrn's strong arms that lifted
the mite OF n Polly close TO hts gtaI.